Chapter 9
Sasha
“Is it possible for eardrums to be burst by little girls screaming at the tops of their lungs?” My cousin winced, even exaggerating a groan from the delighted squeals coming only yards away from where we stood.
Mikhail’s question was met with laughter. While I chuckled, my mind was still on Damien and his lack of admission.
As well as his reaction to the accusation.
I’d been around enough men and even women who’d been extremely good at disguising both their emotions and reactions. Like trained operatives who’d mastered the art of subterfuge. Damien wasn’t one of those. The fact there’d been a ring of truth to his denial had sent red flags into my mind.
Sadly, I had no idea who else could have been so brazen as well as skilled.
From what I’d been able to tell and confirmed by Jaxon, whoever had bypassed the security system had skill.
Ordinarily, any tampering with the system would have resulted in a warning being sent.
That would have gone to Lainey’s phone, mine as well and the police department.
That hadn’t occurred.
“Your daughter is beaming. You made her birthday party,” my sister Nadia added. At least I think she was the one who made the comment. Every word remained a dull echo.
My thoughts were still embroiled in the darkness, far too many questions interrupting my thinking. Something seemed off, yet there was no mistaking the message had been very personal.
“Her birthday. You made her year and look at Emily and how happy she is. I think hearing little girls scream is perfectly acceptable.” There was no doubt Alexsey had made the statement.
His adoration of the little girl he was in the process of adopting and her mother Halle had been the most recent talk of the family.
When DiAngelo Costa joined the group, immediately sliding his arm around my sister, the entire group raised their eyebrows. He was our Italian cohort, a son of the powerful Costa family out of Reno, whom people had started to reference as being our partners in crime.
Even though after trial and effort and years of building our entertainment regimes, we now had little to do with crime.
Other than offering an occasional reminder that messing with our families wasn’t in anyone’s best interest. Our alliance with the powerful Italian regime had been useful over the years, their expertise in computer security more than once saving our bacon.
His crush on my sister had been kept in secret for almost two years, but recently, they’d been spotted out together more, something my father had taken much longer to accept.
“You have the perfect location for a party,” DiAngelo said as he offered me his hand.
The Costas had certainly become excellent allies, watching our backs while we watched theirs.
Word had already gotten out that we had Nevada locked down regarding resorts and casinos.
While there was competition, something we even encouraged, no corporate entity had managed to break into the top tier.
Whether criminal or otherwise.
That had kept some smaller groups of organized crime out of our respective cities.
Yet there was always a shadow looming, a need to be cautious. We ran regular checks on our employees. We kept several of our employees trained to spot issues. In other words, we were constantly on edge someone would try to crash our parties.
No pun intended.
“Nina likes it.” My answer was clipped for one reason only. The house had been built for Selena, my deceased wife. It had taken me two years to find the courage to move in.
“I bet she does,” he returned. “How’s business?”
I glanced at Mikhail, realizing DiAngelo had likely taken the opportunity to appear at the party for two reasons, including spending time with Nadia.
The other would be to conduct business with Dmitriyev Enterprises.
Rarely a day went by where we didn’t have a significant contract or potential issue to contend with.
“Excellent on my end. Even with Lainey’s residency now closed, bookings are still way up for months.” Which was true.
“Ours as well,” DiAngelo offered. “Maybe before I head back tomorrow or the next day we can get together.”
That meant for business.
“This is a party, dude,” Nadia huffed while punching him in the gut with her elbow. “No business talk.”
That was extremely difficult to do when we were all together.
However, I wouldn’t mind taking a couple of extra days of relaxation, maybe spending a little more quality time with Lainey.
I shut down a smile while a number of filthy thoughts rattled my already foggy brain. She had that kind of effect on me.
With a deep sigh, I glanced toward Lainey, still furious at what she’d been forced to go through.
Granted, you couldn’t tell it by her performance.
She was rocking it, just sitting on a stool with her acoustic guitar, singing her heart out in front of several little girls who thought the sun rose and set on the talented performer.
