The Final Hour (Volkov Bratva #3)(14)

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Susan interjected. “Don’t worry, he’s on his way back.”

Lauren flushed guiltily, not meaning to have been so obvious as she looked around for Mishca and the others. “Did he tell you about the party tonight?” She asked, trying to get any information she could.

She had known that Mishca was planning something special for her graduation, but she had no idea what it was, and he wasn’t wiling to share any of the details either.

“We’re on strict orders not to reveal anything,” Susan said, reaching out to brush Lauren’s hair off her shoulders.

She didn’t think there was any parent in the world that looked even half as proud as Susan and Ross did as they unraveled Lauren’s diploma, smiling at each other. Lauren was just glad that she could put those smiles there.

“Oy, oy!”

Mishca, Luka, Alex, and Amber were all walking towards them, Mishca rolling his eyes at Luka’s outburst.

“Who is that?” Ross asked, clearly referring to Luka.

“Luka. He’s my bodyguard.” She thought that sounded better than saying he was an enforcer for Mishca. While she doubted Ross would completely thaw towards Mishca, he had at least become cordial.

“He has plenty of tattoos, doesn’t he?” Susan asked. “And he’s a bit…odd.”

Lauren could only laugh. “That’s only the half of it.”

It didn’t matter that she had just seen Mishca a few hours prior, she still reacted like it was the first time all over again. Mishca came over and despite Ross’ glare of death, Lauren fell into his side, wrapping an arm around his waist. If anything, Ross hatred for him had worsened since the last time they’d been in contact, thanks in part to Lauren’s phone call home after Brahim.

Susan might have been willing to let Mishca handle it, but Ross was still a cop through and through. After quick hug and a congratulations, Amber swept past to talk to Susan, and was the only one that was able to get a genuine smile out of Ross.

Alex was off to the side with Luka, both arguing with each other softly, like they didn’t notice they had an audience of one.

At Lauren’s approach, Luka turned away, presenting her with a bright green apple that looked like it had just been plucked from a tree.

“For you.”

“Thanks Luka.” One day she would get to the bottom of his obsession with fruit. “My mom was just asking about you.”

He stood a little taller, straightening an imaginary tie. “I’ll try not to embarrass you.” Patting her head, he walked past.

“Why were the two of you arguing?” Lauren asked when he was well out of earshot.

“Because he’s an idiot.”

“I don’t think I’ve heard that one before, but I’ll let you deal with him. Have you met my mom and Ross?”

Lauren was ready to pull her over and introduce them, but Alex froze where she was, looking a bit sheepish.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” She asked softly, glancing down at the toes of her heels.

“What do you mean?”

Alex shifted on her feet, looking apprehensive, like she wanted to be anywhere but there.

“I’m the reason that—”

“No, you’re not,” Lauren spoke up before she could finish. “I never blamed you, not once, and I know they won’t either. There’s no need to feel awkward at all.”

“Mom, Ross, this is Alex, Mishca’s sister—Alex, these are my parents.”

Susan didn’t miss a beat, engulfing Alex into a hug that she wasn’t expecting. Lauren could almost see the tension draining out of Mishca as he stood to the side, silently.

“Luka will drive you over,” Mishca said as Susan continued to fuss over Alex.

“Don’t take too long,” Ross said with narrowed eyes. “I know where you live, boy."



Riverpark in Kip’s Bay was one of the many restaurants Lauren had wanted to go to since moving to New York. Since he had asked, Lauren had made a list of It took only a single phone call to book the patio of the restaurant for the night. The management staff took every liberty to make the space even more magical than it already was, adding to the view of the East River it provided.

The party was going quite well all things considered, at least until Lauren shrugged out of her blazer, her dress shifting with the movement to reveal a hint of one of the stars inked in her skin.

To say that Ross didn’t take that well was an understatement.

She was sure that the glass he held would shatter with the grip he had on it. Cringing slightly, Lauren straightened it, hiding her stars, but it was too late.

Surprisingly, Ross didn’t mention them, though his expression promised that with the slightest provocation, he would snap.

Dinner was a rather quiet affair, all things considered, and if not for the rather candid guards sitting around, it would have felt like a normal dinner with family.

As they ate, beneath the table, he kept his hand on her bare thigh, jut as he had done so many times in the past. It was hard to concentrate on anything else when his thumb swept across her skin. It wasn’t like he was doing it on purpose, not when he was busy holding a conversation with the others, but it was the only thing she could focus on.

“I’ll be right back,” Mishca said before long, pressing a quick kiss to her temple.