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CHAPTER 11

LARA

This is the first time in three days after coming to the cabin that I can wake up, sit on the porch sipping coffee, and honestly feel relaxed.

Well, up until the moment I glance down at my ringing phone and see Mikhail’s name on the screen.

“Yes?” I hope he doesn’t ruin the thread of peace I’ve found today.

“Lara. I was just calling to see if Alexei told you, and to see how you’re doing with it.” His gruff tone almost hides the note of concern in his voice.

Blood pulses in my temples, giving me a headache. “He told me a lot of things, none of which I believed.”

A flamingo? Really?

Mikhail snorts. “Why wouldn’t you believe that Niki got married?”

I nearly drop my cell, but catch it in my lap.

“He what?” I shriek. “No, he would have told me!”

I feel like I’ve been hit in the chest with a sledgehammer.

If Mikhail did that, I’d get it.

But, Niki?

He wouldn’t, would he?

“He married the bitch that stabbed him?” I can’t keep the shrill out of my words.

Mila doesn’t seem awful, and Nikolai did seem much happier once they returned from Russia.

Yet, the audacity to not even tell me?

I’m his sister!

Mikhail chuckles over the line. “Settle down. I didn’t get invited either. Not that I’d want to go to a wedding.”

Now it’s my turn to be skeptical. “How much longer until yours?”

“I doubt there’s a woman out there that could deal with me.” He lets out a long sigh.

“You aren’t that bad, if Niki can find two, you will be able to find at least one wife in your life. You have a better sense of humor when you decide to show it. Although, you might wanna let them see that pretty face of yours.”

“Not happening,” he growls. “What about you? Still dating?”

I know what he’s doing, trying to shift things away from himself. “First dates, quite a few, second, none.” There’s been a few that I thought went well, but they ghosted me afterwards.

He takes a long pause. “Hmm, that might not be your doing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing,” he says quickly. “They just clearly aren’t good enough for you.”

“Well, thank you. I guess.”

What the hell is that?

A small buzzing sound is slowly getting louder.

“I have to go.” I don’t wait for his protest, but hang up on my brother, the big, bad mafia boss.

He’ll always be just ‘Miki’ to me.

Where is that noise coming from?

Stepping inside the open sliding glass door into the kitchen, it seems to get quieter.

Outside on the deck, I work my way around the thick log walls before I see it.

A drone is hovering just over the main entryway beneath the awning.

It has a wicker basket hanging under it.

I’m not sure if I should get any closer.

“It’s okay. Take it off the hook.” Alexei’s voice comes through the small speaker.

“What is this?” I find myself asking the flying machine.

“You told me to not come up and visit, or bug you, under any circumferences. No, that’s not right.” There’s muffled arguing, but it sounds like it’s all with himself.

“Circumstances.” I correct him, and move closer until the downdraft of the tiny propellers whip my loose strands of hair.

When I pluck the container from the hook, the drone jerks up, nearly hitting the roof.

“Shit,” he grunts.

Ducking, I back away from the wild antics as he stabilizes it.

“Alexei, where did you get a drone?” I yell from a safe distance.

“This is Enzo’s. I might need to get one, this is fun.” His cackle makes it static.

I can’t imagine him with a drone unsupervised.

Lifting up the edge of the basket, the first thing I see is a red rubber ball over wrapped packages.

It’s so squishy, I’m surprised when a slit opens when I squeeze it.

Seriously? It’s a clown nose.

Feeling goofy, I slide it on and peer inside to see what else he sent.

How does he always know when I need a pick me up the most?

I wave at the leaving drone, then carry it into the kitchen.

The next parcel has a package of chocolate covered strawberries. Today, after what Mikhail told me, I’m grateful for the sweet treat.

I’ll just walk extra tonight to make up for the extra calories.

There’s a small box that has a note on top. Never one to read first, I discover a pair of sunglasses with a tiny flamingo printed on them.

I told you I had a flamingo, now you do too.

It’s written in Alexei’s scrawl.

He makes me smile.

I wish things could be different sometimes between us. He always knows what I need, and when.

He comforts me before I even know I’m hurt.

There’s still a line though, one I’ll never cross. Losing him would be devastating.

I don’t think I’d survive it.

Nope. It’s better to keep things as they are, than risk ruining it in search of something more.

Besides, there has to be someone else out there who can give me the physical things I’m missing?

Why can’t I just be content with what he gives me?

Because I do want more. There’s been times where I’ve been too tipsy, and almost did something I knew I’d regret.

I’m glad I haven’t.

The last package is wide and flat.

I can’t miss the words scrawled across the front.

“Picture of the strongest person I know.” Is in thick black marker.

A gold gilded hand mirror.

Holding it up, I can see the tears forming in my own blue eyes.

His gifts are always random, but perfect.

One last message is across the bottom of the basket.

“I bet you want to know what the clown nose is for. Come home to help me with my circus and keep me from going crazy?”

Huh? What is he talking about?

My reflection catches the smile tugging up my lips.

It’s going to be hard the next time I see Nikolai.

Somehow, it seems a little easier knowing Alexei will be there with me.