Lucian gave Vasily a bland look. “So well named, this one.”
Vex smirked. Like Maks, the guy didn’t take things too seriously.
“The tension in this room leads me to believe we missed something monumental,” Lucian said as he stepped to the side and offered his hand and a mildly friendly expression to Sacha. “Lucian Fane. I remember meeting you, but it was some time ago.”
Sacha wiped her hand on her dress before shaking his. Her face was still tear-stained but diffident, proving she remembered who he was. “Sacha Urusski. Nice to see you again.”
Lucian’s smile became genuine, and he turned it on Vasily. “I hope this works out for you.” He nodded to Sorin and went for the door. “But I won’t pretend I’m not relieved this is your problem and not mine. Even though I am working on it for Markus, I still find all this emotion tedious as hell.” A low groan by the door said Markus was present, and that forced Lucian to clip on, “I hope no one takes offense to that.”
And if they did, who gave a fuck was what his bearing said as he paused in front of his little brother. The distance went out of his eyes, and a warm affection came through as he planted a kiss on Markus’s temple.
“Can you make dinner on Monday?”
Markus winced. “Monday isn’t good.”
“Wednesday?”
“I have tentative meetings scheduled in Houston mid-week.”
“Friday?” Lucian’s voice was going lower with each day he suggested.
“How about next Sunday?”
The Romanian turned and scowled at Alek as if he was at fault for Markus’s lack of availability.
“He makes his own schedule,” Alek muttered, wishing they’d all fuck off.
“Very well. Next Sunday. Shall I have Daria and Gheorghe join us?”
“No. Just you and me.”
“All right.” Lucian sounded surprised that Markus didn’t want their cousins included. Pleasantly surprised, even though they were all pretty close. “I look forward to it.”
“Markus.” Alek picked up Sacha’s purse that Maks had tossed onto a chair. He offered it to her, making her approach him to take it. “If you’d like to go, feel free. We’re heading out now, too.” As the seconds ticked by, the urgency crawling up his spine was growing. He had a child, and he wanted to meet her. The hows and whys could wait. “Thanks for your help tonight. And if you’d be so kind,” he said to Lucian. “Would you take the brothers with you? As you said, this is a family issue, and they’re no relation of mine.”
Lucian looked at Sacha. “Would you rather Justin stayed for moral support?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you. This is my issue, and I have brought him enough trouble.” She had the gall to go to the attorney after a quick glance at Alek, and give him a hug and what looked to be rather a sisterly kiss on the cheek. “I will call you tomorrow.”
“No, you won’t.”
Her head swung Alek’s way, her lips flattening. “Go. I will be fine,” she insisted to Sheppard when he snorted under his breath.
“I can stay. This isn’t trouble compared to where I’ve been.”
“Word,” Vex said under his breath.
Alek’s interest was piqued hearing that, even more so when Sacha frowned as if she didn’t understand what Sheppard was talking about. Had he not opened up to her? Told her about his past?
She shook her head. “Go.”
“Vex. Justin.” Lucian showed them the door. “Let’s not linger.”
Alek didn’t watch them leave, but he did hear Justin tell Sacha to get in touch when she could. In that moment, Alek knew the lawyer wasn’t in love with her. He might care for her, but he didn’t love her. Had he, both he and Alek would be bleeding by now.
Then he and Sacha were left with only Vasily, Maks, and Sydney.
Sacha came to him, her shoulders squared. “What will you do with me?” she asked outright.
An image of what he’d kill to do with her right then slammed into him. Oh, how he would punish her during the act.
He buried the thought. How the hell could he still want her in his bed after this? “I don’t know. My mind is changing by the minute. One thing is for certain, though.” He locked onto those glittering gold orbs and leaned in until he had a hell of a time blocking the toasted coconut and sun-drenched orchids that filled his head. “Your life as you know it is over. From this moment on…I own you.”
Footsteps preceded his uncle coming between Alek and his new possession. Mmm. Yes. She was all his, to do with as he pleased. Because if he knew Sacha, he knew there was nothing short of death that would separate her from any child of hers. And since their daughter—holy fucking shit—would never again be separated from Alek, neither would her mother.