Page 111 of Silent Heart

Daniella shrugged. “Motherhood means not sugarcoating it.”

“That’s exactly what motherhood means!” Cami rolled her eyes. “You’re supposed to put sugar oneverything,ya freakin’ health nut.”

Daniella waved her off.

The youngest cousin, Brittany, popped into the aisle. “This one. It’s black. It’s got a high enough neckline, and none of the guys will tease me about being a princess.”

“You can’t be goth or punk,” Daniella said sternly.

Brittany huffed. “But Vivian—”

“Vivian knows how to dress appropriately when necessary. She would never appear for family pictures in a heavy metal tee, wearing too much eyeliner.” Daniella plucked a cream dress off the rack. “That means you’re in cream, Cami Joe.”

My friend huffed. “I don’t understand this family photography thing. Pavel is out of the city—”

I stiffened. What happened to our guard? What made him leave?

Oh, no!Was it because I was nice to him and Kolya hurt him? My heart pattered wildly.

“—Stephan is gone. And babushka is in the hospital for a minor procedure.” Cami crossed her arms over her chest.

At least she didn’t seem to mind that I was participating. Ring shopping. Holy cow! Were things really that serious with Kolya? And I didn’t even know what I would say.

Yes…you do.

I looked through the clothing choices. It was true, I knew how I felt about him. Not wanting him to disappear again, wanting to be part of his life, regardless if the details were settled—it added up.

“Holy crap, I’ve fallen for him,” I muttered.

“Dani,Dani!” Cami hissed. “Where are the guards?”

Their conversation fell silent. Daniella held up another garment, but she was looking past the material and across the boutique.

“They’re not outside,” Brittany added. “Sergie isn’t in the street with the car, either.”

“Let’s go back here, by the back of the shop,” Dani said, words hushed.

“Why not by the dressing rooms?” Brittany said, flipping through her phone, and managing to look like a bored teen.

“Walls are too thin.” Cami walked beside me.

Through tightly gritted teeth, I murmured, “Is this normal?”

“Having the guards disappear while we’re out shopping? Nope.” Cami Joe squeezed my fingers. “Welcome to the bratva.”

This is it. This is what being with Kolya means. Threatening messages and shopping trips where the guards mysteriously disappeared.

Surprisingly, calm surged through me, tempering the rising panic. “Tell me what to do, Dani.”

She shot me a look. “Thanks for not freaking out. It’s a good start.”

“I’ve sent messages to the guys,” Brittany continued to tap on her phone.

Cami plucked a fuchsia cocktail dress off the rack, holding it up to her sister. “We just pretend everything is normal until it’s not.”

The pop-pop of a rifle the next second announced that it most certainly was not normal.

We dropped, taking cover by the thick wall joining the shop to the back storage area. Glass in the front window shattered. Bullets sprayed over the clothing.