Violet came awake slowly, knowing she was going to regret opening her eyes once she did. Already, the brightness of daylight was seeping through her closed lids, and there would be no getting out of waking up once she saw the sun.
Wasn’t Chicago supposed to be overcast and gray?
She wanted another three hours of sleep, at least. After a plane ride, and then a long enough drive to get to their destination, it had been closing in on well after two in the morning.
Violet yanked the soft duvet higher over her head in an attempt to pretend she hadn’t seen the damn sunlight.
“Ah, no,” she heard said from somewhere to her right. “You’re not going back to sleep. It’s almost noon. You need food, yes? I’m hungry too, Violet.”
That was the only warning she had gotten before the duvet was tugged on hard enough to pull it off her entirely. Glaring, Violet watched a laughing Kaz walk out of the bedroom with a two finger wave.
Ass.
At least it’s a nice ass, she thought.
It took her another ten minutes before she convinced herself to get out of the comfortable bed and attempt to get ready for the day—afternoon.
Whatever.
Violet didn’t do well with the lack of sleep. She wasn’t going to pretend otherwise, either. As she went in search of something to put on, she took in the surroundings of the bedroom. She hadn’t been able to do much of that the night before, as she’d been too tired.
The four-poster bed sat against the back wall with matching nightstands on either side. Despite the neutral shades present throughout the room, someone had clearly taken their time decorating the space to make it feel more welcoming.
Settling on the dress shirt Kaz had left tossed aside the night before, Violet decided that was good enough until she actually had to get dressed. It wasn’t as if they were going to be entertaining a plethora of visitors, surely.
And maybe Violet liked that a little bit.
She liked the thought of a stretch of uninterrupted time with just her and Kaz. Something they really hadn’t been able to have together before. Something else was always getting in the way—their fathers, his job, her curfews.
Those things didn’t exist here.
Violet decided to stop being grumpy about being woke up before she wanted to actually get up. There would be no phone calls sending her rushing home and no time constraints pushing them apart again.
Maybe she’d like Chicago.
For now …
The two-level townhouse sported two bedrooms upstairs and another that looked to be an office of sorts as Violet passed it on the way to the stairwell. Along the wall of the stairwell, a few pictures of a city skyline—she suspected it was Chicago—hung in a haphazard fashion.
Violet stopped for a second, staring at the pictures.
It made her wonder something.
This place wasn’t barren. The townhouse was far from empty. It was decorated, filled with furniture, and a familiar Porsche had been sitting in the driveway the night before when they’d arrived.
Violet knew Kaz had been planning this to some extent.
She just didn’t realize quite how much until now.
“Krasivaya?”
“I’m up,” Violet said, resuming her trek down the last few steps.
She passed a large living room and a second bathroom as she made her way to a black and white decorated kitchen that sported stainless steel appliances and chrome accents. Leaning in the doorway, Violet admired the sight of Kaz’s bare back as he opened a few cabinets, searching for the things he wanted.
As he pulled out instant coffee, sugar, and powder creamer, along with two cups, Violet’s smile grew a little more. Each and every shift of his body left her a little more mesmerized.
Maybe she could understand why he had always enjoyed watching her when she wasn’t looking.
Clearing her throat, Kaz acted as if she hadn’t surprised him.
“Are you happy?” she asked. “You got me up.”
“Very. The place is empty of most things to eat. We can fix that easily enough. I have a bit, though. Coffee, yes?”
Violet walked a little further into the kitchen, coming to a stop at the island. “Coffee is good.”
Kaz filled an electric kettle and turned it on before he finally turned around to face her completely. She wasn’t sure what to expect from him only a morning after they’d left New York and all the craziness they probably created in their wake.
Concern, maybe.
A little anxiety.
Stress, even.
Kaz was none of that. His smile—lax and easy—only grew as she climbed up to sit on one of the stools. He was already reaching out a hand to take one of hers, before pulling it up to press a quick kiss to her knuckles.
Smirking a bit, his gaze fell on her neck, and he said, “Unless you don’t care, I hope you have a way to cover that mark, Violet.”
She refused to feed into his teasing. “I’ll figure something out.”
“Mmm.”
“Or I won’t.”
Kaz’s brow lifted; he put her hand back down as the kettle started to boil and then clicked off shortly after. He went back to work making coffee—Violet was convinced it was one of the only things he could do well in a kitchen, besides toss out take-out containers.
“In the fruit tree,” Kaz said, offering no explanation.
Violet glanced around for what he was talking about and found a multi-level, metal fruit basket in the shape of a tree sitting in the middle of the table across the kitchen. She went over to retrieve whatever it was he wanted inside. Several restaurant take-out menus rested on the top tier of the basket. Violet found the ones that served breakfast and brought them back to the island.
Kaz had her coffee waiting by the time she got there.