She was even more beautiful with little makeup, wearing a stunning sundress and her hair sweeping in the light breeze. She’d even donned cowboy boots, which suited her personality.
I heard the family chatting and I stepped closer to the makeshift stage, enjoying doing nothing more than watching her.
“Are you with us, brother?” Vissarian asked. When I didn’t answer right away, he stepped in front of me, blocking my view.
My growl was instant and I tried to shove him aside. Everyone laughed again.
“The boy is smitten.” Katya’s voice was almost the same pitch as Lainey’s. I shifted my gaze to my cousin, wrinkling my nose as I used to do to try to make her laugh.
“I think she could be the one,” Kazimir added, winking at me. He did so love to tease me.
Halle appeared, trying to act as if she wasn’t flustered, but she was.
Even though my house had been taken over by party planners and caterers, she’d directed every person along the way, ensuring the house and grounds looked like some magical kingdom, yet she remained out of sorts.
Everyone wanted to please me. Even the newest addition to our family had been told the importance of both Nina’s birthday and the date surrounding it.
The day I’d lost my wife.
“Thank God you managed to snag Lainey for the party. I was almost ready to hire an Elvis impersonator.” Halle’s admittance shocked the hell out of Alexsey.
When she laughed, pointing at his face, he grumbled.
“Got you. Do you really think I’d hire an Elvis impersonator?
I’m shocked Lainey agreed, but this is… You’ve outdone yourself, Sasha. ”
“I’ve done nothing,” I refuted.
Bristol leaned into Mikhail. “She’s obviously happy to be here. Haven’t you seen the way she’s constantly searching for Sasha?”
“Would all of you just stop. She’s our guest and I’m thrilled Ms. Rose was able to make room in her busy schedule to perform for my baby girl.” My words didn’t deflect their rolling eyes.
“Said like a true professional while your leer says otherwise.” Mikhail raised his beer for a silent toast.
“Very funny.” I finally shoved my brother aside while scanning the party.
There were approximately fifty guests, several people I didn’t know which always unnerved the hell out of me.
Granted, they were parents of children attending the private school with Nina and Emily.
However, given the uneasiness I continued to feel, having strangers in my house was making for a tense afternoon.
“Confess, brother,” Nadia pushed. “You aren’t just attracted to her music.”
My shrug was met with another round of eye rolls. “I’m not certain I could recite a single song. Well, except for the one Alexsey had written and recorded with Lainey for Halle.”
My cousin had outed his musical talent months before, writing a song for his beloved that had been followed by a marriage proposal. They’d brought the house down, even recording the song for Lainey’s last album. However, going on tour hadn’t been an option.
It struck me as we stood here together how abnormally normal we were as a family. We wanted the same thing as everyone else.
Success in both business and love.
“I think she’s perfect for you,” Fallon teased while taking the drink from Vissarian’s hand, lifting it to her lips. I’d often been jealous of the love my brother and cousins had found. Today more so than usual.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.
” I could tell my insistence was going nowhere.
“Why don’t you all make yourselves useful and tend to our parents.
” My mother and father had just flown in from Italy where they’d been on vacation.
With Uncle Boris and Aunt Tatiana in attendance, it marked the first time every family member living in the United States was in the same place at the same time.
I don’t know why I’d just realized it.
Even the guy Nadia was dating had taken off work to be here. While I should feel honored, the person who should be here was lying in a grave miles away. The reason was all about this family and our legacy.
“Do I hear we have a birthday girl in the crowd today?” Lainey’s alluring voice dragged my attention away from my family. She had her hand over her eyes as if searching the crowd when Nina was jumping up and down in front of her.
For a few magical seconds, Lainey and I locked eyes, and even from where I was standing in dark shades, I could see the shift in coloration of her skin. She was blushing.
And I was hot as hell, thankful I’d chosen a short-sleeved shirt. Even then, I was sweating from being near her.
Jesus. I’d laid public claim to the woman. While Damien had all but slithered back into his hole after my strong warning, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t use what I’d told him to his advantage. Then I’d make good on my threat. Jesus. Even holding my glass of vodka was a strain today.