Page 29 of Devious Truth (Vicious Sinners #3)

“Where was this?” Alexander asks, his tone a bit too sharp to be merely a curious question.

“Blue Diamonds. Friday night,” I answer, pushing the Vatrushka tray toward Elana. “Have another; maybe it will sweeten your sour mood.”

“My mood is always sweet until my brothers start going back on their promises to me.” She flashes me a sarcastic smile but snatches up a Vatrushka. “Friday night I was at Natalie’s house. Her boyfriend broke up with her, so we stayed in, ordered pizza, and made a few pitchers of margaritas.”

Artem’s jaw ticks, his fingers tightening around the base of his fork.

“Margaritas? I haven’t had one of those since before I was—” Vee’s words cut off sharply. She brings her fingertips to the base of her throat. “It’s been years.”

“Oh, then we should go out for Mexican. I know the perfect place. Best tacos in town, and the margaritas are delicious.” Elana ignores the glare Alexander is giving her.

The argument over the extra security isn’t over, but it’s been waylaid thanks to Vee’s interruption. Once Elana calms down, she’ll be more reasonable about it. And yelling over the scrambled eggs isn’t going to get us any closer to her cooperation.

“You can count me and Mira in,” Megan chimes in.

“We have a fucking war going on, and these girls are going out for fucking tacos,” Alexander snaps, giving me a hard look.

“It’ll be fine.” Between Artem and his team and my own security, the US Army would have a hard time getting to the girls.

Artem crosses the room to the sidebar, fixing himself a drink. Deciding I could use something stronger than coffee, myself, I join him.

“Did you know she dropped out of school?” I ask him, keeping my back to the room while I pour a heavy dose of whiskey.

“No.” He tenses, sipping his drink. “Not until Alexander told me yesterday. But it explains why she never goes back to her apartment or to campus.”

“Hmm.” I turn, leaning back against the sidebar. “I thought you said you were dropping her at Samara’s on Friday. Did she change plans last minute?”

The muscles in his neck tense. “Maybe I got the name wrong.”

“That’s not like you.”

“She’s given too much freedom. You’re too lenient. If she were my—” He stops dead, finishes his drink. “She’s going to fight you on more security, but if this goes on with DeAngelo much longer, she will need more than just me.”

“Because she slips away?” I position myself in front of him, blocking his view of my little sister who is chatting away with Megan and Vee about a make-believe dinner out.

“Because she’s impulsive,” Artem says, his voice hardening.

“She is.” I agree. "Do you think she leaves after you drop her off?"

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” He gives a pointed look toward Megan, clearly referencing the time a few months ago when Elana had one of the drivers drop her and Megan off at a restaurant, only to sneak Megan down the street afterward to get birth control from a doctor.

“We’ll need to up the security this week,” I say.

“I have men ready. If she’s staying with Kaz it makes part of the job easier, but if she decides she wants to go back to her apartment I’ll need to get in there and set up some things.”

“If she’s not going to school, Alexander will force her to stay in the city, either with him or Kaz.”

“Not you?” He cocks a brow.

“Kaz is her favorite, and Alexander is as close to a father as she’s ever had,” I say, knowing it doesn’t really answer his question.

“You’re the boring brother,” he chuckles, downing the last of his drink.

“Something like that.” I leave my glass on the sidebar and head back to my seat.

Vee’s laughing at something Elana said. When I look to my brother and see the scowl on his face, I can only imagine what sort of trouble the women at this table are conjuring up.

“Are you tormenting Alexander?” I lean over to ask her.

She turns to me, her eyes shining with joy. “Megan mentioned wanting to see the auction. I suggested we go together. Since it’s at Obsidian, security can’t be an issue. Elana mentioned joining us.”

“No one is going to that auction.” Alexander fists his napkin and drops it on his plate.

“I’m curious.” Megan argues.

“I told you, you’re never to step foot down there again,” he responds.

“You’re just being stubborn.”

Alexander leans into his wife, pressing his mouth to her ear and whispers something just for her. By the soft pink tint of her cheeks, I have a good sense of what he said. Looking over at Vee, I see she has a good understanding, as well. Her attention has diverted back to her plate.

“We were only teasing,” Megan says, straightening her shoulders.

“He’s such a killjoy.” Elana tucks her napkin beneath her plate. “I have plans this afternoon, so I’m going to head out.”

“Let Artem eat, then he’ll take you.” Kaz motions to Artem, who sits with an empty plate in front of him.

“I’m going to be picked up.” She pulls out her phone and starts tapping.

“Did you just order a ride share?” I reach for her phone, but she pulls it out of my grasp.

“No. I’m letting Nicolle know she can come get me now.”

“No, she can’t,” I throw my own napkin onto my plate. “We are going to discuss the new security for you, Megan, and Vee. You’ll just have to wait to go out.”

“I already told you; I’m not going to have an entourage of men with guns following me around everywhere.”

“Our conversation may have to wait,” Alexander cuts in, looking up from his phone. “There’s been another fire.”