Page 30 of Cookie: Part One
“Da, he only lets people he’s close vit or he respects call him zhat. He doesn’t even let any of ze family use zhat nickname.”
“O-oh...” I chew my lip, seeing I fucked up and wound up flexing a bit too hard. “What about you… can you call him that?” I ask and she shrugs.
“I used to vhen vee vhere younger… but…” She looks away. “I’m not close to him anymore. After our babushka passed, he changed and I don’t like ze man he is today,” she states and I look down.
“Oh.”
“Da… oh, indeed. Vhat the hell could you guys have done to be so close vhere you can call him zhat? And more zhan zhat… are you really okay?”
“I… well…” I ignore her first question. “I’m fine.”
“Da, I can see zhat, but still… you spent ze night vit him and if Alik finds ou—” I hold up my hands, not wanting to get into the specifics of those nights.
“Let’s drop it, Pyper. I’m not going to jump for joy because I used a nickname, nor am I a crybaby bitch that can’t read the room. I’ve built my entire career on being in the room with people with small dicks and big bank accounts.
I might not understand your family, but I know you guys are rich and damn powerful. I also know Mikhail is not something or someone I should covet, not that I am anyway. Truly he was a two night stand and a damn good time that’s it that’s all.” I shut the conversation down and she watches me.
“Okay, zhen zhat’s it.”
“No that’s not it…” I take her hand and try to be as gentle as possible saying this. “I want to say that I love Alik, but I’m not going to let him or you dictate who I see or what I do. Alik and I are over and I plan t?—”
“I get it. You’re right, Connie. I vas vrong… I shouldn’t keep bringing up Alik vhen you’ve made it clear how you feel. Also, I’ll make sure to talk to Alik about laying off on ze protectiveness and letting you breazhe.” She squeezes my hand and I smile at that.
“Thank you, Pyper. I appreciate that.”
“Okay, now vhat?” she asks and I link my arms with hers.
“Now we pig out and I go chill at the spa until you and Alik can come hang out with me later for a movie. Deal?”
“Haha, deal,” she chuckles and we walk off, but out of the corner of my eye, I see a flash and my heart skips.What was that? Was that a camera flash? No… can’t be… pictures aren’t allowed here. I must be the Sun reflecting off something…
“Connie? Are you okay?” Pyper asks, and I drag my eyes from the trees to her with a smile.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Come on, let’s go eat. I’m starving!” I tell her, and she chuckles.
“Da, let’s go eat, and I spill all coffee on family.” She said eyes lighting up and I throw my head back laughing.
“Yeah, girl, let me hear all the coffee.” I walk off with her, stomach in knots, smile frozen on my face.
Conceal. Don’t feel. Be Elsa.
CHAPTER NINE
MIKHAIL
Vhen I enter ze room, everyone stands as I find my seat, annoyed already zhat I’m seated in front of Veronica’s snake of a fazher,Grigori Yishiv.
Pakhan raises a brow, his ringed fingers tapping ze arm of his chair. Everyone in ze room on ze Bershov Council takes a seat on our side of the table, while the Yishiv family on ze other side takes a seat a beat slower.
“Misha, you are late,” Pakhan speaks and cuts his eyes to me.
“I am here. Zhat should be enough.” I slide into ze leather chair beside Pyper.
“Zhat vill be enough,” Pakhan says as he glances over to Grigori. “Considering vee have uninvited guests, vhy don’t vee get to ze purpose of your visit?”
Grigori smiles, a chilling, thin-lipped expression zhat doesn’t reach his unsettlingly still, pale eyes.
“Uninvited, Pakhan? Ssssurely not. Vee are family, or sssoon vill be. Let us not pretend zhisss is simply a courtesy call.Ze terms have changed,” Grigori states, his voice smooth and cold as his serpent’s skin. “Ze Bershov line is failing. Zeunchanging bloodis not a curse vee merely discussss over tea. It is a cursefor some of you, but it’s terminal to some… zhat threatens to make you all insignificant humans and vill eventually have you die out.”