He had stolen her seat, though.
Instead of letting her pick another stool, he quickly wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her up onto his lap. Without saying a word, he rested his chin on her shoulder, tilting his head just enough so that his nose and mouth brushed her neck while his hand rested possessively high on her bare thigh.
“Find something you want,” he said, “before it gets too late and they won’t serve breakfast.”
“Call it brunch.”
“That word didn’t even exist until lazy, rich women made it up.”
Violet didn’t bother to argue the point because he was probably right. “What do you want to eat?”
She felt his smile grow sinful against her skin. “They won’t serve it, krasivaya.”
Heat pooled deep in the pit of her stomach at his suggestive words. “Stop that.”
Kaz’s fingers danced a little higher on her thigh, making a quick line to work between them. “I could, but—”
Loud voices, a slamming door, and the sounds of shoes hitting hardwood stopped Kaz’s fingers in their trek. Kaz lifted his head slightly, turning just enough to see the entryway of the kitchen. Nervousness settled deep in Violet.
He hadn’t said people were coming over.
She wasn’t even properly dressed.
Still, his hand tightened to her leg as if he didn’t plan to let her leave, either.
“Kaz?”
The new voice stunned Violet for a second—it was female.
The second voice, gruffer and deeper, didn’t sound pleased at all. “Maya, goddamn, woman. You don’t need to be shouting in someone’s house, no? It’s not even noon yet. Ostanovit with that shit, huh?”
“Shut up, Kolya.”
Violet’s brow raised a little higher as a petite, dark-haired woman barreled into the kitchen with a grin firmly planted on her face. Her gaze quickly took in Violet, but just as fast, it moved to Kaz. She was almost pixie-like in appearance and small-framed like a dancer, maybe. The short, spiked style of her hair certainly added to her whole fairy aura.
“You are here,” Maya said. “And that asshole didn’t tell me.”
“That asshole is right here, Maya.”
The man who strolled in behind Maya, a scowl etched onto his strong features, looked like he wanted to be just about anywhere but there at that moment. He stood a good foot and a half taller than the girl did and looked to be at least two-hundred pounds, if not more, of solid muscle. His size, mixed in with the dismissive attitude he sported, screamed ‘back off.’ Violet wasn’t quite sure what to make of that, but the man’s—Kolya, the girl had said—dark eyes barely passed Violet a glance.
In fact, he only looked at Kaz.
“I tried,” he offered, saying nothing else. “She’s nosy as shit.”
Maya’s hand swung out and smacked Kolya hard in the stomach. “Shut up, you.”
Kolya barely reacted. “Sorry, Kaz.”
Kaz shrugged. “All’s good.”
For him, maybe.
Violet still didn’t know who these people were. She put her hand over Kaz’s on her thigh and squeezed, trying to convey her questions without outright asking. She didn’t want to be rude to people she figured were probably his friends.
Even if the man across the room still didn’t look all that approachable or friendly.
She really wished she had put on some goddamn pants.
Kaz pressed a quick kiss to her cheek and helped her down from the stool. Standing, Violet was grateful the dress shirt fell to her mid-thigh and kept her decent enough. Kaz stood, too, taking his coffee with him.
“Couldn’t wait a couple of days, Maya?” Kaz asked.
Maya rocked on her heels. “Why should I? You didn’t even bother to tell me you were coming to the city.”
Kaz nodded in Violet’s direction. “Maybe I had a reason for that, no?”
“I didn’t know that, either!” Maya’s bright blue eyes swung back to Violet’s quiet form; she looked her over and grinned a little wider. “Hi. Maya”—she pointed at herself then at Kolya—”and Mr. Asshole here is Kolya. Don’t mind him; he didn’t get his hugs this morning.”
For a brief second, Kolya’s schooled, cold features cracked as surprise flitted over his face, and he glanced down at the woman. “Maya—”
“What’s your name?” she asked, ignoring him completely.
Kolya sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Maya, no.”
Kaz chuckled. “Be nice, yeah? She’s not hurting anyone.”
“Maya, sure, but—”
“I was talking about Violet,” Kaz interrupted smoothly, his smile gone as he passed Kolya an indecipherable look.
Even Maya quieted at that, and the girl seemed like a ball of energy that didn’t know how to be silent or still. Violet figured out that much in just the short time she’d spent in her presence. People like that were hard not to like.
Kolya’s features blanked again, his gaze hard as he looked at Violet and then at Kaz. “She cares—likes you. I don’t want those sorts of problems. You know how she is.”
“She is right here,” Maya snapped.
Kaz’s hand came up to cup the back of Violet’s neck gently, but he looked at Kolya as he spoke. “Somewhere else, yes? Upstairs, outside. Whatever. Not here.”
