Page 11

A heavy door creaks open as Sofia pushes it, letting us pass through first. I find myself transported into a different time, from an era bygone. We’re standing in a secret speakeasy, a dimly lit underground bar buzzing with life. Soft jazz plays in the corner from a live band and all around us, patrons are seated in low couches with high backs, their soft chatter filling the air in an undecipherable soft noise. I immediately note the distinct smell of alcohol in the air.

"Welcome to our little hideaway," Natalia says with a wink, her eyes scanning the room for familiar faces.

I feel my nerves knotting up inside me, acutely aware of the sisters' watchful gazes. Natalia seems to sense my unease and takes charge, guiding us toward the bar, whereas Sofia only asks polite questions and answers when spoken to. Without Natalia, I fear Sofia and I won’t have much to speak about.

"Three martinis, please, Martin," she tells the bartender, leaning forward with a warm smile. The drinks arrive quickly, and Natalia hands one to each of us before raising her glass. "To new relationships."

"To new relationships," Sofia echoes without a smile. I swallow hard, lifting my glass to join the toast.

“So, let’s get a table,” Natalia says, guiding us to a booth. We sit in silence for a few seconds, a strange tension between us.

"Enjoying your drink?" Natalia asks, breaking the silence with a gentle question that eases my mind just a bit.

"Very much so," I reply, offering a small smile in return.

“What were you and Dima planning on doing tonight, anyway?” Sofia asks. At that moment, I notice she and Natalia exchange glances.

What was that all about?

“Oh, nothing much,” I lie through my teeth, a strange heat spreading through me as the truth lingers in my mind. How should I say we were probably about to have sex? The unfulfilled desire courses through me again, and I find myself wishing he was here by my side to help me navigate this evening with his sisters.

I just pray I don’t do or say something wrong. I need to prove myself to these women, to show them that I'm worthy of being part of their family. And if that means enduring a few nerve-wracking moments in a speakeasy, then so be it.

After all, their acceptance would make my life here easier.

“So,” Sofia asks again. “What’s your routine like? Dima and yours?”

“Well,” I begin. “We usually have breakfast together nowadays. Earlier, we didn’t. But he’s began involving me in our family business.”

“Yes,” Sofia smiles thinly, her smile not reaching her eyes. “I heard about that.”

“Well, I think it’s wonderful,” Natalia gushes, reaching over and squeezing my hand. “Good to have some work to do.”

I might be wrong, but I see Sofia throw a death glare at Natalia. The music and laughter around me seem distant, muffled by my own racing thoughts.

Just then, Natalia notices our glasses are nearly empty. "Your favorite drinks?" Natalia interjects, seemingly attempting to ease the tension. "Mine's a mojito. How about you two?"

"Vodka soda," Sofia answers curtly, not taking her eyes off me.

"Um, I like a good margarita," I reply gratefully, relieved at the change in conversation.

"Great! Let's order those!" Natalia exclaims, flagging down the bartender. "But first, three tequila shots, please! And a mojito, a vodka soda, and a lime margarita. Keep ‘em coming!"

When the shots arrive, I down mine in one go, the tequila burning a trail of fire down my throat. I follow it immediately with a sip of my margarita.

"There, don't you feel better now?" Natalia smiles, patting my hand. I nod, grateful for her warmth and understanding, not realizing she’d picked up on my nervousness.

"So, Lara," Sofia begins, her tone lighter now that the tension has eased. "Tell us more about yourself. When did Dima first catch your eye in a romantic way?"

Caught off guard, I nearly choke on my martini. My eyes flicker toward Natalia for support, but this time around, she simply takes a slow sip of her drink, watching me closely. "Well, it's a bit of a long story," I say hesitantly, feeling nervous.

"Long or short, I'm interested," Sofia replies, her gaze unwavering.

I glance between them, weighing how much of the truth to reveal and how to frame it so they’ll believe that I loved him even before we got married.

“We, um… met first at Ivan’s introductory dinner. From the beginning, I thought he was kind of nice. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, I found myself keeping an eye on him at every family dinner we had. But it wasn’t until one night, when we both happened to be at the same club, that my feelings became clear. Dima saved me from a dangerous situation and didn’t hold it against me for getting into it in the first place. That moment made it clear that he was the one for me.”

"A dangerous situation?" Sofia's eyes narrow, her suspicion returning. "What kind of situation?"

"A man tried to take advantage of me," I admit softly. "If Dima hadn't stepped in when he did, I don't know what might have happened."

Sofia's eyes narrow slightly as if she's trying to determine whether I'm lying. I can't help but feel like I'm under a microscope, with every word I say being dissected and analyzed. "I see." Sofia presses her lips into a thin line, glancing at Natalia. "And this man, did he have a name?"

“Sofia,” Natalia warns.

“What?” Sofia shrugs. “I’m interested to know in case our brother ever finds himself in trouble.”

I hesitate, unsure of how much detail to provide. But I can see the protectiveness in Sofia's gaze, her need to ensure Dima's safety as much as my own.

