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I can’t explain to Leon how I didn’t want to be the reason Andrew died. My brother doesn’t feel empathy or mercy like I do. He’s been trained to put family and the Syndicate before his own needs. He lacks the softness allowed to blossom in Petra and me.
Yet, despite his cold heart, he can’t seem to free his finger from Jacinda. I think he fears she’ll cry. Showing him mercy, I ask Jacinda to take my hand.
She smiles at Leon and ditches him. His palpable relief makes me snicker. My brother frowns hard at me, but I’m not fooled.
“Thank you for helping me.”
Leon exhales unsteadily and likely considers our positions in life. He longs to be like our father and older brothers. I’m just looking to take care of people and enjoy a simple life. Yet, underneath his hard exterior beats the heart of my big brother.
“Don’t ruin this situation with the biker,” he grumbles. “You assume you’ll win leniency again if you fuck up, but our father’s patience has worn thin.”
“Are you kidding? Bear O’Malley is set on having me.”
“God only knows why.”
“Maks said I have a decent body under all my clothes,” I say and spin around. “I’m a real looker hidden under a bad wardrobe.”
Leon starts to smile, fights the urge, and fails. “You’re an idiot.”
“That’s why you were always the captain of our pirate ship. I couldn’t be trusted to keep us from running ashore.”
Leon closes his eyes and inhales sharply. I can hear him mentally chiding himself for goofing around with me. Would Roman play this game? Yes, probably. He didn’t mind tormenting me the other night about Joey Del Vecchio.
Opening his eyes, Leon surprises me by brushing his thumb across my bruised eye. “The biker is dumb and impulsive, but he’ll worship you and keep you safe. Don’t fuck this up.”
“I won’t. I just need to be ready.”
Though Leon nods, he doesn’t seem convinced. I suspect he wants to speak more, but he bails as soon as Petra and Laszlo arrive.
My sister wants all the gossip. As we walk to the horse stables, I explain my conflicted feelings toward Bear.
“Do you hate me for complaining when you were forced to marry a gangster from Ohio?”
“Of course. Don’t you think I wanted someone sexy?” Petra asks and gently shoves me. “Instead, I was stuck with a Hungarian Fredo.”
For the last few days, I’ve avoided approaching the topic of her daughters. When I stayed at the Arany estate years ago to help Petra during her difficult pregnancy, I noticed how Brandon’s mother monopolized the girls’ attention and often undercut my sister.
“Do you think Vica and Shari will visit this summer?”
Petra goes still. “Brandon doesn’t want them in Banta City. The only reason we were able to visit over the years was because Tatínek insisted, and Brandon is terrified of our father. But if he doesn’t have to face Viktor, he thinks he’s the king of the world.”
“So, the girls won’t visit?”
Petra glances at Laszlo. “Brandon will take our son back eventually, too.”
“No.”
“It’s the reason we’re not divorced yet. Tatínek wants me to have shared custody. The Arany family refuses to let the girls leave Ohio. The lawyers are working out the situation.”
“What do you plan to do once the divorce is final?”
“I figured I’d like a place of my own, but I’m enjoying spending time at home. I can’t really imagine my future when I don’t know if the girls or even Laszlo will be with me.”
Hugging my sister, I wish I could strip away her pain and offer a clear future. Nearby, the kids pretend to ride horses around the stables. They’re so happy, unaware of the ugly battles Petra and I have fought to protect them.
“I feel like it’s a trick,” I tell Petra as she runs her fingers across my bruised face. “I get the kids and Bear. I have what I want. It doesn’t seem right.”
“Why?”
