Thief (Boston Underworld #5)(51)

“Oh.”

We fall into a natural silence, observing the chaos around us. But it’s difficult to ignore the blatant staring of our feminine cohorts. Talia fidgets beside me, tension seeping into her features.

“Don’t worry. You will get used to it. They don’t like you because they will never be you.”

Her brows pinch together. “I don’t understand.”

“Your husband.” I nod to the other room. “He is the ah … councilor to Viktor. He outranks their husbands in every way, which means that you do also.”

“Oh.”

“They are very traditional,” I explain. “You will be starting a family soon, yes?”

“That is what Alexei says.” She wrings her hands in her lap.

“He is handsome. You are lucky. Nikolai speaks very highly of him.”

“He does?”

“He does,” I assure her. “I do find it strange, though, how similar they look in some regards, don’t you?”

I’m not sure why I even mentioned it. It’s not my place, but I feel it might be important for her to know. The new friend in me wants to give her every possible advantage to survive in this world. And while the rivalry between Alexei and Nikolai still lives and breathes fire, Talia would do well to avoid poking the dragon.

She doesn’t get a chance to answer my thought. An indomitable shadow falls over us, and before I even look, I know it could only be one man.

“Nakya.”

Nikolai settles in front of me, contrite. The shadows beneath his eyes are more pronounced in this light, and I wonder if he’s been sleeping well. But then I remember I’m not supposed to care. He tells me that we’ll be leaving soon and then turns his attention to my new friend.

“Talia, I haven’t had a chance to properly introduce myself.”

She looks at me for approval, and I think she’s confused by the gesture. After her experience with men, in general, it is of little wonder, but I am surprised by Nikolai’s softness. Sensing her fear, he kneels on our level, attempting to put her at ease.

“I need to speak with you,” he says in a hushed voice.

Her eyes are still on my face, and I do the best I can to assure her that it will be okay. Nikolai may be many things, but I know he won’t hurt her, and I want Talia to know it too.

“Alexei will not listen to me,” he begins. “But I know he will listen to you. Sergei is not going to let this go. Neither is Katya for that matter. You should both be careful.”

I don’t know what he’s talking about, but Talia appears to. She doesn’t get a chance to respond. From across the room, Alexei has spotted us, and now he’s hell-bent on laying Nikolai out.

Nikolai rises, squaring off with his brother yet again. They proceed to argue in Russian, the same issue of contention between them. Somehow, it always comes back to Katya. My sympathies go out to Alexei. Such a betrayal by his brother would certainly leave a permanent scar, and I can’t imagine for the life of me why Nikolai would hurt him that way.

Thinking better than to allow their tempers to ruin another evening, the argument fizzles out. But Nikolai is not to be the only recipient of Alexei’s hostilities. When he turns to pull his wife from her chair, his words are harsh and unfair.

“Go to the washroom and compose yourself. And when you come back, perhaps you can make it through the evening with better judgment.”

Talia shrinks in the face of his unprovoked outburst, and I feel the need to protect her.

“I will accompany her.”

“You will not,” Alexei answers. “She must learn how to conduct herself at these events.”

Talia leaves, and I scowl at her husband. I thought him to be a respectable man, but just like Nikolai, he allows his stubborn pride to rule his life. He is a fool, and I’d like to tell him so, but if I want to see Talia again, my thoughts are better kept to myself.

Talia is gone longer than I anticipated, and when she finally does return, her face is streaked with tears, and she is visibly shaken. But when she seeks out her husband, it only gets worse. He’s across the room with the same woman who was fawning over Nikolai earlier. Instinctively, I know it must be Katya.

Without warning, Talia collapses, and I rush to her side. Nikolai is not far behind, and before I can decide what to do, he hoists her into his arms and carries her down the hall. We find an empty chaise, and he makes her as comfortable as he can while I sit beside her, reaching for her hand.

It’s the only support I have to offer. When we try to talk to her, she has gone to another place in her mind. Our questions remain unanswered, and she stares off into nothingness.

“Get Alexei,” Nikolai instructs me.

I don’t want to leave her, but I do as I’m told.





Alexei’s wife is despondent and obviously traumatized, but there is little I can do for her. I remain quiet at her side, a steady presence until Nakya returns with Alexei. Rather than seeing the situation for what it is, he flies off the handle as soon as he comes down the hall.

I rise to meet him, but he isn’t in a state to hear what I have to say. He reacts with his fist first. I dodge the blow, but I’m not a man to back down. I’m prepared to set him in his place when Nakya inserts herself between us, palms raised and face stern.

In Russian, she calmly informs us that this is not the time or place, redirecting our focus to Talia. It takes a full minute to register that she’s speaking my mother tongue. My little liar is quite at ease with the language, but articulates as most novices do, slowly and succinctly. She chose an inopportune time to pull her trick out of the hat, so for now, I leave it alone.