Chapter 17 #3
We get out and Misha gives us a quick nod before driving off again. Luka’s silent while we walk to the house, but before we step inside, he holds out a hand to stop me. I take one look at my brother’s face and start laughing.
“It’s not funny,” he insists, but I can see the smile that he’s unable to hide before he snorts out a laugh. Max opens the door to find us both giggling like a couple of schoolgirls.
“What the fuck is funny about this?” Max asks.
“Nothing,” Luka says, giving me a don’t you dare start laughing again look.
I grin and follow him inside. My eyes quickly search for Sitka.
“Talia took her to Nina’s,” Max says before I can ask. “They brought Lyra over for a visit. Maddie was going to meet them over there. They’re probably already discussing how to keep your ass alive.”
Ev’s waiting for us in the living room, and we all take a seat while he looks me over to make sure I’m really in one piece and not bleeding out from some hidden wound.
“Your in-laws are fucking insane,” Luka tells our cousin. “I’m used to Sasha’s crazy. I don’t like their brand of it.”
“Tell me everything,” Max says.
They listen while Luka and I fill them in, and by the time we’re done, they both look like they’re about to force me on a plane back home.
“I’m not leaving,” I say before they can take that line of thought any further. “I love her, and I’m going to marry her.”
“You really love her?” my brother asks. “Are you sure about this, Damien?”
“I’m sure,” I tell him. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“That’s how I felt about Lara,” he says.
“I told her about the whole dyslexia thing.”
His eyes widen slightly in surprise. “What did she say?”
“She didn’t care,” I say, still having a hard time believing it. I huff out a breath and add, “She thinks I’m smart.”
Luka grins. “I knew I liked her, and you are smart. You’re a stubborn ass sometimes, but you’re a fucking smart one.”
“I’ll second that,” Ev says. “I knew you were an absolute goner when you were out in the damn ocean with a smile on your face. Only love can make you willingly freeze your nuts off.”
“I’ll help soften things as much as I can,” Max says. “I’m not sure how exactly this is going to work, but we’ll figure it out. I’m thrilled to have another Melnikov on this side of the country, though.”
“Let’s not move him here just yet,” Luka says. “I’d rather not lose my brother for half the year. God, that’ll break Roma’s heart.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I say, echoing Max. I nudge my brother’s arm. “I’m not going anywhere.”
We all turn when the light above us flickers. Bran’s standing in the doorway, looking at me while he signs, You okay?
Yeah, I’m fine, I sign back. Just bonding with your cousins.
I heard. He walks in and takes the seat across from me. With a small grin, he signs, Well not heard, obviously, but I just texted Yuri to see what was going on. He seemed pretty pleased with himself. They’re convinced they’ve scared you straight.
He doesn’t hear the laugh I give, but he sees it, making his own smile quirk up a bit more. He shakes his head at me and looks to Max. Plan?
Yeah, Max signs. The plan is to keep his ass alive. Sitka’s talking to her dad tomorrow.
Bran thinks for a second before signing, You want to go over there later? I can say I want to show you the trails.
You want to take my brother to their house? Luka signs.
They’ll be working all night. They won’t expect him to go over there and try anything, not after what happened today. His hands are still for a second before he looks at me and signs. You should see where she lives. Meet her dog. She’d like that.
I’ll go, I sign back to him, ignoring my brother’s groan of concern.
Bran’s right. I want to see where Sitka lives and meet the dog she’s told me so much about, and maybe I can even get to know her mom a bit better. Things might go a bit smoother tomorrow if Maddie is already convinced of how much I love her daughter.
It might be the best decision I could possibly make or a giant disaster waiting to happen.
Judging by the looks on my brother’s and cousins’ faces, they’re betting on the latter.
I’m sure they’re already picturing me tied to a chair in Misha and Yuri’s kill room, but apparently Sitka’s turning me into an optimist because I’m already heading into the other room so I can send her a voice message to let her know I’ll see her later.
Her response is immediate, and I grin when I see it’s a recording.
“My mom and I are about to head home now. Can you bring my bag when you come? I can’t wait for you to meet Nyx! I can show you the dirt bike trails too if you want. Also, don’t think I’ve forgotten. I want every single detail of where my brothers took you. I love you.”
I smile at hearing those words and send her a quick response.
“I’ll bring your bag, but I’m keeping that pair of used panties you left on the bathroom floor. Those are mine now. I love you too, Sitka. I’ll see you soon.”
Maybe I should be worried about her brothers, but they’re the last thing on my mind when I head downstairs to pack her bag, taking several seconds to breathe in her sweet scent before pocketing the tiny scrap of lace that’s now officially mine.