Page 289 of Legacy
Elena’s voice breaks the silence.
“I think he would’ve loved all this… the music, the laughter, the stories.”
Santo’s voice cuts through with dry humor. “Except the sobbing. Way too much sobbing.”
Vasilisa smacks his chest and shakes her head. Elena chuckles. I smile faintly.
For a breath, it almost feels normal.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Santo’s goes off a second later. I see his jaw flex before he mutters a curse.
Adriana turns to me. “Everything okay?”
My instinct to not worry her is overridden by Santo.
“Another port,” he growls, sliding his phone back into his jacket. “Fucking Armenians. Can’t even give us a day.”
Vasilisa steps closer to him, murmuring something I don’t catch.
“Elena, Riot will get you back to California tonight.” It’s not a suggestion. It’s an order. She knows it too.
Her smile falters. But she nods.
She hugs Adriana then Vasilisa before she lets Riot guide her out.
I head for the study.
The study.
My father’s study.
My study now.
Or it will be, as soon as renovations are finished. As soon as I can convince Adriana.
She loves the penthouse. Made it hers completely.
I don’t blame her. The light, the view, the space to breathe.
But this house…
It’s where I bury the past and build the rest.
And maybe, if I do it right, it’ll feel like ours too.
Adriana follows, her heels soft behind me, never needing to ask if I want her there.
I dial Maksim. The bastard didn’t come. No text. No fucking call. Just silence.
He answers on the second ring. A woman speaks in the background.
Of course.
“I got the text. I’m on my way,” he says.
“You sound preoccupied.”
“I have… a visitor. But I’ll swing her by my safe house.”
