Where the Snow Falls (Seasons of Betrayal #2)(52)

Her sarcasm couldn’t be contained.

Even Kaz smirked but hid it by glancing away.

Violet wasn’t done quite yet, though. “But hey, good for you, Nicole. You finally got what you wanted from my brother, right?”

Nicole’s cold smile melted away, leaving a scowl in its place. “You’re the only one who seems to have forgotten what famiglia is, Violet. So while you have your fun and cause a mess, the rest of us still have a duty to do.”

Because that was all Nicole would ever be to Carmine.

Just a duty.

A wife.

Proper. Acceptable. Respectable.

It didn’t have to be for love. He didn’t even have to like her.

Only the rest of la famiglia had to do those things.

“I’ll let your father know you’re back in town,” Nicole said, buttoning up her trench coat. “I’m sure he’d love to know I saw you here.”

Kaz finally decided to step in, clearly having decided that he’d heard enough. Of course, he didn’t do it in the way Violet expected. Like earlier with the too-nice woman at the podium, he simply lifted Violet’s hand with his own, making sure that ring on her finger was clearly visible, and brushed her knuckles with a kiss.

Nicole’s gaze caught the ring, narrowing.

“Do that,” Kaz said simply.

Nicole turned on her heel and left the restaurant without another word or even a look over her shoulder.

Strangely, Violet felt better after her old friend was gone.

But not entirely.

Kaz had yet to relax. “I’m starting to think—as much as I enjoy Alfie’s restaurant—that he might have his hands in too many pots.”

Violet’s brow furrowed. “What?”

“Nothing.”

A throat cleared behind them, drawing their attention back to the woman standing behind the podium. She looked a little more wary than she had before when she said, “If you’re ready, the table is open for you.”

Kaz looked at Violet and then offered the woman an apologetic smile. “Not today—another time.”

Violet didn’t understand. “Why can’t we eat?”

Instead of answering, he put a hand on her lower back and guided her out of the restaurant and down the few steps to the sidewalk. Only when a few passersby were long gone out of earshot did Kaz say, “How long do you think that girl was out of the restaurant before she had your brother—or better, your father—on the phone? No, we’re not going to stand around and wait for someone to come make a scene.”

Ah.

“I’m still hungry,” Violet muttered.

Kaz nodded. “How about the diner?”

She didn’t even have to ask which one he was talking about.

“Okay,” she agreed.

“Kazimir?”

Kaz’s head lifted at the call of his name, a smile quickly growing as he took in the woman coming down the steps of the restaurant toward them. Violet recognized the woman instantly, though she’d only met her once, and it hadn’t exactly been a good meeting.

Vera Markovic.

“Vera,” Kaz greeted.

Vera gave Violet a quick look and a tight smile before turning her attention solely on her brother. “Rus said you were back in town.”

“Trying to keep quiet, yeah?”

“I can see why,” Vera replied.

While she didn’t look at Violet, there was no doubt in her mind Vera was talking about her.

Kaz tugged Violet a little closer to his side. “Be nice.”

“Be careful,” Vera shot back. “Ma’s having a fit, you know.”

“I can’t help what Vasily did.”

“You should go see her, maybe.”

Kaz’s thumb swept back and forth over Violet’s back, soothing and calm. “I will. What are you doing around here?”

Vera raised a brow, shrugging. “Seeing a friend.”

Why did it feel like the whole conversation between Kaz and Vera was laced with things Violet had no clue about?

“Visit Ma,” Vera repeated.

“I will,” Kaz assured. “Soon.”

Vera nodded at Violet’s hand resting on Kaz’s arm, her gaze zoning in on the engagement ring. “And don’t forget to tell her about that, brother.”





Times had changed since Kaz was back at his family’s seaside mansion. It’d been almost a year, if he thought about it, and he could see the passage of time. There was a distinct lack of cars in the driveway, only the one Mercedes his mother favored.

Driving up the cobblestone, he parked beside the car, killing the engine as he glanced over at Violet. “Breathe. They’ll love you.”

Irina Markovic was nothing if not respectful. It didn’t matter whether she disliked someone or not. She put on a proper face and played the part, but while Kaz felt confident that his mother and sisters would like her just fine, under the current circumstances, he wasn’t sure what he would find on the other side of that front door.

But they would need to get past it because Violet wasn’t going anywhere.

After going around to her side and opening her door, the pair walked the short distance up the flight of stairs where Kaz then rang the doorbell and waited. It wasn’t long before the door was swinging open with Nika standing on the other side.