“Where’s your byki?”
I grimaced when I thought of the trouble I’d be in with Savin and Ilya when I was found. “Erm. I kind of left them at the Hampton house and came back to Brooklyn without informing them.”
Kisa’s head whipped up, and an admonishing, but humored smile spread on her lips. “Talia! Seriously, girl. You are a rebel! Your father will flip if he finds out you sneaked off.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know. Twenty-four and still have to answer to daddy dearest. How pathetic.”
Kisa playfully slapped my arm. “With the rival threats of late it’s necessary. It’s for your protection, not punishment.”
“I know,” I said indulgently, and patted Kisa’s hand. “Come on, dorogaya moya, time to get off this beach. It’s fucking freezing!”
Kisa laughed as we walked back toward our cars. I suppressed my groan seeing Kisa’s byki standing dutifully by her Lincoln. She was going to be the perfect Bratva wife when Luka eventually took the pakhan mantle.
“How you doing, Kisa?” I asked as we casually headed over the sand. “Have I missed anything since I’ve been away?”
I felt Kisa’s arm tense for the briefest of moments within mine, but she shook her head in dismissal. “Nope, nothing new. Just the same old same Volkov life. Fighting, death, and extortion. You know, our honest family’s business.”
Unable to hold back my laughter, I nudged my shoulder into Kisa’s and we both chuckled all the way back to the road.
When we hit pavement, I saw Kisa’s byki eyeing me strangely. They knew I was alone without my guards. That clearly wasn’t going over well.
Throwing the guards a wave and a huge smile, I greeted, “Evening, boys!”
Kisa, laughing again, pulled me in for a hug. I went to move back, but she held on tighter. Frowning, I held her back until she pulled away. I went to ask her if she was truly okay, when she pressed a kiss to my cheek and whispered, “I miss not having you around, Tal. Brooklyn’s not the same without you.”
My chest filled with warmth. “I’ll be back soon, Kisa. Can’t leave you in everyone’s favorite death-match ring alone. You need me to brighten your day.”
“You joke, but it’s true,” she said meaningfully. Kisa stepped back toward her car, but asked, “You’re going back to the Hamptons, aren’t you?”
I let my eyes drift into the distance and the empty, almost post-apocalyptic feeling of the Brighton Beach streets. “Yeah, I still need a bit of time alone.” I met Kisa’s eyes and said, “You give that big brother of mine a kiss for me, okay?”
Kisa’s face lit with pure love at the mention of Luka. “I will. He misses you, too, you know. Even if he doesn’t show it so much.” Kisa hesitated before she got in her car. “Are you okay to drive? You haven’t drunk too much, have you?”
I waved my hand, dismissing her concern. “Nope. I’m good. I’ll take it easy, I swear.”
Kisa nodded, but I could see she was still worried for me. “Okay. Call me when you get back.”
“Will do!” I said cheerily.
In minutes Kisa was gone. And I was still thinking of a six-foot-six, 250-pound Georgian.
Shit.
Screw this, I thought as I jumped behind the wheel. I needed a club. I needed a bit of normality. I needed to be the Talia of old for a while. I needed to see if another guy could make me forget 221’s face.
Chapter Nine
Talia
Club Synz was teaming with hundreds of hot bodies, all dancing, kissing, brushing against one another—a promise of what would come as the night wound down and the comforts of home came calling.