Hidden Monsters (Volkov Bratva #4)(63)

“Well…” Amber said as she came into the room. “I just got here. Don’t worry, though.” She looked at Mishca, Klaus, and Luka in turn. “I didn’t see anything, or hear anything. Oh, look. Cookies.”

That was enough to ease most of the tension in the room.

Alex was just glad it hadn’t been worse. Luka was staring at her, and the relief she felt at seeing him okay was short lived as Natasha came around the corner, looking at him the same way Alex had.

Mishca and Lauren had left the room, gone to talk it out, Alex assumed.

“When did it happen?”

Alex blinked, looking at Klaus who was watching her in return. “What?”

“You and him,” he said with a tilt of his head in Luka’s direction. “I’m guessing that’s the reason you’re looking like you want to throw up.”

“It’s not what you think.” It was exactly what he thought.

“Hey,” he said with a nudge to her side. “At least it’s better than waking up with someone about to stab you in the back. Literally. Almost didn’t make it out of that one.”

“First of all, gross. You’re like the sketchy, older, angry-prone brother I never had. I really don’t want to think about you doing anything that isn’t…” She racked her brain for something that reminded her of him but didn’t make her want to vomit. “Polishing guns or something. Second, did that seriously happen? Did she get you, or did you get out of the way in time.”

She reached to pull up his shirt, but he chuckled waving her hands away. “It’s all good.”

“So…feeling better now? I’m not in danger of being on the receiving end of all that anger?”

“Not unless you don’t give me my bottle back. I hate holidays, and I would prefer to not remember this one either.”

Because of whoever the girl was who they were talking about. Sarah. Alex was curious, and maybe she would have asked him about her had she not seen the kind of reaction he had at just hearing her name.

She knew all about bad memories though, and if he didn’t want to face them, who was she to force him.

Handing him back the bottle of scotch, the brown liquid glinting in the low light, she watched him take two long swallows. He looked at the bottle, and then held it out to her, his question in the gesture.

“No, thanks. I’ve cut back on my drinking.” Meaning she didn’t drink at all nowadays.

“No shit? Trying to stay sober?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Good for you.” And he actually looked proud of her. “Does that mean I can’t drink around you though? Because I like you, but at the moment, I think I like this drink more.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “Feel free to ruin your liver.”

“It’s good to see you, Alex.”

Her smile froze on her face as she was forced to look at the last person in the world she wanted to see. Natasha wore a dress that accentuated her figure, her long, dark hair hand down her back. If Alex didn’t despise her, then she might have complimented her on the choice.

“Hi.” Alex reached the glass of Sprite she had left on the table, chugging it down as an excuse to not say more.

Her smile still firmly in place, she looked at Klaus. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

“We’ve had no reason to. I like mine freely given.”

Alex, surprised at Klaus’ comment, spit out her drink, covering her mouth as she tried to muffle the giggle that was fighting to escape. He might have just tried to hurt both Mishca and Luka, but at the moment, he was her favorite person in the world.

Though she didn’t want to, Alex looked at Luka. His gaze was on her, yes, but not on her face. They were drifting over her outfit, and if his expression was anything to go by, he really liked what he saw. She knew that look. He’d worn it when he’d gone down on her.

Awareness flushed through her, and as she cleared her throat, his eyes flickered up to her. Yeah, he was thinking the same thing she was.

A door closed in the distance, Mishca and Lauren reappearing. She stopped to greet her friend, but Mishca headed on into the kitchen.

Wanting to escape Luka, and the implications of Natasha being there, Alex left them, escaping to the kitchen where she found Mishca hunting in his liquor cabinets. His back was to her as she entered, but he glanced over his shoulder when she came in.

“Are you trying to get in here?”

“I don’t drink anymore,” she said striding to his side.

“Since when.”

Since that night with Snow that she barely remembered and Luka subsequently helping her get through it. “Just a life change.”

“Good for you, but I’m having a bad night, so excuse me.”

“Huh, Klaus said something similar. Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she said when he gave her a dark look. “There a reason you were going for each other’s throat?”

“He disrespected my wife.”

Alex frowned. “Why are you talking like that?”

He arched a brow.

“My wife. Niklaus. Why are you being so formal?”

“What do you want, Alex?”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she asked, and this time it wasn’t meant as a casual question. He was acting off.