Kolya frowned. “Fine. Maya—”
“Stays,” Kaz said. “No harm.”
Then Kaz gave Violet a smile and another quick kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Drink your coffee, get dressed, hmm? I’ll be back.”
Still not quite sure what had happened or what was wrong, Violet watched Kaz stroll out of the kitchen with Kolya following close on his heels. But not before he tugged playfully on a short strand of Maya’s hair as he left.
The action alone was affectionate enough for Violet to know the two were in a relationship.
As soon as the two men were gone, Maya turned back on Violet.
“So … Violet, yes?” she asked.
Violet shrugged. “Yep.”
“New York?”
“Born and raised.”
“I heard you come from the Italians,” the girl said.
Violet blinked, unsure. “Why has everyone I’ve met so far brought that up?”
Maya laughed. “Because it’s important. Are you going to order food?”
“We were in the process of it. Why?”
“I’m starving.”
Just like that, Maya dropped the whole ‘Italian’ thing, and strolled across the kitchen to pick up the food menus Violet had set down earlier.
The girl passed Violet another look. “So you and Kaz, huh?”
“Uh … yeah.”
“Glad he finally figured out something about his life.”
Kaz hadn’t given much thought to the rooftop greenhouse garden that was listed with the property when he had Rus make the transaction for him. What the fuck would he do with it? But as he walked behind Kolya out onto it, he found a use.
The moment the door shut behind them, Kaz stopped, shoving his hands in his pockets. “You good, Kolya?”
“What the fuck do you care?”
Kaz’s eye twitched as he tried to remind himself that this was his friend, and it wasn’t a good idea to shoot one’s friends. But over the years, he didn’t think he had ever met someone as perpetually upset as Kolya was. It was as if the man only knew how to be angry, at all things all the time. It still amazed him how Maya was able to put up with his shit.
“Whatever the problem is, Violet had no part of it. So either show her a little more respect, or I’ll give you a reason to.”
Kolya didn’t respond to warnings as any rational person would; rather he reacted as though it were a challenge. One second, he was still angry, and the next, he was offering a manic smile, looking at Kaz with a brow arched.
“That so? And how exactly are you trying to teach that lesson, pizda?”
Kaz used to react when Kolya called him a pussy. He’d let his anger take over until they were both exhausted and bleeding, but that was back when Kaz was a hothead. Now, he hardly reacted at all.
“You really want to do this now?”
“Then what’s your preference? Before or after those goddamn Italians try to come crawling through here to find her?” Kolya took a step forward, his eyes narrowed on Kaz. “I don’t care, Kaz. Whatever fucking happens to her, not my problem, but because you care, Maya will care. You know more than anyone how fragile she can be, and when she takes this shit on, I’ll have to fix it.”
“Then your problem is with me,” Kaz said after a moment. “Don’t give her shit because you decided to indulge your wife. If you really didn’t want her here, she wouldn’t be.”
Kolya opened his mouth to speak, but the door opened behind them. Konstantin popped his head out, already smiling at the sight of them.
“Bad time?”
“Fuck off.”
“Good to see you too, brother.”
No one could truly explain the relationship between the two Boykov brothers. With Kolya as the oldest at the same age as Kaz and Konstantin as the youngest, they were always in some battle of wills whenever Kaz crossed their paths. It almost seemed like Konstantin enjoyed pushing his brother as far as he could before Kolya would snap back, usually with a fist to somewhere on his brother’s body. It was impossible to miss the certain competitive nature between the brothers. Though weren’t most siblings like that?
Kaz didn’t fully understand why Konstantin was being groomed to take over his father’s position with him being the youngest brother, but then again, many things about other Bratvas were kept quiet.
Kaz’s own brother, Ruslan, and his preference for men was a good example of that. Vasily kept all of that hush-hush.
But obviously, given Kolya had been married for two years to Maya, he didn’t have that same issue. Maybe he just hadn’t wanted to be the boss—Kaz didn’t know, and he didn’t ask.
“I see the girls are getting along just fine down in the kitchen,” Konstantin said, grinning in that way of his.
Kaz reminded himself again that it was not nice to shoot friends. “You’d better not have made one of your fucking comments to Violet.”
Konstantin’s eyes flew wide in false innocence. “I would never.”
Bullshit.
This man thrived on chaos.
“I’m warning you,” Kaz said. “Unless you’re looking for a fist to the throat.”
“They didn’t even see me.”
That did nothing to make Kaz feel better. “You have to go through the kitchen to get to the stairs, so how the fuck are you up here if they didn’t see you.”
“I went through a window, but that’s not what’s important right now.”
Kaz put his fingers to his temples, looking back and forth between the both of them, trying to make sure he heard clearly. “What’s happening right now? Are you two fucking with me?”
