Page 57 of Twilight Tears
“It’s different for you. You’re in a disgustingly romantic relationship and pregnant. I’m still on the prowl.”
I snort. “You’re on the prowl? For what?”
“I’m going to ignore the disbelief in your voice. Just because my brother has me on house arrest doesn’t mean I’m a nun.”
My eyes go wide. “Are you dating someone?”
“Who would I be dating, Luna? Like I said, my brother has me on house arrest.”
“But you said you aren’t a?—”
“I just meant that I have needs, too, okay?” Her face flushes and I realize with a start that Mariya is embarrassed. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it. I don’t hate it.
I bite back a smile. “That makes sense. I’m sure it’s hard spending all this time at home.”
“The only place I’ve been in weeks is the hospital. And Nik’s hospital room isn’t exactly brimming with hot guys. Which is probably good now that I think about it,” she mumbles. “I am an ugly crier.”
My heart squeezes. Mariya has been crying next to her brother's hospital bed while I've been trying to gather the courage to sit by the pool.
Before I can stop myself, I reach over and grab her hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Really. It’s just hard to see Nik like that. That’s all it is.” She blinks and I can almost see her cool mask slipping into place. “That and the fact that I have to live vicariously through that shitty reality yacht show you got me hooked on.”
I’m too delighted to call her out for changing the subject. “Are you finally caught up on the newest season?”
“I know why Lydia refused to disembark with Richard when the yacht made port in Capri, if that’s what you mean,” she says with a smirk.
“Because she’s been having an affair with the captain!” I blurt. “Can you believe it?”
“Absolutely. Yes, I can.” Mariya nods, a wistful smile on her face. “I want a boy to tell me that I have eyes bluer than the Mediterranean Sea.”
“You do!”
“Thanks, but compliments from you don’t really do it for me.” She grimaces. “I need to go dancing. I’m starting to feel like we are due another jailbreak. What do you think, Luna? Wanna sneak out and go dancing?”
I snap my head towards her. “Don’t even think about it! The last time we tried that was traumatic enough. Was getting kidnapped not enough excitement for a lifetime?"
“Relax. I was just kid?—”
“Your brother is going through enough without you causing trouble. If you snuck out, he’d have to track you down and then kill every man who even dared to touch you. It would not be pretty. So no sneaking out. Ever.”
“Kidding,” Mariya finishes. “I was kidding! Jeez, tough crowd.”
“What are you two talking about?” Strong hands slide over my shoulders. I jolt before I recognize it’s Yakov standing behind me.
“And the crowd just got tougher,” Mariya mumbles. She pushes herself to standing. “We were talking about nothing. Absolutely nothing. Definitely nothing that has anything to do with you.”
“You live in my house. Everything you do has something to do with me,” he retorts.
“Not this.” Mariya backs toward the house. “I am going to go to my room now. It’s my favorite place to be. I’m very happy there. Could stay there forever.”
When she finally ducks inside, Yakov turns to me. “For a girl raised in the Bratva, she's a shitty liar.”
“It really was nothing. And I already took care of it, anyway.”
“If it was nothing, there would be nothing to take care of.” He sighs. “If Mariya has a problem, she should come to me. You have enough going on.”
“I’m fine. Mariya can talk to me. I want to be there for her.”