Page 50 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
“I’m getting us champagne,” Katya says as she wanders off in search of some, while Tatiana turns to introduce me to the men she’s speaking with.
“Have you met the Orlovs yet?”
“Lovely to meet you.” I smile and suddenly feel awkward. I know the Orlovs are Letvins are close and in some alliance of some sort, but I don’t know what to do. Do I shake their hands?
I just stand awkwardly while Tatiana continues to speak. “Elena. Meet Lion and his younger brothers, Benedikt, Sergey, and Samuil. This is Arina,Ilariy’s wife.”
I try not to furrow my brows at the way she introduces me. Was there a hint of warning in her voice directed at her brothers? I believe I must be imagining it, but then Ardalion gives me a tight smile.
“My sister speaks highly of you,” he says, but a flicker of annoyance passes his face.
His sister? Then I remember—Lilibeth Orlov is married to Agafon. These must be her brothers.
Whatever for? I wonder.
Before I can say another word, they make hasty goodbyes and wander off.
“What was that about?” I ask Tatiana. She puts on a smile and waves them off.
“Nothing for you to worry about.” Her voice is cheerful. A littletoo cheerful.“They’re just old grumps.”
I take Tatiana’s word for it
Katya comes back with the champagne, and on the first sip itself, I decide I’m going to have fun today. No matter what.
We walk through the crowd, and Tatiana is giving me gossip on the extended family and alliance members, and I try to remember all the facts and names, but there’s such an onslaught of information that I find my mind wandering.
Just then, I’m brought back to the present when a child’s shriek cuts through the air. I scan the garden for the cause of the commotion, and what I seemeltsmy heart.
Ilariy’s swinging a little boy in the air, making monster noises, and children are clamoring at his legs for attention. Ilariy sets him down and picks up another, then another, then another. He simply doesn’t stop, wrestling and tickling, laughing and joking.
Tatiana notices what has distracted me and leans in. “Ilariy’s always loved kids,” she tells me. “Even when we were kids, he used to put ribbons in our hair and doted on us as an older brother.”
“That’s true,” Katya adds. “He painted my nails once!”
“He let me paint his when I was ten!” Tatiana squeals, and the sisters laugh. “He was an adult then. An ADULT!”
“Really?” I ask and my heart does a little somersault, though I don’t know why.
“Mm-hmm,” Tatiana says in a way that makes my neck heat. When I look up at her, she wiggles her eyes and drawls, “Reallyyy…”
“Oh, stop it!” I chide, but my eyes go back to Ilariy. I can’t seem to look away from the sight of him on his hands and knees in his fancy clothes, letting children scramble onto his back.
For some reason, I find myself blushing.
“Never would have pegged him for a kid person,” I say, still watching.
“Children and animals,” Katya says knowledgeably. “They can sense a person’s true nature. If they trust him, there’s a reason.”
I take a sip of champagne to hide my confusion. Three weeks ago, I was furious at Ilariy for lying about who he was. Now, I’m watching him play with children, and the sight itself is melting my heart, making me feel like I was a terrible person for being angry at a man so…good.
And suddenly, I no longer know what’s right or wrong.
***
The afternoon unfolds like a dream. There’s plenty of food and drinks being passed around, and I find myself in the midst of dozens of interesting snippets of conversation. The champagne is loosening me up, and sometimes, Ilariy drops by to check on me.
But I’m always good and in pleasant company. But even when he walks away, even when he’s at a distance talking to someone, or racing around with children, he finds a moment to look in my direction.
