Where the Sun Hides (Seasons of Betrayal #1)(21)

Kaz sat back with a shrug. “Duly noted.”

The front door opened with a crash, the sound of two giggling teenagers breaking up the somber mood that had settled in the kitchen. Just as before, Kaz let down his guard as his two younger sisters, Dina and Nika, came barreling into the kitchen, oblivious to the tension that had just been there.

Of the two, Nika was the more outgoing. Dina let her sister lead, waiting her turn as Nika immediately came over to him and wrapped her arms around him. Getting to his feet, Kaz returned the embrace, reaching to bring Dina into the fold as well.

“Kaz, what are you doing here?” Nika asked, smiling up at him.

“Just visiting,” he returned smoothly. “And coming to ask what the two of you wanted for your birthday?”

From the corner of his eye, he could see Vasily nodding.

Nika looked to Dina, and Dina back to her before they both looked to Kaz and said simultaneously, “Clothes.”

“There’s this new place over on Sixteenth Street,” Dina said in a rush, picking up on her sister’s excitement. “We’ve been dying to go, but because Nika is having trouble in school …”

“Dina!”

“What?” she returned with an arch of her brow. “It’s not like he won’t find out from Dad.”

“But you didn’t have to be the one to tell him!”

And there they went, arguing as though there was no one else in the room.

Remembering that their birthday was only two weeks away, reminded Kaz of their party and the conversation he’d had with Ruslan the night before. In the chaos of everything that had gone down, he’d forgotten this, and the fact that Vasily hadn’t bothered to send Ruslan an invitation.

What better time to bring it up than right then?

“No worries,” he said, interrupting their banter. “I was just talking to Ruslan about your party and—”

Nika gasped, smiling widely. “Is he going to come? Dad said he couldn’t get in contact with him.”

“Darling,” Vasily interjected quickly, coming around the island to stand before them, his eyes gone cold as he stared at Kaz, even as he addressed her. “Ruslan is very busy. I’ve told you this, no?”

“I’m sure he could make it,” Kaz said, making sure to keep the smile on his face. “After all, nothing’s more important than family, right?”

Vasily wouldn’t deny that, not in front of the girls, and though he was probably boiling with anger, it was his turn to bite his tongue.

“So how about this,” Kaz said giving each of them a squeeze. “You give me a time and a place and I’ll make sure he’s there, even if I have to escort him here myself.”

“You’re the best, Kaz,” Dina said as she and her sister started out of the kitchen, probably in search of Irina. “And we’ll text you the name of the store.”

“Do it now so you won’t forget.”

She yelled her affirmation as they disappeared around the same corner Irina had taken earlier, leaving Kaz standing with a newly pissed off father.

Would it ever be any other way?

“You pull that kind of stunt again,” Vasily muttered. “I won’t be as forgiving.”

“Duly noted. We done here? I’ve got things to take care of.” He had f*ck-all to take care of, but he was more than ready to get away from Vasily. If they spent too much time together, tempers were bound to flare.

Dismissing him with a wave of his hand, Vasily said, “Get out of my sight.”

Kaz was almost to the mouth of the kitchen when Vasily called out to him once more, making him pause and look back.

“Stay away from the Gallucci girl. I mean it.”

Offering him a salute and nothing more, Kaz went in search of his mother to say goodbye, knowing that despite his silent agreeance, he couldn’t make that guarantee.





Violet kept her head bent down and her hands joined with her friends on both sides. Her father, at the head of the table like always, finished saying grace with his usual solemn thanks and little else. Violet had always thought that when it came to their family, religion was more for show than having actual faith in a higher power that protected them.

After all, her family wasn’t exactly what she would call good people.

Well-dressed, sure. Nicely cultured and polite, absolutely. Rich, yes.

Sin was still sin, underneath it all.

“The opening collection for your mother’s designs is next week,” Nicole said to Violet’s left.

Violet reached across the table for a bowl of mixed vegetables to add onto her plate. She didn’t respond to Nicole because she hadn’t asked her a question, but instead, she had stated the obvious.

“We decided on what we’re wearing,” Amelia put in.

Nodding, Violet continued filling her plate. Scrapes of utensils echoed in the dining room, along with murmurs from several voices. It was common for her father to have large dinners, and to open his doors to his closest men and their families. Most times, these dinners happened last minute, and Violet would receive a simple text, telling her a time to show up.

Today had been the exception.

Her father sent a car.

Clearly, Alberto was still a little pissed off.

Her stunt, nearly two weeks before, with the club in Coney Island was not being overlooked.