Hidden Monsters (Volkov Bratva #4)(105)

Sighing, Lauren crossed the room, reaching into the crib to pick up Sacha as she cradled him to her chest. Though she was smiling, she did look tired, making Alex wonder how everything was back here. While she might have spoken to Lauren once every two weeks since she’d left, she hadn’t talked to Mishca once. At first, he seemed perfectly accepting of that, but after the first month, he made it a point to call her and leave voicemails—ones she promptly deleted without listening to them—probably at his wife’s urging.

“I know I promised not to get in the middle of this, but don’t you think you’ve punished him enough?”

Not even close. “Luka spent years suffering in the very place that Mishca sent him back to and for what? What could his reason have possibly been to do that to someone who cared more about all of us than he did himself?”

Alex wouldn’t lie. She did miss her brother, more than anything, but her resentment was far stronger. She could still remember begging him to do anything to bring Luka back, how she had even gone to Klaus, then Celt, only to be shut down because they were ordered by Mishca not to help her in any way. How could she ever forgive him?

One week later, she’d emptied the last of her savings and fled with the clothes on her back…and Loki. She could never have left him behind. Her pain had only been made worse because of Loki’s reaction to Luka being gone.

At night, he whined, sometimes pawing at the door to be let out, but after a while, he would give up, jumping up on the bed beside her and resting his head on her leg.

Those nights were the hardest.

“I know, and I understand your anger with him, but—”

Alex knew she meant well, but she just wasn’t ready to have this conversation. “Lauren, please. I love you, you know that, but…I can’t. Not right now. One day, I might be able to speak to him, but it’s too soon for me.”

Sighing in defeat, Lauren shook her head. “If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

“Thanks.”

With several kisses to Sacha’s cheeks, she handed him over, smoothing down his hair. Alex had no doubt that Lauren was a great mother. She could not remember a time when Anya had ever looked at her so fondly, and with her compassion, Alex doubted that she would expose Sacha to the life that had caused so much pain in their family.

“Go on, I have him.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “Everything you need is in the bag. You have my cell, obviously, and I wrote—”

“I’ve got it. We do this every time.”

“Right, right. Sorry. I know you said you don’t want Klaus riding with you, but I would still appreciate it if you let him tail you to your hotel.”

“Of course.”

She pulled Alex into a hug. “It’s good to see you, Alex.”

They went down together, but in the lobby, Lauren headed for the parking deck and Alex went out the front, careful to keep Sacha’s blanket covering his carseat.

Outside, she didn’t have to look for Klaus. He was leaning against the side of her rental, arms folded across his chest, feet crossed at the ankles. He’d let his hair grow out some since the last time she had seen him, the dark strands now pulled back into a small bun at the back of his head. Still dressed in his customary black, there wasn’t much change to him.

Ignoring him for the time being, she pressed the unlock key on the remote, pulling open the rear door to get Sacha situated in the back.

“Bit rude not to speak, you know.”

Still ignoring him, she hunted through the diaper bag for the small blue pacifier that was Sacha’s favorite, then a toy before she closed the door again.

Smiling tightly, she said, “Hi.”

“Is that anyway to treat your long-lost brother?” he asked, trailing behind her as she went around to the driver’s side. He opened the door for her before she had the chance to reach for it.

Alex spun around so fast that her hair slapped him in the chest. “You’re not my brother, Klaus. Mishca is not my brother. Think of me as more like a distant cousin—the one that only comes around for holidays, and even then, it’s only for about an hour.”

“Time of the month?” he asked as she climbed in, pulling her seatbelt on.

“Fuck you. Go get your ass in your monstrosity of a car and follow me over. The sooner we get to my place, the sooner this meeting is over.”

She waited for him to step back to close the door, jamming the key into the ignition as he jogged back to his own car. When the roar of his engine sounded, Alex pulled out, only checking in her rearview mirror once on the way to her hotel. The ride itself was short, and by the time she parked and grabbed Sacha from the backseat, Klaus was walking up.

“As you can see, we made it here just fine. And look,” she said pointing toward the entrance, “there’s even a doorman.”

“Are you gonna act bitchy all the way up to your room?” he asked candidly as he shut the door behind her. “Because bottom line, we need to have a talk.”

Gritting her teeth, she glared at him. “I don’t have to let you in.”

“Voluntary or involuntary. Either way, I’m coming in. Your choice, sweetheart.”

There was no point in arguing it further. He was going to do what he wanted anyway. Hoisting the bag further up her shoulder, she headed inside.