Page 103 of Shadows of the Past
Roman just shakes his head at me, Luna’s trying not to burst out laughing, and Anuska looks like she might faint right there in the living room.
“Damn, it’s your first Christmas with us and you’ve already outdone us all on gifts,” Niko calls out, and even though his face is stoic, I catch a glint of pride in my boyfriend’s eyes.
I know he wants to fit in, to really be part of this family, and seeing everyone welcome him makes my heart burst.
At some point, Damien and Roxy show up, and there’s something between them, a tension, a secret that lingers in the air. The kind of looks Max and I share when we don’t want theworld to know what we mean to each other. I notice the Polish mob boss watching Roxy’s every move, but it’s Roxy who comes over to me.
“Hypothetically, if I wanted to buy a machine gun, where would I get one?” she asks, a sly smile on her lips.
“Hypothetically, if you wanted to empty it on someone in this room…say, a mobster who looks like he’s got hearts in his eyes when he looks at you, I couldn’t help you. Sorry, I try to avoid violence between couples.”
She lets out a sound somewhere between a sneeze and a laugh, arms crossed, throwing daggers at Damien with her eyes.
“We’re not a couple.”
“Sorry, must’ve mixed you up with the woman he was photographed with leaving that Italian place two nights ago. Same hair, same height, I just assumed…”
“What article?” She tries to sound indifferent, but there’s jealousy in her voice.
“I thought you weren’t a couple,” I say, grinning into my champagne, and watch her cheeks flush.
She’s lucky because, right then, Roman drops to one knee and the whole room falls silent as he proposes to Luna.
The next few minutes are a blur of congratulations and hugs.
Across the room, my eyes find Maksim’s. We’ve never talked about marriage, or kids, or the future; everything always felt too uncertain. I never pictured myself in a wedding dress, but right now, with all this love in the air, it’s contagious.
Just one look at them and it’s obvious that they only have eyes for each other. Who would’ve guessed the head of the Russian mob in Chicago could fall this hard? If he could, I bet Roman would lock Luna away in a tower just to keep her safe.
Before I can finish the thought, an alert pings on our phones. Aleksandr’s face has popped up on a camera, and I see Maksim already striding toward me.
I pull Luna into a hug, and she whispers in my ear, “Take care of him.”
She didn’t even have to say it. It feels like it’s written into my DNA, to always look for him, to make sure he’s okay.
“Always,” I whisper back.
We step out into the crisp December air and a shiver runs down my spine. A thin layer of snow covers the yard, and the noise from inside fades into the background.
Of course, he had to show his face today, of all days.The one day I just wanted peace, to hold the girls close in my heart, to forget how much darkness there is in this world.
“Julia.” Maksim’s voice pulls me out of my irritation.
When I look up, I see that look in his eyes, the one that tells me something’s wrong. Somehow, I already know what he’s about to say and the pit in my stomach intensifies. It’s that gut feeling, when you’re praying you’re wrong, but your soul already knows the truth.
I can feel my world starting to crack so I just nod, bracing myself for what’s coming.
“Juls, we’ve got his location. He’s in Mexico City.”
Chapter 39
?
Julia
I always knew I’d have to face my past someday, but I wanted it to be on my own terms, by my own choice, not like this. Not with my sisters’ lives hanging in the balance.
I run through every video, every detail in my mind, searching for something I might have missed. If he’s hurt them, if he’s even laid a finger on them, I honestly don’t know what I’ll do.
