The fact that he’s such a happy, well-adjusted kid is a testament to Blair and Daniil’s parenting when everyone else around him is typically a miserable bastard. Myself included.
I close my eyes and picture what I’ll do to Daniil when I get him away from his family until I’m able to relax my hands and knock on the door. There’s a murmur of low voices, and then the door opens to reveal Blair peeking at me through the crack. For a moment, she looks so fucking happy.
I want to capture that expression and keep it close so I can look back on it whenever I want.
Her smile freezes on her face as she registers that it’s me, stepping back as quickly as she can to put distance between us before I can protest. Just like that, all my anger is gone. Like it wasn’t even there, consumed by the familiar regret thatweaves its way through my veins. My gut squeezes so tight I can’t breathe, and I have to clench my jaw as I step inside.
“Andrei,” she says, hardly louder than a whisper.
“Hey, Blair.”
Niko laughs as he runs away from Daniil, who’s stomping after him, head thrown back in a dramatic roar. He’s still dressed in a full suit without a hair out of place. Blair moves to lean against the wall furthest from me.
I close the door behind me, the soft click enough to draw Nikolai’s attention. His head whips toward me so fast I worry that he’s going to get whiplash as he sprints toward me.
“Andrei!” he squeals, his smile all gums and teeth when I sweep him into a hug.
“How’ve you been, kid?” he takes a deep breath, and I can’t hold back a smile as he launches into a full explanation of everything that’s happened since I last saw him. I try to come over for dinner at least once a month, if only because Niko makes such a big deal about missing me, but I haven’t been over for a while. And when you’re only three, I guess four months feels like a long fucking time.
Over his shoulder I watch as Daniil goes to Blair’s side and gives her a quick kiss, taking a moment to whisper something I can’t hear. She gives him a private smile as her whole demeanor softens, releasing the instinctive fear that’s held her tight since she saw me.
Niko’s fingers dig into my forearms, dragging my attention back to him. “And Papa says we’re gonna have pancakes!” His eyes are glittering with excitement, cheeks flushed as he talks.
I haven’t heard a word he’s said, but he doesn’t seem to care. He just wants to talkatme, and I’m not going to deny him the opportunity.
Unfortunately, I can’t let him talk for as long as he’d like to.
“Hey,” I interrupt, “I have to steal your papa for some work stuff.” The joy on his face seeps away, leaving him glancing warily between Daniil and I. “That alright with you?”
His eyes settle on Daniil in the fiercest glare a three-year-old can muster. “You promised we could have breakfast,” he whines. To his credit, Daniil rubs the back of his neck, looking ashamed.
“We will, buddy. I have a meeting tonight, but I’ll still be here for pancakes.”
“You promise?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I promise.”
Niko pulls away from me and wraps his arms around Daniil’s leg, his hands clinging to the thick fabric of his pants. When they look at each other, it strikes me how similar they are. The same eyes. The same unshakable confidence. The only thing that keeps him from looking like an exact clone of a younger Daniil is his blond hair, a gift he got from Blair.
Niko’s shoulders slowly slump forward as the two of them look at each other, having a silent debate before Niko gives up, trudging toward Blair with his arms folded across his chest. Reluctantly, he waves in my direction, and I smile at him.
“You be good for your mama, okay?” Daniil waits for Niko to nod, then grins. “Good. Love you guys.”
They call out quiet goodbyes after him as he leaves, heading straight toward his car.
I nod at them as I walk out the door, unable to find a voice to say anything. Niko might not like it, but I’m sure Blair doesn’t mind. I wait on the patio until I hear the softclickof the deadbolt behind me, then follow. The moment we’re alone in his car, the tension from earlier is a persistent ache inside of my skull.
“So. Virgo, huh? I thought you said you wouldn’t kill my brother.”
He remains quiet until we’re only a couple miles from the club, his hands tight on the steering wheel. He doesn’t try to argue with me or justify himself. He just sits in his silence.
“If I had to pick between her and your brother, I’d pick her every time,” he eventually says with a sigh. “So would you.”
If I thought it would accomplish anything, I’d argue with him, but what’s the point? He’s right. Semyon might be my brother, but he’s just as stupid as he is ambitious, and I’ve always known he was going to end up in an early grave. He’s not worth protecting, and by threatening Blair, he’s assured me he’s not even worth the breath it would take to defend him.
But Blair? She’s worth all that and more.
He pulls into the parking lot, the neon lights above the door reflecting a tasteless red across the interior of the car.
