Page 91 of Between Us

“I hear you got your driving license.”

She nodded and couldn't contain the grin spreading on her face. She'd been a nervous wreck on the day of the test, but Roman accompanying her had helped a lot. “A week ago.”

“How's the car?”

“I love it.”

Alek chuckled. “I bet you do. Roman spent a pretty penny on it.”

They ate together while they made small talk. Alek had brought more than enough food for the three of them and then some more. If the way he ate indicated anything about him, it was that he really loved his food. After polishing off everything on his plate, he grabbed a bowl and dug into the borscht that Tatyana had just finished. It was really astonishing that he could ingest so many calories and still be as fit as he was.

When they were done, Alessandra offered to do the dishes while Tatyana cleaned up the mess they’d left behind. The girls’ work was almost done when the front door opened again. Alessandra heard her husband's voice as he talked to Alek in the living room.

She finished washing the last plate and wiped her hands on a towel before heading that way.

Vladik and Alek were watching a soccer game on TV, commenting on one of the player’s technique.

Roman stood with his hands in his pockets, his profile facing her as she entered the room. He waswearing a dark-grey suit paired with a black shirt, his silver Cartier watch peeking out from underneath the sleeve of his jacket. Alessandra didn't get much time to admire just how handsome he looked, because as soon as he sensed her presence, he turned his head to meet her gaze. A smile played on his lips.

“Hey,” he said, blue eyes lingering on her mouth. She was wearing that red lipstick he liked—well, what was left of it anyway.

She walked up to him and kissed his cheek, feeling the roughness of his stubble on her lips. “Hi. How did you know I was here?”

Roman's hand drifted from her back to her hip. “I called Vladik when I got home and you weren't there.”

“Kind of early for you to be home already.”

He gave her a look filled with dry amusement. “You complaining?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course not.”

“Smells like borscht,” he said, glancing in the direction of the hallway.

“Your sister made some.”

“Anya!” he called after his sister. “Fill me a bowl, will you?”

“You can do it yourself!”came the reply, followed by the clank of dishes a moment later.

Roman smirked, and Alessandra jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. “That's not nice.”

Although Roman was usually a picky eater compared to his brother, he dug into the borscht with gusto, having a second bowl as soon as he was done with the first. Alessandra kept him company while he ate, stealing a few bites even though she was full herself.

At some point, Vladik joined them in the kitchen,going straight for the pot still on the stove. He left after eating, being dismissed for the night by Roman.

The four of them spent the rest of the evening watching a horror movie in Tatyana's living room with the lights off. While the girls jumped and cringed at the grisly scenes, the men laughed and teased them for scaring so easily.

Snuggling closer to her husband on the couch, Alessandra felt a sense of peace. Spending time with his siblings was starting to feel more and more like having a second family. She'd never hoped for it, coming from her father's enemies for decades, but now that her luck had been so abundant in that regard, she could only be grateful.

But Alessandra already knew just how fickle fate could be.

It gave one day and took the other.

It gave with one hand and then took with two.

The question was, just how much was Alessandra willing to sacrifice to keep on receiving the grace of her lucky stars?

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