Deceitful Lies by Brook Wilder
Chapter 21
Andrei
Sonya texts me not to bring Paige back to the house too soon.
“We can avoid people if we go out early,” I explain to Paige as we pull out of the gates.
She looks skeptical, but considering Talia’s crazed actions, Paige doesn’t question it.
I chose a small restaurant an hour away for an early dinner, which promises a refined menu with a romantic ambience to match.
Two Rovers with my best men follow behind us. Seryozha has worked hard to get back into my good graces since my wedding day. Before we head out, he assures me no one will disturb my evening out with my wife.
Paige turns aside and gazes at the passing scenery as we drive further north and into the country. I also remain silent, thinking about all the things that have happened in a very short time that have bound us together. I can’t deny the sense of calm she gives me when we talk about the situation. My hands tighten on the steering wheel.
I won’t be my father.
I pull the car in at the Twin Mills. Once a working mill on the river, now it’s a five-star restaurant. It looks charming, nestled peacefully beside the river despite my men and their Rovers parked surrounding it.
“Later, we can walk along the river,” I offer as I help her out of the car.
“I’d love that,” replies Paige.
The rough wooden exterior of the building probably hasn’t changed much since the 1800s, but the interior is furnished in a maximalist and comfortable style. The smiling hostess leads us to a private nook that overlooks the water.
And I’m taken aback by how beautiful Paige looks in her little black dress. Her effortless elegance overshadows all the other patrons. She always manages to surprise me, and I find it hard to look away from her.
We order a bottle of sparkling water and two of the restaurant’s signature seafood dishes. Halibut is simple, but the execution is impressive, and our conversation flows effortlessly. No talk about the Bratva. We entertain each other with stories from our lives before we met. As the day progresses and the food slowly disappears, I feel my heart tug in a way I have never felt before.
I know then that I’m in love.
But instead of sharing my thoughts, I reach into my pocket. “I have something for you.”
Paige hesitates when I place the velvet box on the table. She stares at it, trying hard to keep the smile plastered on her face.
“Go on.” I laugh softly. “You’ll like it.”
Paige watches me for reassurance, pulling the box closer. She opens it and gasps in surprise; her cheeks flush as she looks up at me, her eyes widening with delight. It’s the first time I’ve seen her so openly accept being pampered, and it feels good. It feels like I’ve finally gotten it right.
It’s the perfect piece of jewelry for her—expensive but not flashy. A tasteful silver necklace with a delicate teardrop-shaped sapphire pendant. Gently, I pull her hair aside and fasten the necklace behind her neck. The pendant rests in her cleavage as she places her fingertips on the sapphire. I place a kiss on her neck and trace my fingers along her bare shoulders, feeling her quiver at my touch.
“You are beautiful,” I whisper as the heat grows between us. “I want you always.”
“Thank you, Andrei.” She giggles as if embarrassed, but the look of appreciation on her face tells me what she’s too flustered to say. Despite everything that has happened and will happen, Paige is worth it.
***
The ballroom is packed full of people and furnishings; mid-modern furniture made of pale wood and decorations in bold colors fill the gaps between the lively guests. A pleasant smell of newly cut grass drifts in from open French doors as the sun sets in the sky. The room is noisy with upbeat voices and the laughter of adults and children. The chairs are littered with gift bags and tissue paper as a fast-growing pile of baby gifts—from stuffed animals to rattles, onesies, and booties—towers on a nearby table.
Paige’s bridesmaids are also in attendance, but the Paige of today is different from the scared bride forced to walk down the aisle months ago. She resembles a queen on her chaise lounge, and my chest lifts with pride at the sight.
Paige has changed into a festive red dress and beams as she opens each gift with a chorus of admiring oohs-and-ahs from the gathered guest. Gifts for the new baby are spread around her as small children race around the room, marveling at the colorful balloons and playing made-up party games. Raucous joy is unusual for a Bratva gathering.
I avoid the enthusiastic mob of women surrounding my wife and stand at the opposite wall with the other men, who help themselves to food and drinks. The gaiety only distracts me for a little while as I notice Vanya doing his best to avoid Sonya. He only looks at her with furtive glances when she’s talking to another man and then quickly looks away when their eyes meet. Sonya seems to be glowing with happiness as she laughs and talks with the other guests. Still, I notice a melancholy whenever she looks toward Vanya.
“Congratulations, Andrei Vasilyevich.” Dmitri stands beside me, and I quickly focus my attention on him. “The party is a success. Even Natasha looks happy.”
I nod. “She’s been given strict instructions not to talk about work.”
Dmitri smirks. “Then I will wait until later.”
“Is there something you should tell me?”
“We found an informant willing to tell us about Cynthia Reyes.”
Finally, there is progress. Why it took so long, I do not know. “We’ll talk after the party.”
He nods his understanding and walks off to mingle with the other guests.
Left on my own again, I watch the room. Natasha and Dmitri have my permission to take the day off, but I cannot look around without thinking about the plans I have in action.
My gaze rests on Viktor and Emma, tucked away in a corner, sitting close on a sofa. The boy has become too friendly with my sister-in-law, their voices low and intimate. Her hand rests on his knee as she whispers something in his ear, prompting a peal of laughter.
Viktor has started to act differently around Emma, speaking in a familiar way. She doesn’t resist being here anymore and doesn’t complain about spending time in her room. She’s rarely alone. Not that being in her room is a hardship. Emma has subscriptions to all the streaming services, which she watches on her laptop and phone. And like a minion, Viktor brings her Starbucks every morning when he arrives. Mother has also been spoiling the girl with an abundance of makeup and clothes, to the point that her suite is starting to look like a mall.
Arranged marriages are still common in the Bratva between suitable families, and I’m within my rights to broker a marriage for Emma. Of course, not to a low-level guard or a recruit, but a suitable husband with connections may be a good solution before trouble can start.
“Why are you sulking over by the food, Andrei?”
Paige wraps her arms around my neck, and we kiss to applause from the guests.
“Was I sulking?” I reply. “I was deep in thought, wondering if I will need a second house for all these incredible gifts.”
Paige smiles, pleased that the guests laugh at my joke. “Come cut the cake with me,” she says, grasping my hands and leading me toward the dessert table. “And later, I can thank you properly.”
A boisterous cheer rises as we kiss again, to the delight of the party. Once upon a time, Paige was a stranger with a dangerous secret that not even she was aware of. But now, things have changed, and my life will never be the same again.