"Marv," I say quietly. "His name was Marv."

Sofia's eyes flash, and my heart races, wondering if she recognizes the name. What the hell was I thinking? Though petrified, it’s too late to take back the name now. She nods slowly, deep in thought, as she considers this new information.

“Well,” Natalia says sweetly, leaning over to give me a soft hug. “I’m glad whatever trouble you were in, our brother was there to save you.”

I nod, feeling a tear prick at my eyes. If it weren’t so dangerous for my secret to be out, which could potentially ruin my reputation with my brothers, I’d openly tell the world how amazing Dima was that night.

In that moment, I realize just what a quiet support Dima has been, always watching guard over me. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Sofia's eyes remain locked on me. "So," she says casually, though I can sense the calculation behind her words, "what are your intentions with Dima?"

I swallow hard, trying to gather my thoughts and give an honest answer without revealing too much. "I'm grateful for everything he's done for me," I begin, "and I want to be there for him, too."

"Really?" Sofia raises an eyebrow. "You don't have any ulterior motives? You're not trying to use him for his money or his connections?"

My heart races, but I hold her gaze. "No, I'm not. Our relationship may be…unconventional, but I care about him. Dima was there for me when no one else was. He protected me, and I trust him because of that. I won’t break that trust. Besides, us Zolotovs aren’t doing too bad in life ourselves," I can’t help but snap back at the end. To imagine I need to use Dima for money?

She studies me for a moment, and I feel like I'm being weighed on a scale—will my sincerity tip the balance in my favor, or will her suspicion outweigh it?

But finally, her expression softens ever so slightly, and she seems to be mulling over my words. At last, she nods, and turns to Natalia, asking what song it is that plays in the background. I sigh with relief. Who knew that all I needed to do was bite back a bit for Sofia to calm down?

Just then, the Jazz ends, and some upbeat pop music starts to play.

“Woohoo,” Natalia cheers along with the others, while Sofia too breaks out into a soft smile. The mood suddenly changes—there’s more life, more electricity.

“Now, how about some more shots?” Natalia wiggles her eyebrows at us.

As the bartender lines up the shots, Natalia raises her glass. "To our night out, ladies!"

"To our night out," Sofia echoes, her demeanor softening just a fraction. I clink my shot glass with theirs and down it.

The warmth of the tequila spreads through me as I lower my shot glass back to the table. Then, Natalia launches into a funny story about a recent disastrous date, causing all three of us to burst into laughter.

As the night goes on, the atmosphere gradually lightens, with casual conversations and shared stories replacing the earlier apprehension. I find myself opening up more, letting my guard down as I laugh alongside Sofia and Natalia.

But even amidst the laughter, I can't shake the feeling that Sofia's watchful eyes never truly leave me. I make peace with the fact that it will take a lot more to win her complete trust.

Nevertheless, I don’t blame her. She’s just protective of her brother, as any sister would be.

Just then, I notice a couple. They're wrapped up in each other, kissing passionately without a care for who might be watching. The man's hands roam over the woman's body possessively, and she arches into his touch with a soft moan I can just barely hear over the music.

"Looks like someone's having a good time," Natalia says with a teasing grin, following my gaze.

"Ugh, some people have no shame," Sofia scoffs, rolling her eyes. "I bet they'll disappear into the washroom together before the night's over."

"Maybe they're just enjoying each other's company," I suggest, trying to keep the mood light.

"Or maybe they're just horny and can’t wait to have sex," Sofia counters with a wicked smile.

I lose track of the conversation as a couple at the bar catches my eye.

Sex. That damned, wretched word. Heat floods my cheeks as I look away, embarrassed at the mention of the word that reminds me of what I wanted so desperately just hours ago. But I can't help imagining what it would be like to be touched like that, to be desired so intensely. To be kissed and caressed by a man like Dima, all hard muscle and restrained power.

My heart pounds at the thought, warmth pooling low in my belly. I squeeze my thighs together, acutely aware of the slow throb between them. Dima's kiss ignited a hunger in me I've never known before, and it's only gotten stronger in the time we've been apart. I want nothing more than to rush back home and right into his bed, to feel the scrape of his stubble against my skin and the possessive grip of his hands on my waist.

I imagine what it would be like for his large hands to rip off my clothes, the memory of his breath on my neck still strong. My cheeks burn from how he kissed me, and my heart races from how I imagine him taking that same mouth downward.

I shiver as the fantasy unfolds in my mind, Dima’s lips trailing down my thighs, parting them wide, his fingers exploring my body like an instrument to be played.

"Are you alright, Lara?" Natalia asks, snapping me out of my daydream.

"Uh, yeah, sorry," I stammer, feeling flushed. "I just got lost in thought for a moment."

"Must have been a pretty interesting thought," Sofia says, smirking knowingly.

"Nothing important," I reply quickly, praying my face isn't as red as it feels.

And herein, a solid lie.