“Waste of my time,” Kolya mumbled, glancing at the silver watch adorning his wrist. “So what is it, Kaz? Besides the fucking obvious explanation down in the kitchen, why are you here? If you were trying to hide out, you’d fuck off to some other country and be done with it. But you came here, which means you’re into some shit. So if I have to step in it, at least let me know what kind it is.”
“Vasily,” Kaz said. It was all he needed to say for Kolya to understand.
“Right. That I can get on board with it.”
Not with keeping a girl safe from her crazy-ass family, but let the man hear about taking down his enemy and he was all for it.
Fucking Kolya.
“We never did get around to explaining how you wanted to go about that, Kaz,” Konstantin jumped in.
Kolya fell silent once the question was asked, he too looking at Kaz for an explanation.
The answer wasn’t one that would be easy to hear or even one that would be relatively easy to execute. No, every night for four months, Kaz had gone over strategies, working through multiple scenarios at a time because he knew his father better than most, so he had a good idea as to how he would react.
All it took was a spider.
Violet listened to Maya chatter on the phone as she placed a brunch order that was far too large for just four people. She felt someone watching her from behind, though she hadn’t heard anyone come in the house, and spun on her heel to see who it was.
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman with delicate features leaned in the kitchen entryway, an apple raised to her painted red lips as she took a bite. She didn’t say a word, just chewed on her bite and looked Violet over like she was deciding what to say.
At least Violet had taken a minute to run upstairs and pull a pair of jeans on. She still hadn’t taken Kaz’s shirt off, though.
Finally, the girl swallowed her bite and said, “Zdrastvooyte.”
Violet blinked, not having the slightest clue what the girl said. “Uh …”
Maya reached out her hand, waved back and forth between Violet and the new girl, and then waved again, mouthing, “Hello.”
Ah.
Violet turned back to the newcomer. “Hello.”
“I guess you don’t speak Russian, huh?” the girl asked.
Obviously not.
“English and Italian,” Violet said. “No Russian, sorry.”
Maya hung up the phone, finished with her order. “Oh, I’m sure she knows a few phrases—no Russian I know doesn’t go a day without spilling a cuss or two. Especially when he’s fuck—”
“That’s enough of that,” the girl interrupted. “I don’t want or need to know what my brother does or does not do and says with his wife, thanks.”
“I wasn’t talking about Kolya,” Maya replied sweetly. “I was talking about—”
“I’m Violet.” Violet jumped in, wanting to get the two off the topic they were heading for. She didn’t know these two women especially well, and she didn’t know what history they might or might not have with Kaz. She wasn’t all that interested in finding out, either. “And I didn’t hear you come in.”
The girl shrugged. “Konstantin likes to fuck with people—you need better window locks.”
Again, Violet just stared at the girl, unsure of what to say.
She’d mention that window thing to Kaz, though.
Maya sighed. “You have zero people skills, Vik.”
“She’s not running away, no?”
Where would Violet go, exactly?
“Violet, this is Viktoria Boykov,” Maya said, waving to the girl still standing in the kitchen entryway. “And preevyet would have been just fine. No need to be so formal.”
“For someone I don’t know—not likely.”
Maya rolled her eyes and waved a hand like she was dismissing Viktoria. “Don’t mind her attitude; it’s not noon yet, which means she shouldn’t be out of bed.”
Viktoria smiled serenely. “Yet here I am.”
“And why is that?” Maya asked.
“Kon came over saying someone was in town—figured I should come and say hello.”
“Why?” Violet asked before she could stop herself or think better of it.
Maybe it was the fact she didn’t get particularly nice vibes from Viktoria, or it could just be that she didn’t know the woman all that well. Still, the girl was a sort of beautiful that had an almost cold quality to it. Right from the platinum of her hair to the iciness of her blue gaze. So Violet was left wondering how this woman knew Kaz at all, and why she felt like she had to come over as soon as he was in town just to say hello.
Viktoria turned her sights on Violet. “Why, what?”
Violet’s upbringing made it difficult for her to be put in any sort of situation with confrontation. She had been taught to sit down, be pretty, and stay quiet. There was no need for her to go causing trouble when there were enough people who would do that for her.
“Why come over?”
Viktoria shrugged. “Old friends—it’s the right thing to do. And Kaz is always causing … some sort of ruckus. I enjoy the entertainment.”
Maya pursed her lips, eyeing her sister-in-law from the side. “Cut it out, Vik.”
Violet didn’t like the sound of that, either.
Viktoria acted like she hadn’t heard Maya at all. “And it seems, this time, he’s really gotten himself mixed up in something fun. My brother—Kon—he talks. Maybe too much.”
Stiffening, Violet asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
The girl smiled in that cool, unbothered way of hers. “Welcome to Chicago, Violet Gallucci. I certainly hope you’re worth the trouble you’re about to cause.”