Page 37 of Alexei

AURORA

Iwatched as he shook hands with a dark-haired man I'd never seen. Though something about him seemed familiar.

Annoyed at my brother, I stopped and waited. It wasn’t surprising he ran into someone he knew. He always did. Probably the result of his extensive career. I just wished today wasn’t that day.

“Rora, come here,” Byron called out. “I want to introduce you.” I frowned, shaking my head lightly. I already knew how this would end up. “Come on, Sis.”

I glanced at the hostess with an apologetic look. “We’ll be right back,” I mumbled.

I took several steps back, never removing my eyes from my brother. I knew he wasn’t an idiot and could see me glaring. For once couldn’t he just ignore his acquaintances?

As soon as I was within his reach, he took my elbow and gently squeezed, pulling me next to him.

“Nico, Raphael,” Byron said, a proud look on his face. “This is my little sister.”

I switched to a polite smile. You’d never guess I was a politician’s daughter as much as I hated socializing with strangers. My father was great at schmoozing. So were my brothers. I detested it.

Byron’s gaze returned to me. “Remember Nico Morrelli.” I froze at the name. I knew the name. Anyone that ever lived in the D.C. area was familiar with Nico Morrelli and the underworld he and his friends ran. My eyes slowly traced to the man Byron just introduced me to. He was younger than I thought. “He supported Dad’s campaigns.”

And a major strike against him. I didn’t know he was Father’s supporter. Father probably danced to Nico Morrelli’s tunes. Father was as much of a manipulator as the mobsters. And make no mistake, this guy was a mobster. A big one. And as such, he was exactly what my father needed.

“Mr. Morrelli,” I greeted him tightly.

Unlike my brothers, I avoided our father’s gatherings like my life depended on it, and I certainly avoided criminals.

“It doesn’t look like she remembers you, Nico,” Sasha interjected, leaning back into his chair with an arrogant smile on his face. “Do you remember me?”

Before I could think of a smartass comeback, my brother answered on my behalf.

“She probably doesn’t,” Byron told him. The way he studied Sasha told me he was evaluating him, trying to decide whether he was a threat or not. Just what I needed. “Don’t take it personally. Or do, it doesn’t really matter.”

“My wounded heart,” Sasha sneered.

I had to bite my tongue to stop something completely inappropriate from slipping through my lips.

“Nice to meet you,” I told Nico, lying like a good politician’s daughter, and extended my hand. All the while, I ignored the Nikolaev men, scared my brother would pick up on something. Anything.

And then, he’d get McGovan to take me off the case. Or even worse, fire me.

“You as well, Agent Ashford,” Nico replied, his voice measured and his smile cold. “My wife Bianca and our children.”

Jesus. How did he know I was an agent?

I didn’t need a genius IQ to know Morrelli realized I didn’t like him. And the word was that Nico Morrelli had a genius IQ. Too bad he used it for his criminal activities.

Keeping my eyes leveled on him, I could see how he’d connect with high ranking politicians in D.C. He had the looks and the charisma. Just like my own brother, Byron. My father turned a blind eye to men like that. Though I never understood why.

Scratch that. I knew why. For the same reason he married my mother. He wanted an influx of funds and criminals had plenty of it. They’d give him campaign money and he’d grant them favors that could get their businesses going.

Round and round we go.

Slowly, my eyes traveled over to his family. A beautiful wife who eyed me curiously and two sets of twins. My eyebrows shot up. Twin girls and twin boys. Wow, he’d been busy. I kept my expression neutral as my eyes darted over Vasili, Sasha, and Alexei Nikolaev.

I guess criminals hung out together.

“Do you remember the Santos family?” My brother asked, stopping my train of thought and I instantly froze. “This is Raphael Santos, we’ve had a few business dealings.” My feigned smile fell and my eyes traveled to the man seated across the table from Nico Morrelli. My heart thundered against my ribs, threatening to crack them.

Thank God Sailor and Gabriel didn’t come!I kept whispering in my mind.Thank God Sailor and Gabriel didn’t come!