77

Chapter 28
Misha
Sitting at a table in the dining hall, I keep watching the entrance for Aurora and Abbie.
It will be the first time we’re all having dinner together, and I want it to go well.
Glancing at Alek, I say, “This is important to me. Behave.” With his finger above his head, he circles a halo.
“You’re the furthest thing from an angel,” Armani chuckles. The women come in, and I get up to pull out a chair for Aurora.
Alek just reaches over and yanks the chair back for Abbie, “Sit your ass down, woman. I’m starving.”
“Be still my beating heart,” Abbie mutters.
I press a kiss to my woman’s forehead, then wait for her to take a seat before I get comfortable next to her.
Abbie waves a server closer, and with her eyes glued to the menu, she orders, “I want calamari with lemon butter, the fifty-hour-cooked beef short rib, and thhhhe…”
“Iisus Khristos,” Alek mutters. “Just bring her the whole fucking menu.”
Abbie shoots a scowl at Alek. “Shut up.” A sweet smile curves her lips as she turns her attention back to the server. “And I’ll have a serving of fries.”
Just as Alek gets ready to order, Abbie adds, “Oh, and a sprite zero, please.”
“Seriously?” Alek stares at the woman as if she has two heads. “Diet soda won’t help shit when you eat so much.”
Abbie’s eyes narrow on Alek. “Are you calling me fat?”
His eyes drift over her, then the corner of his mouth lifts. “No.” I let out a sigh of relief.
Jesus, that was close.
“I like sprite zero,” Abbie mutters, and with a huff, she turns her attention to Aurora. “What are you having?”
“Your leftovers,” my woman chuckles.
I wait for Alek and Armani to tell the server what they want, then order a ribeye steak for Aurora and the same for me.
“I wasn’t joking,” Aurora says.
“Neither was I,” I mutter. “You’ll eat the steak.”
She stares at me for a moment, then shakes her head.
Resting my arm on the back of her chair, I lean into her and say, “My woman doesn’t eat leftovers.”
Her eyes lock on mine, then she says, “But I’m really okay with it.”
I shake my head. “Do this for me. I’ve had enough secondhand shit in my life for the both of us.”
Her eyebrows draw together, and compassion fills her emerald irises. “Sorry, baby. I didn’t think.”
I press a kiss to her temple before whispering, “If you call me baby again, I might just have to fuck you at the table.”
She lets out a chuckle. “As punishment or because it turns you on?” “I love it,” I admit.
When I pull back, it’s to see Abbie, Alek, and Armani just staring at us with bored expressions.
Right, our friends are here. I forgot for a moment.
“Aurora and I are going to the nearby town on Saturday,” Abbie drops a bomb at the table.
“You’re what?” I ask, not sure I heard right.
Aurora grins at me. “Oh yes, I forgot to tell you. We’re going shopping.”
Alek raises his eyebrows at me, chuckling, “And I’m told to behave when you’re about to lose your shit.”
“Why?” Aurora asks, her eyes snapping to my face. “The hits have been canceled.”
I give Alek a look of warning when he goes to open his mouth. I haven’t told Aurora there’s still a hit out on Abbie’s life.
Armani throws me a bone by muttering, “That doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to leave the grounds.”
“Yes, but no one besides the three of you will know about our little escape act,” Abbie says.
Christ.
Not wanting to just blurt out Abbie’s still in danger, I say, “The three of us will go with you.”
“The fuck?” Alek asks, looking stunned out of his mind.
Armani groans, and rolling his eyes, he mutters, “I don’t do shopping trips with socialites.”
Abbie scrunches her nose. “Yeah, I’m not so sure about that.”
I turn my attention to Aurora. “Either we go with, or you’re not setting foot off the grounds.”
Her gaze searches mine, then she nods. “It’s okay, Abbie. They can carry all the bags.”
“Oh, right, I didn’t think about that.”
“The fuck?” Alek repeats, still shell-shocked.
Abbie pats his thigh. “It’s okay, crazy man. It will give you some training for when you find a woman insane enough to date you.”
As if one bomb wasn’t enough, Aurora takes my hand and says, “Before I forget, we won’t be here the weekend of the sixteenth. It’s my mom’s birthday.”
“Where will you be?” I frown. “For how long?”
“At the Sartori vacation home here in Switzerland. It will just be for the Saturday and Sunday.”
“Then you’re coming back?” I check to make sure.
Aurora must read between the lines because she gives my hand a squeeze. “Yes. Don’t worry. It will be fine.”
Not if her father gets wind that we’re dating. Then he’ll probably lock her up, and I’ll be forced to break her out.
Which I will do. Make no mistake about that.
“About this Saturday,” Alek says when he has finally recovered enough to think straight. “I’m not carrying anyone’s bags.”
“Such a gentleman,” Abbie sighs, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’ll make me swoon if you carry on like that.”
He pins her with a cold stare that would make a grown man piss himself. “Just in case there’s a misunderstanding, I don’t give a fuck about you. I’m going for Misha.”
Thank God the server arrives with our food.
Armani stands up and gestures for Alek to switch seats with him.
“Thanks, brother,” I mutter as a plate of steak is set down in front of me.
Armani gives me a chin lift before he steals one of Abbie’s calamari pieces.
She gives him a sweet smile. “Help yourself.” My eyes narrow on them.
I’ve been talking to Armani about an arranged marriage between him and Tiana. I need it to happen, so I know my sister is married to a good man.
Aurora must’ve seen the expression on my face because she whispers, “Armani’s not her type. Relax.”
Everyone still hears what Aurora says because Abbie bursts out laughing. “Yeah, he’s a little too young for me.”
Alek shakes his head. “Armani’s older than you, woman.”
“First, stop calling me woman. I have a name. Second, he’s too young by at least ten years,” Abbie snaps at Alek.
Giving up the hope that this will be a peaceful dinner, I cut into my steak and pop the bite into my mouth.
Abbie glances around the dining hall, then points at Instructor Nikolai. “That’s the kind of man I’m interested in.”
I swallow, then comment, “I thought you hated him.”
She scrunches her nose. “Nah, it’s a love-hate relationship.”
“Does Nikolai know he’s in a relationship with you?” Alek taunts her.
Jesus Christ, I’m not going to win with these two.
Alek catches my exasperated expression and shrugs, “I’m just asking a question.”
“I didn’t say we’re dating,” Abbie mutters.
“Interesting fact.” I’m just about to think Armani’s changing the subject when he says, “Did you know Nikolai was married?”
“What?” Abbie gasps.
“His wife died days after they got married. She had a heart problem.
Word is he hasn’t looked at another woman since.” “Oh wow, that’s so tragic,” Aurora murmurs.
“Yeah, unless he’s here, he’s at home with his family,” Alek adds. “The man doesn’t let anyone in. I can understand why.”
My eyes lock with Alek’s, and for a split-moment, I see the pain he keeps hidden before it’s gone.
People think Alek is cruel, but he’s just broken.
For a blessed minute, everyone eats, then Abbie asks, “What time are we leaving on Saturday?”
“Ten?” Aurora asks, looking at me for approval.
“Ten works,” I murmur, watching as she takes a bite of her food. “Enjoying it?”
She nods, a beautiful smile tugging at her lips.