Page 22 of Scarlet Promise

She glances at me but doesn’t say a word to the contrary. “Whether it is or isn’t is immaterial. Your friend and your sister like each other.Ilike him. He’s the only person outside of Max I’ve seen who makes her smile. And?—”

“Go see to the children, Erin.”

“Excuse me?” she asks.

“You heard me.”

They stare at each other for a long, uncomfortable moment, but finally she looks away.

She stands and looks at me. “I like Ilya, and he makes you smile. You’re happy around him. Happiness shouldn’t be ignored.” She turns to her husband. “And unless you want a divorce, I’d suggest you think about that, too. Because right now, I’mnothappy.”

“Erin,” he warns.

“Demyan.” She leans in and kisses him. “This is your sister. You love her. Behave.”

She heads outside with Albert and my nephew and niece.

“Fucking Erin,” he says, his voice soft and full of love.

I believe she may be the only person in the world who can get away with speaking to him like that.

I used to think I was that person, too. I never pushed him, but I always thought he’d do anything to see me happy.

But then he looks at me, and his eyes turn hard.

My happiness isn’t on his agenda right now.

“So. Alina.” His eyes don’t soften. “What I want to know is since when do you keep things from me? Especially something this fucking big?”

And there it is, the underlying betrayal of locking him out of my life, of not telling him.

I sigh. “I didn’t tell you because you were away.” I swallow. “That’s not true. I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d make a big deal of it.”

“Of course I’m making a fucking big deal of it,” he says, erupting. “You nearly died, and it’s all Ilya’s fault. That….cunt, who thinks he can step in and take what’s mine. Sully my sister. I just might kill the fuck with my bare hands after all.”

“You don’t believe that,” I whisper, stricken. “Ilya’s like a brother to you. And Erin’s right. He’s a?—”

“Erin’s a soft-hearted fool,” he snarls. “And you’re my family, as are my wife and children. It ends there. He’s nothing. You hear me? Nothing but a fucker who did his best to get you killed, and youwillkeep away from him.”

I frown at him, my heart clenching. “I’m a big girl who can make her own decisions. And you know as well as I do that this isn’t Ilya’s fault. None of this is.”

Demyan slams a hand on the table. “Not good enough. I won’t accept it.”

“You have to.”

“I don’t have to do shit, Alina. Until this fucking bastard Melor and his buddy Simonov are caught and killed, you’ll tell me your every move.” He stands. “No, I don’t trust you, so I’ll know your every move. You’ll have a fucking bodyguard twenty-four seven. For your own safety.”

With that, he stalks off.

Erin steps back in and raises her hands. “I heard every word. I’m sure rural Illinois heard him. I’m sorry he’s being like this. He loves you, and you know how he can get.”

She smiles at me sympathetically.

“I know,” I say.

“Demyan will calm down. He loves you both. It’s just a lot.” She sits and puts her hand on mine. “This thing with Ilya’s real, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”