Laney stared at the speaker box and wondered for the dozenth time that day if Claudia was setting her up. There was absolutely no reason these invitations needed to be hand delivered. Every other invitation had been mailed out. Yet Claudia had insisted these ones were special and couldn’t be risked on the suddenly unreliable United States Postal Service. Then Claudia had been mysteriously struck down by illness on the very day the invitations needed to be delivered, leaving Laney with the task of dropping them off herself.
With a sigh, Laney reached out and pressed the button, knowing that she must have long since been spotted on the security cameras. Sitting in the driveway of a mob boss for several minutes, doing absolutely nothing would look incredibly suspicious. She identified herself and when the gates opened, drove the black SUV to the front of the house.
Not unexpectedly, Boris met her at the door. Claudia liked to jokingly call him the Sitnikov ‘butler’ because of his penchant for answering the door. Laney tried to remind herself of all the reasons it was a good thing she was seeing Boris. She was receiving more pressure from home to report back. Despite her reluctance, she really did need to keep eyes on him. She had a job to do, which had nothing to do with protecting Claudia Cantore or the wedding invitations in her pocket. That job was getting harder and harder to remember though, especially with Boris’ dark eyes sweeping over her, touching every inch of her body like a physical handprint.
“Laney,” he said, his deeply accented voice laced with a satisfaction he did nothing to hide. “What brings you to my presence?”
Laney borrowed a common Claudia characteristic and rolled her eyes. “I am here to see Mr. Sitnikov. I believe he had a meeting with Ms. Cantore. She was unavoidably detained and has sent me in her place.”
“I hope she is well,” Boris said, sounding instead like he was more than pleased with whatever incident might have detained Claudia and sent Laney instead.
“She will be perfectly fine,” Laney said between gritted teeth, positive that she spoke the truth and feeling more than ever like she was caught in a match-making conspiracy.
“Vladimir is in meeting at the moment, but will finish soon,” Boris told her. “Please, come with me and meet a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Sitnikov’s.”
Boris placed his hand at Laney’s back and propelled her forward. She growled at him to remove the hand if he planned on keeping it, but he ignored her and ushered her through the main floor and into a spacious kitchen. Laney’s eyes widened in surprise as she found herself faced with four seated Russian soldiers, all facing a very sweet, innocent looking young woman. The soldiers looked about as rough as they could get, tattooed, scarred and street from top to bottom.
Laney immediately reached for the gun holstered under her jacket at the small of her back, but Boris’ massive hand landed on hers in a firm, but easy hold. She glared up at him and opened her mouth to demand he release her hand. He shushed her before she could speak.
“Listen,” he murmured.
One of the bigger guys, wearing a leather jacket and torn black jeans was reading haltingly from a book, “I’m not like the rest of you; I never made any plans about what I’d do when I grew up; I never thought of being married, as you did. I couldn’t seem to imagine myself anything but stupid little Beth, trotting about at home, of no use anywhere but there. I never wanted to go away, and the hard part now is leaving you all. I’m not afraid, but it seems as if I should be homesick for you even in heaven.”
“That’s wonderful Miki,” the young woman said brightly, patting the vicious street thug on the shoulder as though he were a star pupil. “Next time we’ll work on understanding when the contractions happen. Victor, would you like to read the next passage?”
Laney’s mouth fell open and she was about to burst into laughter when Boris looped an arm around her waist and carried her out of the kitchen and down the dark hallway. He clapped a large hand over her lips just as the giggles erupted. She was helpless to stop them though, and stood with her back against the dark paneling of Sitnikov’s hallway, shaking with laughter while Boris held her closely against his body. He chuckled quietly over top of her head while making sure they weren't overheard.
“It would be bloodbath in there if they thought you were insulting their precious English teacher,” he explained in a whisper. “They have become quite attached to young Lucy Miller.”
Understanding hit Laney and she nodded her head against his hand. Lucy Miller was Jane Sitnikov’s younger sister. Laney licked Boris’ hand to let him know she was back under control and he could move it.
“Blyad,” he groaned eagerly against the top of her head, “definitely do that again.”
Laney laughed and shoved his hand away. “Give me space to breathe, Godzilla.”
He took a step back with a sigh of regret and watched her face closely. “Ah, you have nickname for me now? I think we are making progress in our relationship.”
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, but continued to grin. “There is no relationship.”
“You are even more beautiful when you smile, Laney kotenok.”
“I told you not to call me that. No more nicknames!” she snapped. After a moment she asked, “Did Lucy Miller help you with your English as well. I’ve noticed you have improved. You spoke well before, but better now.”
