Page 28 of In Her Blood
The men quickly settled into the front seats, pretty much entirely obscuring her forward view, and Otto muttered something too low for Evelina to hear. Moments later, the engine rolled to life and they were in motion.
She let her gaze wander out the window, taking in the streets and cloudy nighttime skyline of the city as they drove. In twenty-four hours, she’d be in a whole other state with her only female friend, hopefully relaxing enough to temporarily forget her stress and enjoy a frivolous weekend. In the back of her mind, Evelina realized it may well be her very last frivolous weekend. One didn’t typically find the leader of any type of organized crime just out socializing or partaking of public events like it was no big deal.
A wild thought occurred to her and she couldn’t stop the gasp. She remembered her mother saying that Aunt Nora had married some dangerous mafia man, but was it possible he’d beentheman in his mafia group? Or next in line, even? Moreover, was it possible that Aunt Nora was proving so hard to find online because she’d become some sort of power woman in her mafia group?Does the mafia have those?
“Lina?”
That was a dumb thought. The bratva weren’t well known for strong, forward women, either. Historically, they weren’t known for women in general. But that was changing, little by little.
“Lina,” Otto repeated, his voice firmer.
Evelina snapped back to the moment and found him half-twisted in his seat, scowling at her. “What?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’?” His stare burned over her, scrutinizing. “Are you in pain?”
She opened her mouth to ask why in the hell he’d just randomly demand that when it dawned on her. All she could do was groan and roll her eyes. “Bozhe moy, Otto, you’re so overdramatic. I’m fine, okay? I just had a startling moment of insight.”
He arched a brow. “I see.” He twisted back around and reached to resecure his seatbelt.
She kicked the backside of his seat. “Jerk.”
Otto ignored her and pointed over the dash. “This one up here.”
Evelina blinked as the SUV turned, suddenly recognizing where they were headed. Rather, where they’d come to. Otto had directed them to his family home. Somehow, the realization of that warmed something inside her.
“Your pops has his own house, huh?” Artem asked as he brought the SUV to a stop. “Mine never gave up his condo.”
“He passed?” Otto asked.
“Five years ago.”
Evelina watched as the men exchanged odd grunts before exiting the vehicle. It almost felt like a moment of understanding, as people rather than the weapons and soldiers they had been shaped to become, and the whole thing left her unsure how to add her own sympathies. She was grateful, though less than surprised, when Otto was the one to help her from the SUV.
He was gentle as always, deftly avoiding the injury on her arm and making sure she didn’t knock her still-healing knees,but somehow the weight of his touch at her back felt … heavier. Warmer, at least.
Probably it was all in her head.
Artem trailed behind them up to the house and Otto knocked only once before letting them in with his spare key.
Evelina felt nearly invisible between the two oversized men. But she forgot the oddness of the sensation the moment the distantly familiar scent of Otto’s childhood home hit her nose. He hadn’t brought her there often, but he had on occasion. Usually, they’d been good visits. His home had always been warmer than hers. She suspected that was why she’d liked it.
“Pa, you still up?” Otto shouted down the hall once the door was shut.
“Otto, that you?” Iouri stepped properly from around the corner and light flicked on overhead, revealing him dressed down in lounge pants and an undershirt. He held a shotgun low at his side. “I damn near shot you, boy.”
Evelina swatted the back of Otto’s uninjured arm. “You should have at least texted him to tell him we were coming.”
Otto tilted his head. “He hates texting.”
“Lina? Aw, hell, I shouldn’t be lettin’ you see me like this, sweet girl,” Iouri said, suddenly sounding almost embarrassed. He swept the gun behind him as if he could hide it. “Let me, ah, get a shirt on. You want anything to drink? Everything okay?” He squinted at them. “Who’s that with you?”
“You goin’ blind, Pa?”
Evelina elbowed him, then promptly regretted it as she’d used her wounded arm. She pulled her arm in close and said, “You’re fine, Mr. Voronin, really. I’m sorry Otto didn’t tellyou we were coming. Do you mind if we borrow your dining room? Or a sitting room? I just need a quiet place for a comfortable conversation.”
Otto blew out a breath. “You’re the one who told me about Artem, remember?”
Iouri nodded and gestured outward. “Please, help yourself. I’ll try to stay outta your way.”
