Ultimate Vengeance (Wanted Men Book 4)(107)

He offered the assurance with a mischievous wink aimed at Gabriel.





TWENTY-FIVE




As everyone got comfortable, some around the table that would seat fifteen with no trouble, others at the island, a few standing, Alek watched Sacha out of the corner of his eye. She was nibbling on her lip as she eyed the men interacting with their women.

He wasn’t particularly thrilled about the topic of the girls’ conversation, but he wasn’t bothered by it. Maks, on the other hand, had a look in his eye that was putting a bright pink color in Sydney’s cheeks that hadn’t been there before. Vincente was looking down at Nika as she talked to him while twisting the ends of his hair around her pinkie. He would flash a grin every few seconds as if what she was saying was entertaining him. Gabriel was standing behind his wife, his hand resting on her nape, his jaws full of a roast beef sandwich Eva had just given him.

Vasily had moved to the back of the room and was once again on his phone. This past week, he’d been worse than Maks with that fucking cell.

After the shooting at Sergei’s house, where they’d lost one man, things had been eerily quiet. Quiet was unsettling because it meant Sergei was either planning, or waiting for a time to strike, and since they had no idea which way he would come at them this time, tensions were at an all-time high.

Even days later, Alek was still working to get his head around the fact that it was his cousin who’d done this to them. He didn’t want to believe it, but there was no way to deny it. A man they’d loved and trusted like a brother had thrown those sacred offerings back in their faces.

The worst part was…

Sacha glanced at him and a little smile formed on her face.

The worst part was, Alek understood why his cousin had gone off the deep end. He understood it. He sympathized. He felt sorry and wished like hell he could have done something to comfort the man.

But he did not condone Sergei’s methods for dealing with his pain, and despite the blood they shared, that would have to be addressed in the proper way.

He dropped the knowledge for now and took a few steps back to intercept Sacha on her way to the table. “Interesting talk with the girls?” he murmured.

“I am sorry.” She kept her voice just as quiet. “I was put in a spot and could not refuse to share without appearing rude.”

“Ah.”

She glanced up at him from under her long lashes. “Oh, no.” She made a mou with her soft lips. “Could you be upset because I have tarnished your spotless reputation with the ladies?”

Man, he loved that playful note in her voice. He dropped his head down and spoke to his daughter in Russian. “Your mother is getting something of a mouth on her, Lekzi. Now, I don’t mind when it’s my mouth, but anything else sort of bugs me.” He made a quiet click sound and screwed up one side of his face as though he felt bad for that. He didn’t. “Once you have her alone in your room later, maybe you can give her a tip on how to make up for tattling.” He reached over to grab a serviette so he could dab at the drool making his daughter’s chin shiny. She put her hands out and it was with such pleasure that he scooped her up and brought their hearts together. “You tell her if she’s at all into pleasing your papa, she’ll dig through the bottom drawer of her dresser, and won’t quit searching until she finds something sheer and gold that has the words push-up somewhere on the tag. That’s all. Very simple.”

When Sacha’s soft laugh came, Lekzi turned, and both he and his daughter took in the beauty of the woman next to them.

“When she gives me this advice later, I will be sure to listen closely.” With a lingering touch to his waist, she went to the table and grabbed two plates. As she filled them, exchanging a few words here and there with the others, Alek openly watched her.

If they could get past the shit still wedged between them, and if he could ditch the goddamn apprehension he continued to feel over hers and Lekzi’s safety, perfect would be right around the corner.

But that sense of unease wouldn’t go away. Not with Sergei out there. His looming presence was riding Alek’s ass hard when it came to his females.

And, for some reason, even harder when it came to his uncle.



♦ ♦ ♦



It was dark by the time Sacha finished unpacking the last of hers and Lekzi’s things. When she’d come up to the bedroom after everyone had left, she’d found the missing duffle bags, and a dozen boxes that she’d opened up to find full of clothes and all her personal mementos.

The bedroom now had her pretties scattered around. Carousels, figurines, dancing couples in full ballroom garb. Some had been her mother’s, but most were things Sacha had bought because she had a small problem that made it impossible for her to pass on baubles that stirred a memory.