Where the Snow Falls (Seasons of Betrayal #2)(53)

She looked tired, resigned to whoever she would find standing there, but when she caught sight of Kaz, her face split into a grin as she threw her arms around him, nearly taking him back a step. Before he could fully appreciate the moment, she was stepping back and slapping him in the chest.

“Ma’s been worried sick about you! You just leave and don’t say anything. We thought you were dead, *. Why—” In the middle of her tirade, she finally seemed to notice that Kaz wasn’t alone. “Is this her?”

“Violet, meet my sister, Nika. Nika, this is Violet.”

“Huh … you’re prettier than I was expecting.”

“Don’t start,” Kaz muttered low, his words in Russian and meant only for Nika to hear.

“What?” Nika responded in kind. “I meant it as a compliment.”

Sometimes, she had a tendency to come across as rude even when she didn’t mean to. “Where’s Mom?”

“Where she usually is,” Nika mumbled as she finally moved to the side to let them in.

Glancing back at Violet to see how she was handling all this, he gave her a squeeze before leading the way inside, following behind Nika. The place was just as clean as he remembered, the floor polished and gleaming with fresh flowers in vases around the room.

At first glance, everything looked the same.

But Kaz could see what was beneath the surface.

Irina made a habit of rearranging the rooms, constantly changing the décor to fit whatever mood she was in, but everything he saw had been in place the last time he was there—like it had all come to a standstill.

“Ma?” Nika called out once she cleared the doorway to the kitchen. “Kaz is here, and he brought Violet.”

Irina Markovic sat at the dining room table, a mug of coffee cupped in her hands, and her gaze trained on the windows beside her. For just a moment, though she tried to hide it, he saw the fear and worry in her eyes.

Realizing almost belatedly that she wasn’t alone, Irina quickly set down her cup and got to her feet, smoothing her already perfect hair. “Kazimir, what have I told you about just showing up?” she chided him, even as she came forward to cup his face, kissing both his cheeks. “You know better.”

“I was worried about you,” he said by way of an answer, not bothering to mention Vasily or Vera.

“You should be. Who doesn’t visit their mother in months?” She didn’t mention his time in jail. She probably never would.

“I’m here now. That should count for something, no?”

Irina’s gaze flitted to Violet, but unlike his sister’s, hers remained unexcited. “Violet Gallucci, I presume.”

Violet was quick with a smile, releasing Kaz’s hand to offer it to her. “Yes, very nice to meet you.”

Irina accepted her hand without question, a pleasant smile spreading, at least until she glanced down and saw the ring adorning her finger. Like any woman who turned her cheek to her husband’s dealings, his mother gave no outward reaction.

Releasing her hand, Irina asked, “How long are you two staying? Dina should be home soon, and I’m sure she would love to see you.”

Glancing at Violet, he tried to gauge her reaction to his mother’s words. “We’ve got time.”

“Excellent. Nika, would you mind getting Violet something to drink? We’ll be along in a moment.”

Nika didn’t hesitate to turn away and follow their mother’s orders, but Violet hesitated at his side. It wasn’t lost on her that Irina was doing this so she and Kaz could speak alone, especially since it came right after Irina saw the ring.

“I won’t be long,” he said in her ear as she walked by him, heading in the same direction Nika had taken.

Once they were out of sight, Irina lost the mask. All the anger, frustration, and fear she had been feeling over the last few months came pouring out. “Kazimir, what have you done?”

“Ma—”

“Don’t. Have you any idea what you’ve caused?”

Kaz reminded himself that this was his mother, and she was feeling the effects of the chaos around them too. “Nothing that wasn’t already in motion long before Violet stepped foot in Rus’ club. None of this is any fault of mine. Vasily didn’t take off because of her. He took off because of what he did.”

Irina shook her head, looking far more frustrated than she had moments prior. “You were just a boy back then, Kazimir. You have no idea what Gavrill was like when he wasn’t playing the part. He loved you boys, but he was a tyrant on the best of days.”

Kaz blinked in surprise, but not because of anything she said, but because of what she didn’t say. “You knew. You knew what Vasily did.”

“Does she not know the moves you make, Kazimir?”

“Don’t turn this on me. He—”

“Was doing the same thing you’re doing now,” Irina said. As she stared at him, he realized it wasn’t anger in her eyes but sadness. “I make no excuses for who your father became after what he did, but don’t pretend your motives aren’t just as selfish as his were. He wanted that seat and was willing to do anything to get it. You want that girl and look at what you’re doing, Kazimir—ready to tear your own family apart and spill the blood of innocents to keep her.”