Page 76 of Dance of Defiance

She rolls her eyes. “I’m asking you not as my big brother.”

I sigh. “You look great,” I mumble begrudgingly. “Where are you going?”

“Doomsday, where else?”

Right. Brooklyn literally just texted me that. Honestly, if that's where they’re going I feel better about it. Doomsday gets wild, but the whole security staff there knows who my sister is—enough that if any guy there tries getting shitty, he’ll have his arms broken and his ass tied to a chair in the basement in seconds, waiting formeto get there to ask him what the fuck he thought he was doing being a dick to my sister.

I scowl as I remember something.

…I still haven’t talked to Evie about that convo I saw on her phone.

Then again,shehasn’t mentioned shit to me about it suddenly being deleted and her profile being set to private after I was in her room.

…Maybe this is a mutual agreement never to mention it, ever. Honestly, that sounds like the best course of action. I don’t have slightest fucking clue how to ask my sweet, innocent sister what the fuck she was doing on a kink website arranging to meet a fucking stranger in the woods for sex.

Fuck. Maybe I need to accept that my “little sister” is a twenty-one-year-old woman capable of making her own choices.

“So,nottoo much.”

I shake my head. “You look great, Eves.”

She beams. “Thanks. The girls are trying to get me to loosen up a little.”

“Well, just don’t lose who you are in the process,” I smile.

She nods. Then she clears her throat. “Hey, two questions. Are you busy right now, and how drunk are you?”

I shrug. “Not busy, and this is only my second.”

She gives me the big cheesy grin that means she needs a favor.

“Spill it,” I sigh, chuckling.

“Can you give me a ride to Doomsday?Puh-lease?”

“Why me? You have a highly protective Russian mobster father who literally has a wholearmyat his disposal to drive you anywhere.”

Evie shrugs. “Well, for one, you have a sweet car. And Papa’s men….” She pouts. “They’re creepy and scary.”

I chuckle. “That’s the point, Evie. They’re also loyal enough todieto protect you.”

“Still creepy and scary.”

“Stepan isn’t.”

Evie sighs. “Stepan is the greatest. But he’s also a pay grade or five above driving me to clubs.” She gives me the look that’s basically gotten me to do her bidding since the day she was born. “Please, Rome?”

I exhale heavily and wrap an arm around her shoulder. “Okay. Yes.”

“Thank you!” she squeals.

“Who all’s going to be there?”

“Oh,” she shrugs. “The girls. Miguel. James.”

I’ve vetted every guy at the Zakharova, gay or straight. I mean, come on: my sister spends like eighty hours a week with these people.

Miguel and James are both fine in my books. Miguel has a girlfriend he’s devoted to; James is gay and also in a committed relationship.