Page 22 of Echoes of Sin

“This margarita is enough for me, thanks.” The last thing I wanted was to lose my wits with Ilya nearby.

“Come on, Brooke, live a little,” Ilya said with a grin.

I glared at him. The last time I lived a little, I ended up losing my virginity and the life I had mapped out. “I am alive, therefore I am living. End of discussion.”

Chapter Thirteen

Ilya

So far, drinking with Lara and Brooke wasn’t what I normally thought of as fun. Brooke was determined to ignore me and remained silent through two rounds. Lara was much friendlier, and it was clear that she was interested in my number two.

“So, Dmitri, how do you and Ilya know each other?” Lara asked with a smile.

“I have known Ilya since we were boys. We grew up together. Our fathers were friends as well.” The truth was his father worked for my father, but over time they had grown as close as brothers.

“The same as Brooke and me, growing up together, I mean. Been through a lot together over the years, I’m sure you can relate.”

“Yes,” Dmitri responded in his usual succinct way.

“Ilya was a bit of a hero back when we knew him, isn’t that right, Brooke?”

All eyes turned to the silent member of the group, and she blinked as if she hadn’t been paying attention, but I knew she soaked up every single word. “He was certainly charming when he needed to be.”

Ouch.

“See?” Lara’s gaze lit up, clearly too drunk to notice the heavy sarcasm in Brooke’s voice.

“Then he left without a word.”

And once more, she was back to that again. I had no idea why she was so fixated on something that happened eight damn years ago. If I hadn’t been so attracted to her, then I’d be running in the opposite direction right about now “Excuse me,” she muttered, as she motioned for me to slide out of the booth.

“What’s the rush?” I wasn’t going to make it easy for her.

“No rush, just move out of my way, please.” She sounded impatient, but it was those rapidly blinking eyes that gave away her emotions.

“Yeah, okay. Fine.” I stood up and she rushed out of the booth before disappearing down the hall towards the restroom. “Was it something I said?”

Lara sighed heavily. “Men. If you didn’t smell so good, we’d have no use for you.”

“My father died,” I said to her friend. I didn’t know how much Brooke had told her, or even if she’d said anything at all. It was the truth, but it felt lame when I said it out loud. “I would have come back if I could have.”

“Understandable,” Lara agreed. “But the truth is that things were really bad for her after you left. And you didn’t call, didn’t say you weren’t coming back. Didn’t say anything at all.” It was clear Lara shared Brooke’s sentiment, but at least she was speaking to me. “And then you stroll back to town and expect her to welcome you with open arms? Fat chance, buddy.”

“So, what, I should just leave her alone? I cannot.” The thought of backing off and not getting to know her again was repulsive to me. “I won’t.”

Lara laughed. “I didn’t think you would, but she doesn’t trust you, and she won’t trust you again as easily as she did the first time.”

“I don’t need to trust him,” Brooke said when she returned to the table, arms folded and a glare for Lara. “He’s a client of the firm I work for, which doesn’t require me to do anything but keep his books.” She snatched her coat and purse from the booth and shrugged them both on. “See you later, Lara.”

“Wait,” I called out, and jogged after her. “Brooke, please.”

She increased her speed through the parking lot and to the sidewalk. “Good night, Ilya!” She tossed a wave over her shoulder.

It took mere seconds to catch up with her and it was worth the little huff she let out. “What’s the rush?”

“I need to get home, that’s the rush.” She walked so fast it was as if she was running from me. “You should get back to your friend.”

“How can I let you walk home alone?”

---