Page 32 of Scarlet Promise (Yegorov Bratva #4)

Chapter Twenty-Six

ALINA

I may have sat through more awkward dinners before this one, but I can’t think of any.

Demyan shuts down and refuses all olive branches I offer.

Even Albert doesn’t want to be in here. He gobbled down dinner and took off up to my room, like he’s a Demyan barometer and doesn’t want to get caught when the storm breaks.

He talks over me when Sasha wants to sit next to me and makes him sit next to him, and then he tells Sasha to stop crying.

Erin gets annoyed. Nadya cries because she knows everyone else is miserable and doesn’t want to be left out.

Through it all, Demyan gives off the vibe that I’m not here. It’s just an empty chair and not his sister in it.

Finally, Erin stands and leans forward. “I’m taking the children out for dinner, and you two can stay here and do whatever you need to do to sort this shit out.”

She says it to both of us, but her eyes are on Demyan.

“You’ll stay here—” he starts.

But she’s already on the phone with her friend Kara, arranging to meet her.

Then she hangs up. “I’m not sure you want to be the one dealing with crying kids, so don’t tempt meto give you what you deserve. I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

She leaves.

I look to Demyan, but he stares down at his plate. All I want to do is talk to him and sort this out, but he’s not having it.

He eats like a starving man and then stands to go.

I grab his arm. “Demyan, stop.”

“Let go,” he pushes out.

“No. Talk to me. Please.”

He doesn’t answer.

Forget crying kids; I’m close to crying myself.

“Demyan,” I say, my voice wobbling, “I don’t get why you’re doing this. Where’s your head? This isn’t you.”

“You really don’t want me to answer any of this shit.”

I stand, too. “Yes, I do. Anything’s better than silence.”

He glares at me, and I glare back.

Neither one of us moves.

I want to plead, to beg, to demand, but whatever Demyan’s got to say needs to come out on its own. He’s got to enter into this conversation. Because running away and shutting down always get us nowhere.

So I wait.

No matter how much it tears me apart.

“Fine,” he says with a growl. “You want my answer?”

I don’t nod, don’t speak. Just wait.

“You fucked my best friend behind my back, and now you’re knocked up with his kid. Excuse me if that’s a lot to process.”

What the actual fuck? I stare at my brother, my eyes pricking hot with tears. Behind…?

Does he think I stole Ilya?

Or he stole me?

The accusation is cold and nasty and unbecoming. He should know me. Demyan doesn’t need to know my sexual history to know me. He spent his life making sure my compass was always set correctly.

Worse than that, the words hurt on a deeper level.

Like I don’t care about Ilya. Like I got over Max with a simple click of my fingers.

Like I’m a monster.

I swallow.

He’s back on his high horse, only it isn’t as big as he thinks.

“Demyan, I fell in love with your best friend.”

“Bullshit.” His gaze sweeps over me. “Maybe you think you’re in love, but you’re not. You’re still hurting, and he… He took advantage.”

“You weren’t there. How the hell would you know?”

“Because,” he snarls, “I know you. I know him.”

“How can you even say that, then? Name one time Ilya’s taken advantage of me or anyone else.”

A muscle works in his jaw. “You don’t know him like I do.”

His words hurt. My stomach clenches like I’m going to throw up, but I stand my ground.

The front door slams, and children’s voices fill the air.

I hear Erin tell Sasha to pick up his toy truck as they disappear up the stairs.

Maybe we’ve been in the kitchen for a while, or maybe she cut the meal short.

I don’t know, and I don’t care. I can hear another adult’s voice and recognize it as Kara’s, but I need to ignore all that since Demyan’s flinging around accusations like they’re candy.

“What’s that mean?” I ask and take a deep breath.

He sneers. “What do you think it means?”

“If you’re trying to tell me Ilya’s a player, that’s not only rich, but a lie.” I pin him with a stare. “It’s rich because you used to fuck anyone and anything, and you ran the moment they wanted anything like commitment?—”

“That’s an exaggeration.”