He nodded his head. “She started with me. Offered a language suggestion one day and seemed pleased when I took it. Then started sitting down to meals and giving more advice. Gradually some of the guys began sitting down as well until the lessons became more formal. Now Sitnikov pays for her time. It seems to be mutually beneficial. Keeps her busy while she's on Rumspinga and the guys are able to do business better.”
A giggle escaped Laney’s mouth before she could stop it. “I’m sure the choice of reading material is extremely helpful when those guys are haunting strip clubs and making their street deals.”
Boris grinned. “Little Women is her favourite book. No one argues with Lucy Miller or they have Jane Sitnikov to deal with.”
Laney could read between those lines. You argue with Jane Sitnikov then you’re arguing with Vladimir Sitnikov and by extension Boris Grekov. She nodded, her lips twitching in amusement. “Far safer just to read the book and soak up the classic literature. Let me know if there’s a movie night?”
“Da,” Boris responded quickly. “Tomorrow night, my place. Pajamas optional.”
Laney laughed and rolled her eyes. “Can I meet Lucy Miller? I actually have a wedding invitation for her.”
He looked surprised. “I did not know Claudia had met Lucy.”
Laney shrugged. “They haven’t, but Claudia knew she was in town and didn’t want to exclude any member of the Sitnikov family. Besides, she is certain she will get along extremely well with this member of the family as she’s been raised with manners,” Laney said pointedly.
Boris ignored the jab and escorted her back into the kitchen where Lucy was wrapping up her lesson. Laney had to bite her lip to stop the laughter when one of the guys began asking questions about Jo’s relationship with her youngest sister Amy. He wanted to know how one sister could be so strong and talented while the other could be so frivolous. Lucy answered his questions patiently and with zero sarcasm. Laney thought the woman was a saint.
“Lucy, I would like to introduce you to my good friend, Laney Paul,” Boris said when the last man left the room. He took Laney’s arm and led her toward Lucy.
Lucy looked up from where she was standing next to the kitchen table and beamed at Laney. She wore a knee length dark brown suede skirt and a white blouse. Her light brown hair was tossed back in a loose knot at the base of her neck. She reached out and shook Laney’s hand.
“Nice to meet you, Laney,” she said softly. “I’ve heard all about you from this big guy.”
Laney raised an eyebrow toward Boris and smiled back at Lucy. “It’s also good to meet you. I have a wedding invitation here for you. I know you haven’t met the bride or groom, but they would be very pleased if you accepted their invitation as an extension of the Sitnikov family.”
Lucy looked both surprised and pleased as she reached out to take the envelope with her name on it. “I’ve never been to a non-Amish wedding!” she said excitedly. “I’ll get to go shopping for a dress!”
Laney’s smile relaxed into something more indulgent as she watched the young woman’s genuine pleasure over something so simple. Though they were only a few years apart in age, Laney felt much older. She had never felt such simple joy. Life had been far too complicated and brutal for such pleasures. She wasn’t jealous though. Lucy was too sweet. She wished her joy.
“Awesome,” Jane said sarcastically, striding into the kitchen. “Can’t wait. I assume you’ll make me go dress shopping with you?”
“Of course!” Lucy chirped happily. “I always dreamed of going shopping with big sister.”
Boris chuckled at the sisters’ banter. Jane turned laser-like dark eyes on him. “Oh, you’ll be coming with us, bodyguard. Wouldn’t want the precious Sitnikov ladies to get into trouble while couture shopping. In fact, I think we should invite Anastasia. I know she’s a bridesmaid and has a dress picked out already, but she can offer advice.”
Boris groaned and covered his eyes, shaking his head. He turned to face a smirking Laney and asked grumpily. “Any more invitations, or have you finished causing mayhem?”
She held three more up like cards in a deck. She handed over Jane and Vladimir’s invitation, as well as one other. “This one’s for your business partner, Mackenzie Hudson. Can you see that he gets it?”
Jane nodded and glanced sideways at her sister. Lucy looked suddenly uncomfortable and busied herself clearing books and papers off the kitchen table. Laney frowned.
Perhaps Claudia should not have extended an invitation to the man. Laney had mentioned his presence at the bodyguard’s poker game and Claudia knew of him from his association with Jane. Thus the invitation. Laney was not one to gossip, but she couldn’t wait to rush back to Claudia and tell her a little of what was happening at the Sitnikov mansion. Perhaps then Claudia might be distracted away from causing mischief in Laney’s personal life.
“Is that all?” Boris asked, his deep voice confused and somewhat disappointed. He and Claudia had become friends over the past several months.
Laney sighed and closed her eyes. She slapped his invitation against his chest, turned on her heel and strode toward the front door.
“I like her!” Lucy Miller’s voice floated down the hall after her.
“Right?!” Jane agreed.