Page 29 of Scarlet Sins (Yegorov Bratva #2)

Chapter Twenty-Five

ERIN

Two days later, we arrive, not at O’Hare, but at a private airfield. I stare at Kara who shrugs, then at Alina, who grins.

“What did Demyan do?”

A beautiful flight attendant comes out into the waiting area where we just arrived. Three of Demyan’s men have our bags. I argued with him, but he insisted. We girls go ahead early, with security, of course.

But I didn’t expect… this…

A luxurious waiting area that’s completely private and a sleek jet waiting not that far from where we are. I can see it through the glass wall.

“Are you all ready? The captain said we can board early. I’ll show you boys where the bags go to be checked.” And she winks.

I turn back to Alina. Sasha’s tugging at Olga from where he’s standing, his stroller packed up, and he’s staring at the plane, agog, while talking at her in excitement.

“Well?”

“The jet’s part of the experience. Demyan booked it, so no arguments. Surprise?” She ushers me in front of the window and Olga picks up Sasha and hands him to me. “Say cheese.”

“Plane!” shouts Sasha, as Alina clicks the camera on her phone.

My new passport’s scanned, as is Sasha’s, and it’s like stepping into another world when we step on the plane.

Olga and the guards disappear through the back to where there are seats for crew, according to Alina, but we’re in the lap of luxury.

There’s a bar, couches and chairs, and apparently there’s even a couple of bedrooms if anyone wants a nap.

It’s a pain to get Sasha strapped in, but we get him in there, and then the attendant serves snacks and champagne, with some apple juice for Sasha. I ask for a mocktail, and she comes back with something refreshing and bubbly and tropical.

Kara laughs. “I’ve flown business and once I got upgraded to first, but this… it’s another level.” She pokes Alina. “Do you always fly like this?”

“Sometimes. It depends on what Demyan’s doing. Dad used to have his own private jet, but Demyan sold it, preferring to use a private company. Other times, I like to live like the other half.”

I smile into my drink. I’m not sure I can ever get used to this level of luxury. When the seat belts come off, Sasha has his nose to the glass to look down at the world below.

“To you, Erin,” Alina says, “for helping Demyan be all I knew he could be.”

“To Erin!” Kara clinks glasses with us.

“No,” I say, “to you both for helping me. And being so good to Sasha. He’s got a big family now.”

“Is Tom coming?” Kara asks.

Alina frowns. “Tom?”

“My half brother.” I smile. “He sends his best, but he’s on a job he can’t get out of. You know Tom. Always busy. ”

“I’m your real family.” Then she looks at Alina and taps her glass to the other. “We are. Me and Alina. Sisters from other misters.”

I laugh. “Is that gross? I can’t work out if it is or not.”

“So, let’s get real ladies,” Kara says. “Bachelorette night. What’s the plan?”

“Nope, I’m not?—”

But they cut me off, laughing and giggling as they plan outrageous things, strippers, skinny-dipping, bar crawling. Penis tiaras.

I don’t protest. I let them get it out of their system now. A big smile keeps blooming, bursting up from deep inside.

Everything seems perfect. From this flight to my new and old found family. From Sasha to Demyan and the baby. All of it. And I can’t believe how excited I am for this wedding.

Not the clothes or anything, but Demyan with his dark hair that’s sprinkled with gray. Just enough to deepen the sexiness of him, and for the first time, I wonder what he’s going to wear. A tux? Swimming shorts? Chinos and a Hawaiian shirt?

The last one makes me laugh but the girls don’t notice, no, not that. And I don’t care. All I care about is the commitment and him. All I care about is Sasha and the baby. Our new future.

All I care about is in a few short days, I’ll officially be Mrs. Yegorov.

I can’t wait.

When we get to the exclusive and luxurious resort that has little thatched cabins that go out on boardwalks into the crystal-clear blue water, we check into our suite.

Alina looks at me as she opens the curtains. “Don’t go crazy on your unpacking for you. Demyan has plans.”

