Page 63 of Darkest Sin

“I don’t want to discus business tonight,” Cillian says. “I want to enjoy my time in the home of my new business partner.”

Mikhail holds up his wine glass. “I agree.”

Cillian smirks as he drinks from his old fashioned. “So, I heard that you two recently got married.”

“A few weeks now,” Mikhail says.

“Tell me. How did you meet?”

“At the ballet. Natalya is a dancer.”

Cillian’s eyes light up in a way I don’t like. “A dancer. How fascinating.”

“The principle dancer at her ballet. She was the lead in Swan Lake.”

“You’re not anymore? I saw it a few days ago and I don’t remember seeing you on stage.”

“I took a break,” I explain. “After… after my dad died.”

“I heard about that. The great Lev Petrov. My condolences.”

“Thank you,” I murmur but my lips are numb. I haven’t allowed myself to think of my father too hard in the past couple of weeks. Not when I’ve been focused on saving my sisters and exploring my new relationship with Mikhail.

But now the memories of my dad hit me in full force and I almost break down crying. I hold it together but my stomach shakes from keeping the tears at bay.

Mikhail’s hand finds my shoulder where he gives it a small rub, silently telling me that he’s here for me. That he can sense I’m upset and he wants to take it from me.

“You must have worked hard as a dancer to become the lead,” Cillian says.

My eyes flit over to all of the other men but they’re silently listening and just watching me. It’s unnerving to be honest.

“I did.”

“When I saw Natalya dance, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. And then I met her in person and realized she was even more beautiful than she was on a stage.”

“She is beautiful,” Cillian agrees, his eyes darkening. I shift in my seat. “You must have been a marvelous dancer to capture Mikhail’s attention. We’ve never worked together before but I had heard stories of Mikhail. Of how exacting he could be. Of how it was hard to impress a man like him.”

“I didn’t know that,” I say.

“Oh yes. Mikhail, wouldn’t you agree?”

Mikhail shrugs as he takes a sip of his wine. “I am a man with standards. I will not deny it.”

“Only the best for you, huh?”

His hand tightens on my shoulder. “Of course.”

Cillian turns his eyes back onto me. “I wish I could have seen you dance. Why don’t you give us a little something? I’d love to see it.”

“Oh. I’m not wearing the best dress for dancing in. It’s a little too tight.”

“You could change into something easier to dance in.”

“You don’t get the right to tell my wife what to do,” Mikhail warns.

Cillian shares a look with his men and raises his hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean any harm. I just wanted to see her dance. Is that a crime?”

“I can dance,” I offer. I don’t want something to get out of hand. Mikhail and Cillian may be business partners now but that doesn’t mean they like each other. There’s a tension between them. They’re only working together to reach an end goal; not because they’re friends.