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I could’ve strangled him.

Ayana’s eyes rounded. “It’s your birthday?”

Technically.I followed up my reluctant response with a glare at Sean, who was too busy scarfing down a second helping of beef to notice.

He was the consummate professional at work, but put him in front of a plate of food and he lost all decorum.

“Oh my God!” Ayana slapped her hands on the table. “We have to celebrate.”

I fought a grimace.I’m not big on celebrations.I hated birthdays. They reminded me that Lazar was no longer around to celebrate with me.

The gradual dimming of Ayana’s smile told me she’d just come to the same conclusion.

“Celebrate what?” Her mother returned in time to hear the tail end of our conversation.

“It’s Vuk’s birthday.” Ayana tucked a braid behind her ear. “But he wants to keep it low-key, so we?—”

“Nonsense.” Saba planted her hands on her hips. “Birthdays are special. You shouldn’t be spending them inside. In fact…” She pursed her lips. “Ayana, why don’t you show Vuk around the city? I’m sure he’d love to see more of D.C.”

That’s not?—

“Mom, he doesn’t want?—”

“It’s settled, then,” Saba said, ignoring our protests. “But first, I have something for you.”

Thank you, but it’s really not?—

She vanished into the kitchen.

Necessary,I finished.

Ayana groaned. “I’m so, so sorry,” she said. “There’s no stopping my mom once she sets her mind to something. If you don’t want to celebrate, we totally don’t have to. We can just walk around and pretend it’snotyour birthday. I don’t want you to feel…bad.” She stumbled over the last word.

A sliver of amusement loosened the fist around my heart. I tried to forget about my birthday whenever possible, but she was so endearingly worried, it made the occasion feel more bearable.

Don’t worry about it. I’ll be okay.

The kitchen doors swung open. Saba came out carrying more plates and a bottle of golden orange liquid.

“Baklava and our signature honey wine,” she announced. “I won’t subject you to ahappy birthdaysong, but I insist you try our dessert before you leave.”

I didn’t argue.

Sean and I cleared out our plates in record time. When he tried to join me and Ayana as we got up to leave, Saba stopped him with a pointed arch of her brow.

“Never mind. I’ll stay and, uh, review our security plans,” he said. “I’ll let you know if anything pressing comes up.”

I smirked at the sight of my former Special Ops security chief being brought to heel by a woman half his size and twice his age.

Tell the guys I’ll pick up Shadow later.I paused, then added,Make sure they don’t give him any fucking milk. Cats are lactose intolerant.

This time, Sean was the one who smirked. “Got it.” He gave me a two-finger salute. “Have fun, boss.”

CHAPTER34

Ayana

Returning to D.C. was like slipping on a comfy old pair of pajamas. No matter how long I’d been away, the city was so easy and familiar, I didn’t have to think about where I was going or how.