A thrill passes through me as I put on the new swimwear, and then I fuss with Sasha and his sunscreen .

“Olga’s here for a reason, Erin.”

The maid smiles. Her hair is in a ponytail and she’s wearing jeans and a nice T-shirt. She takes the sunscreen.

“He can’t swim?—”

“Erin?” Kara gives me a shove. “Relax.”

“I can swim. There is the baby beach and the complex has pools. He’s safe,” Olga says.

Alina nods. “She’s here so you can have fun. And you trust her. She loves Sasha so you can feel comfy leaving Sasha.”

“But…”

“Dino’s orders.” Alina grins.

She looks so happy that I can’t resist. I kiss Sasha, who’s asking about the turtles and if he can have one. He’s so into trying to get Olga to give him a turtle I don’t think he notices the girls drag me out the door.

The girls are right. I’m in Aruba. I should have fun with them. “Where are we going, the pool?”

“Hell no, this place has a private beach and cabanas. We’re going there.”

The beach is so gorgeous that I know I need to have fun, but I keep fretting about Sasha.

“Relax, mama bear,” Kara says. “Our boy’s fine. We’ve got a private bar just up behind us, deck chairs, swimming, shade, soft, soft sand, clear water, and sun. Plus, all the mocktails your pregnant ass can stand.”

“Here.”

Alina thrusts her phone at me and Olga’s looking stunning in a bathing suit, and a floatie-clad Sasha’s splashing in a pool with other kids. I’m guessing the parent of the kid he’s with took the pic.

I start to relax as I rub sunscreen on and the beach fills up. “This is private?”

“You should see the public ones.” Alina laughs as she lies down on a deck chair .

The air’s electric and it’s like I’m in a sea of models. I want to send Demyan a photo and I go to take a selfie so I can text him with a missing you message, but my phone’s snatched away.

“No phones.” Alina drops the phone into my bag.

“I just want to text him I miss him.”

“No phones,” shouts Kara.

“Fine.”

I relax and let the sun warm me. When it gets too hot, we go for a swim and the sea’s incredible, the fish, everything. There are turtles, but apparently, we have to come in the morning to see those.

Some people snorkel but we just splash around, no different to Sasha, really. Another pang hits me, different to the one for Demyan.

But if I even think of getting out the phone, they might just throw it in the ocean. Besides, I trust Olga and that photo was everything. My boy looked so happy.

I hope that we all get to go away as a family. I’d never ever ask Demyan to quit his world as I don’t think it’s a job, it’s a lifestyle, but I hope he’ll take time for us.

I remember when we met, how serious he was at that bar, and how intense in the room. I’ll keep intense. I adore intense Demyan. But I love soft Demyan, too. The secret Demyan that loves and hurts and laughs. My Demyan.

Maybe it’s my job to make him take moments to?—

Water smacks me in the face. I sputter and Kara shakes her head. “Stop drooling over your man hunk. You have a lifetime to do that. This is for us.”

“You know what I need?” Alina says. “I need a stiff drink.”

“So do I. Seltzer. Straight up.” And I laugh.

“Fuck your seltzer, I’m having a gin.” And Kara wades out of the water, the soft waves lapping .

We sit and let the sun dry us, and the girls discuss tonight. “There is a strip show.”

“Kara, I don’t need to be Magic Miked.”

“Plus,” Alina adds, “Demyan might break legs.”

“Not ours?”

“No, Kara,” she says. “Those poor, hot men.”

“Dancing.” Kara slaps down her little guide pamphlet she must have taken from the hotel. “There’s a nightclub that could be fun. And it also has a pool.”

“It’s a plan. We can get spa treatments first,” Alina says. “What do you say, Erin?”

I make a sound like yes, but honestly, I think I’d just like to nap.

“That,” Kara says, “is a pretend yes. But give me five more minutes and it’ll be real. Yes or death.”

“I get it, I’m having fun,” I say, “no matter what.”

And I continue to let the sun warm me.