Chapter 41
Max
The tea house is my worst nightmare, bright, civilized, and far too delicate. Bone china tops the silky white tablecloths draped over numerous round tables. Silver platters of pastries, tea sandwiches, fruit, and steaming cups of tea clutter each one.
Alexei insisted this was the safest spot for all the ladies to assemble. In the middle of our territory, where we can keep an eye on everyone coming and going.
And Nika insisted on meeting the women so she could ask for their forgiveness. She even offered to pay for the outing, as if any of the men would allow that. I thought Kolya Ilyin’s head might explode at the very idea.
We compromised and used the company American Express card instead, since we had to rent the entire establishment out for safety reasons.
The Falcones are still milling around, and with Dimitri “missing” for two weeks, there’s no telling what his group of mercenaries might do. We’re also wary of the cops.
Even when we’re behaving ourselves, they need something to occupy their time. And what better way for publicly funded police to spend their day than sticking their noses up our asses while we’re trying to relax?
Thus, the women gather in the back while the rest of us spread out, guarding the doors and windows. Outside, a few of our guys keep an eye on every approach.
This group is the heart and future of the Bratva.
Aurora. Chloe. Jordan. Paige. And Nika.
The women have all been caught in the gears of our world and damaged by the inherent violence. Most of which was planned and instigated by Nika and Dimitri.
Now she’s here to try and make amends.
Nika leans forward, gesturing with her good hand while her broken one rests in her lap. She’s apologizing. I can read it in her body language and her earnest expression.
The other women tilt close, offering forgiveness Nika doesn’t think she’s earned as she shakes her head and wipes her eyes.
Alexei’s wife, Aurora, gathers Nika’s hand in her own, her pink skin nearly tan against Nika’s pallor. Beside them, Chloe—the ever-cheerful kindergarten teacher Kolya somehow managed to bewitch—pours everyone more tea, a yellow bow bouncing in her brown hair.
I’m sure Nika thinks she’s overbearing, but she means well.
Alexei sits with Kirill and me, each of us cradling cups of murky liquid that tastes like mowed grass. Kirill grimaces as if someone’s poisoned him, his lips twisting in disgust with every sip. Alexei mirrors me, lifting the cup but never drinking.
On the other side of the room, Vanya sprawls in his chair like he owns the place, exuding his typical charm.
Kolya sits across from him, the polar opposite, silent and watchful.
Two ends of the enforcer spectrum. Charm and threat.
Seduction and violence. Both necessary. Both valued. Both exactly what they need to be.
“She’s doing well.” Alexei’s voice snaps me back to the moment. “Considering.”
“Considering she spent fifteen years being groomed by a monster?” Kirill’s voice contains no judgment. “Yeah. Pretty well.”
They’re right. Nika’s still figuring out if she can trust this.
Us.
Still learning that family isn’t just a cage with prettier bars and that belonging doesn’t mean being owned.
Maybe these women can help with that. Show her that real love doesn’t come with strings attached. I’m about to broach that idea with Alexei when Vanya goes from languid playboy to alert Doberman, his hazel eyes flashing gold as they fixate on the door.
I spin around and spot Artem, one of our young enforcers, standing just outside the closed glass. His curly brown hair catches in the breeze as he jerks his chin toward the sidewalk and disappears out of sight.
We all pivot to look, except for Vanya, who casually strolls closer to the women. He might look like he’s checking on their drinks, but he’s ready to run them out the back door in case anything goes sideways.
Kolya repositions himself, creating a barrier between whatever’s coming and the people we’re here to protect. Except Artem doesn’t reach for his gun or indicate trouble. If anything, he seems annoyed.
As the man he’s staring at comes into view, I understand why. My lip curls in disgust.
Detective Colvin peers through the window and tips his hat to us.
Alexei’s straightens as Kirill’s hand drifts toward his weapon like he senses danger. I keep my shoulders loose, ready to move if needed.
Artem opens the door, his eyes flashing to me to ask permission. I nod, then give him the signal to go back to his watch.
Cops showing up here is not a good sign.
Especially since the detective doesn’t seem shocked to see us. It’s almost like he expected this. Is he somehow tracking us?
Colvin’s gaze sweeps the near-empty room, taking in the women first, then the men. He knows a few of these ladies. Paige, Jordan, and Chloe, though Chloe never met him.
Paige tenses, and Jordan grasps the edge of the table, her green eyes flicking from Kirill to Colvin and back, probably wondering if her shark will attack. Paige leans across the table to murmur to Aurora, her golden blond hair falling forward.
Nika whips around, clutching a fork and scraping her chair against the floor as she positions herself between their table and the door.
Vanya moves faster, kneeling beside her and whispering in her ear.
“What can we do for you, Detective Colvin?” Alexei stands to draw attention back to himself. “As you can see, we’re having a private gathering here.”
Colvin’s mouth quirks into a faux respectful smile. “Alexei. I hear you’re a big man now. Especially since things have started to quiet down.”
Alexei shrugs. “Can’t say I’ve noticed. My clothes still fit. And I don’t know what you mean about quiet. This is a tea shop. It’s always quiet in here.”
“I doubt that.” Colvin’s expression doesn’t change as he runs his fingers over the white cloth of my table. “Thought you all might like to know that the AG’s office dropped the case.”
None of us respond. In theory, this is a good thing, though in practice, it means Colvin won’t be around to harass us. For some reason, he thinks we instigated the events of Chaos Island.
I can’t help but notice how he’s suddenly admitting defeat after the death of the real perpetrator.
“Lack of evidence.” His eyes dart back to the table he can no longer see with Vanya and Kolya standing in front of it like bodyguards, one casual, one squaring up. “Try to keep it that way.”
With another tip of the hat, he waltzes out the door, leaving just as abruptly as he entered.
The silence stretches for several moments until Artem comes back and nods to confirm that the coast is clear. Vanya drifts over to join Alexei and me while Kolya heads to the other table with Kirill, passing along all the details.
“I’m glad Nika wasn’t carrying. She looked ready to shoot.” Vanya keeps his voice low as he sips the tepid tea on the table.
“She doesn’t like guns.” I push the hot teapot over to him. “She might have forked him up, though.”
A mischievous light sparks in his eyes as he refills his cup. “Neither did Paige, but I got her used to them. Now she’s a crack shot. You just need the right motivation.”
Alexei spins his cup in his fingers, his eyes darting from window to window. “He’s full of shit.”
Vanya drops his jaw, acting insulted.
“It’s not quiet. Colvin’s either trying to get us to believe his lies, or he’s an idiot.” Alexei notices Vanya’s expression and smirks. “Don’t worry, Van. I know you’re full of shit too. But even you know the Antonovs and Falcones are circling.”
“They’re getting bolder. Testing boundaries along our territory. Hell, wasn’t long ago that Gio hired men to ambush Paige and me at the Banya, a fucking neutral zone.” Vanya’s voice goes flat and dangerous. “They think we’re bleeding and plant to move in for the kill soon.”
“They can try, but they’re wrong.” I glance across the room at Nika and the women she instinctively protected. “We have more reasons to be strong than we ever have before.”
Vanya smiles, flashing his white teeth. “And we’ve only added to our strength.”
Nika shoots me a question with her eyes, and I signal that danger has passed. She returns to her ladies’ tea, grinning into her cup while slipping the knife back into the sheath on her calf and the fork under the napkin on the table.
This woman will always keep me on my toes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.