Page 15 of Crimson Fate
“Oh, I’ve got to hear this,” Alexei chimes.
Eva shakes her head, a smirk hiding beneath the surface. “You two really are such terrible friends. How is it I never came to my senses and stopped hanging out with the both of you?”
“She was so nervous, she ended up grabbing the guy’s wallet and then handing it right back to him!” Amelia adds as we both start laughing harder at the memory.
“Hey!” Eva protests, feigning indignation. “You two set me up! I knew I should’ve never listened to your schemes.” She turns her attention to Alexei. “They told me that because I didn’t grow up in a family like theirs, I could only hang out with them if I committed a crime. That way, they could trust me because they would have dirt on me.”
“I still can’t believe you bought that,” I tease, feeling the tension from earlier dissipate. For a moment, I forget about the weight of my responsibilities and the danger that lurks around every corner, perhaps even at this very table.
Chapter Five
The clink of glasses still echoes in my ears as we leave the remnants of a strained dinner behind us. The transition from the dining room to the living room feels like stepping from one battlefield into another. I can sense the shift in mood—the walls of this new setting are steeped in expectation, the air thick with unsaid words.
“Shall we make ourselves comfortable?” Amelia’s voice is a soothing melody against the dissonance of our gathering. She and Eva are the only two people who have ever brought out the softer side of me.
I grunt in response, trailing the group. Alexei takes the lead, Amelia at his side, their shoulders brushing occasionally—a silent affirmation of their unity. I lag, my steps heavy, my mind heavier. I can’t shake the feeling that each step toward the sofas is like wading deeper into quicksand.
“Vincent, come sit next to me,” Eva suggests, patting the cushion beside her.
“Thanks, I think I’ll stand,” I mutter, positioning myself with my back to the cold marble of the fireplace. From here, I can watch them all—Alexei with his back straight, poised with that damn assuredness he carries like a shield; Amelia, her delicate hands clasped in her lap, her eyes wide and expectant.
“Is everything alright, Vincent?” Amelia ventures, a note of concern threading through her words.
“Fine,” I snap, sharper than I intended. I quickly glance away, fixing my gaze on an abstract painting above the mantel—anything to avoid locking eyes with Alexei. My arms cross over my chest, a barrier I erect without thought. I never intended to let my guard down as much as I already have.
“You know this is a safe space,” Alexei says jokingly, his ever-so-slight Russian accent wrapping around the words, giving them an edge I find grating.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I reply. It’s not that I don’t want to talk. I’m afraid of what might spill out if I start. He took my sister from me, and while I agreed to allow it, it doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.
“He’s just trying to be nice,” Eva chimes in, her voice soft but firm.
“Nice,” I echo, letting the word hang between us.
“Come on, Vin. Don’t be like this,” Alexei implores.
“Like this?” I scoff. “And what does like this exactly mean?” I push off from the fireplace to close the distance, but not the gap between us. Catching Eva’s disapproving glare, I sit beside her, opposite them, my body still coiled tight, ready to spring into defense or attack.
“Dinner was so nice. Let’s not ruin it, okay?” Amelia pleads, reaching out her hand in a gesture of peace. I can see the tremble in her fingers, but her face remains a calm mask.
“Whatever,” I say, keeping my tone level. I’m a whirlwind of thoughts and suspicions, wondering how much of this unity is a facade.
The silence hangs heavy in the air, a tangible cloak that suffocates every corner of the modernly decorated living room. I lean back, my gaze sweeping over Alexei and Amelia, who sit together like some unified front. Eva snuggles in next to me, her warmth contrasting with the chill that’s settled inside me.
I listen as the small talk in the room continues until, finally, my impatience overwhelms me.
“Alright,” I say, my voice cutting through the chatter with the precision of a switchblade. “I appreciate the delicious meal, but it’s probably time we discuss why you asked me here. Perhaps you ladies should excuse Alexei and me so we can discuss whatever business he wants to discuss with me.”
Alexei meets my eyes briefly before looking away, but Amelia doesn’t flinch. There’s steel in her spine, a resolve I’ve seen weather many storms. Her following words come out steady and unflinching. “There’s no reason for Eva and me not to stay. We weren’t exactly a hundred percent upfront about what we wanted to talk to you about...”
My fingers tighten against the seat’s leather, nails nearly piercing the material. “And here we go.” My voice drips with arrogance. I knew there was more to this meeting than they had initially disclosed.
Amelia shakes her head. “It’s not like that, big brother. We brought you here because we wanted to talk about our family or at least how you will play into what our family will be.” The word echoes through the room, bouncing off the walls.
“What are you talking about?” I don’t bother to shield my growing impatience.
I watch Amelia and Alexei look at each other and then back at me. “We’ve decided we really want to start a family. But we don’t want to bring a baby into the same kind of life that we all grew up in.”
I grimace and shrug at my sister. “And what the hell does any of this have to do with me?”