Page 95 of Toxic Temptation
“I told Kovan he was good.” I take another bite of the pie we’re sharing, surprised by how flavorful it is. “God, this is delicious.”
Pavel’s expression shifts.
“Not a fan?” I ask. “Don’t tell me you’re a vegan.”
“God, no. And it’s not that.” He clears his throat. “It’s… Vitalii used to make those for Luka. Now, Kovan keeps them on hand for whenever the kid is missing his dad.”
The pie turns to sawdust in my mouth. “Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t?—”
“Don’t apologize.” Pavel manages a smile. “Kovan puts everything he has into taking care of that boy. It would put most parents to shame. It puts me to shame, that’s for damn sure. Doesn’t stop me from getting fat and happy off these bad boys, though.” To prove his point, he takes a monstrous bite and smiles at me with crumbs dropping from his lips.
I watch him chew for a minute. “He really is better off here than anywhere else in the world, isn’t he?”
Pavel nods and swallows. “If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be here, either.”
Before I can respond, Luka once again comes bouncing into the kitchen, this time cradling the robot like a precious baby.
“Look! He can roll forward and backward!” Luka sets the robot carefully on the counter, facing me. “His name is Viking.”
For the second time in as many minutes, the smile dies on Pavel’s face.
“Viking’s a great name,” I say quickly, but I’m still busy puzzling out Pavel’s reaction. Something’s wrong.
“I’m going to find him a little jacket,” Luka announces, and races upstairs.
The moment he’s gone, I turn to Pavel. “Now, what is it?”
His jaw tightens. “After Vitalii died, Yana got Luka a puppy to stop his crying. Kid was over the moon. Named it Viking.”
My stomach drops. “Oh, no.” I can already tell that this story is headed for a sickening end.
“Dog kept barking. Yana couldn’t handle it. So one night while Luka was sleeping, she had Ihor get rid of it.” Pavel’s voice turns bitter. “When Luka woke up crying for Viking, she told him the dog went to keep his daddy company, and if he loved them both, he wouldn’t cry about it.”
“Jesus Christ,” Waylen breathes from the doorway.
“She’s a real gem,” I mutter, my hands clenching into fists.
“Makes our mom look like a saint, huh?” Waylen jokes as he moves to stand beside me.
Pavel glances at my brother. “You two had it that bad growing up, huh? Well, trauma bonding is good for sibling closeness, I guess.”
I whack him. “Hush! You weren’t supposed to blab about that.”
Waylen frowns at me. “What game are you playing, little sister?”
“You’re the one who didn’t want me leading with the fact that you’re my brother when we first met everyone!” I cry.
“I didn’t want you leading with it, yeah, but that’s because I didn’t want pity or anything like that.” His frown deepens. “And also, that was before he hired me. What’s the point of keeping it secret now?”
“That’s my business.”
Pavel starts laughing, the sound echoing off the marble countertops. “I should have seen it long before she told me, honestly. You two argue exactly the same way.”
As Luka thunders back down the stairs with a tiny doll jacket for Viking, I lean closer to Pavel. “Your brother can be… difficult sometimes. As I’m sure you know. I wanted to get under his skin a little.”
“Mission accomplished.” Pavel grins and mimes locking his lips. “Like I told you earlier: Your secret’s safe with me.”
I watch Waylen help Luka dress the robot in its new jacket, my chest warming at the sight of my brother’s patience and kindness.