“And what you’re saying to me isn’t?” I ask. “You say that Ilya’s like this, which he isn’t because I know him. But you say he’s like that, so let’s say he is. Don’t you think he might see me as different, like you did with Erin?”

“Well—”

“Or am I just not worth it?”

He narrows his eyes. “Don’t put words in my mouth. I’m saying he saw a grieving woman and took advantage. He’s not what you think.”

“Ilya’s exactly what I think. Another gem, like Max. And it’s been two years. Am I meant to wear veils and dress in black and mourn for the rest of my life? Because you know what? I will. But I’ll also love again, and that’s what Ilya is. Love. He’s the real deal.”

My brother flinches.

“I fell for him because I know him, and as the harsh, dark grief passed, I saw what was there. A chance, one most people don’t get once, let alone twice. He’s amazing, and I’m lucky to have caught his eye.”

“Stop that. And grow up.” He stalks past me to the freezer, pulls out the vodka, pours himself a glass, takes a sip, and sets it down. “Just…grow up.”

“ You grow up,” I say quietly. “The truth is, Ilya was a gentleman, and I pushed. That’s the truth. I wore down his barriers because I see what he is, and I know my own mind and feelings, and yeah, it was hard to let go of the guilt?—”

“See?”

“—but I did. And I love him, and Demyan? Ilya loves me, too. Everyone’s beyond happy about this. In fact, the only person who has a problem with it is you.”

“I’m looking out for you. Nothing else. No agenda. Unlike him.”

“Him? Ilya’s your best friend, a brother to you, and you’re an ass.”

“You’re ungrateful, and you’re sullying the memory of Max.”

My head snaps back.

“Demyan…” That’s Erin.

My head swims. My stomach swirls like rough seas.

He’s saying something about how he didn’t mean it, and she’s telling him off, and…

And.

No.

I can’t.

No.

I stumble back, out of the room and through the foyer.

“Alina!” Erin comes after me.

My brother is with her. I can feel him there, the dark bitterness of the fight clinging.

But his last words… I just can’t.

“Alina, stop,” he commands.

I grab the rail of the stairs. From above me, Albert starts to bark.

“You know I didn’t mean that. Brothers and sisters fight.”

“You went too far,” I snap. “You and your stupid ego. Erin could do better. How’s that for a brother-sister fight comment?”

Erin’s gaze moves wildly between us. “Everyone needs to calm down, okay?”

“I’ve had enough,” I say quietly. “I’m packing. I’m leaving. And you , Demyan… You can do what you want, because from this moment on, I’m only talking to Erin.”

“Alina,” he says, his voice rough, “please.”

Albert peers anxiously over the landing’s top step above.

I take a step. “Please what? You’ve made it clear you think I’m some sort of…IQ-challenged party whore?—”

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” he says.

“And,” I continue, “Ilya’s some kind of scoundrel who uses women like cheap tissues.”

“Oh, Demyan, you didn’t…” Erin stares at my brother.

He looks like he’s a wild animal backed into a corner. “I didn’t. She’s getting it wrong. I just meant that this came out of nowhere, and?—”

“And you don’t approve,” I say.

My head’s beating in time with my pulse, and each beat hurts. My throat’s raw, and I think I’m at the end of it all.

I grasp the oiled wooden banister tight.

“Since when do I have to approve of it?” he asks.

“Since you started laying down the law. I’m going. I’m sorry, Demyan, but believe what you want. I no longer care.” My voice sounds too high and seems to come from a long distance away.

He starts to say something, but I block him out.

Albert barks again with added urgency. “Watch out, Alina! The truck!” Erin screams at me.

I put my foot down, only it doesn’t land on a solid surface. My sneaker wobbles, the toy truck I hit rolling forward right as it throws me off balance.

I scream too.

And I tumble back.

Into darkness.