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Polina barks out a laugh as she strolls into the living room, Nina on her hip. “About the same as him giving up the Bratva game and taking up a meditation practice.”
She’s still chuckling to herself when she sees me slink down on the couch. It’s been a week since Jasper showed up in the middle of the night and killed Matvei, and I’ve barely seen the sky. Arsen is busy from sun up ‘til long past sundown, and, no offense to our darling daughter, but I’d like to talk to someone who has all of their teeth.
“Oh, I mean—” Polina struggles to change course. “It depends on where you want to go. Arsen is a reasonable man, so?—”
“Save it.” I toss the invitation from Guilia onto the coffee table. “It’s hopeless. I’ll just stay here. Might as well keep working on my couch indentation.”
Polina snatches the invitation off the table and reads it. I’ve read it so many times I could recite it word for word if I needed to.
Hey babe, it’s been a minute. How about lunch at Nonna Guilia’s today? I’ll be there at one. Bring the sweet cherub. I miss her. Xoxo, Guilia.
Usually, Guilia would text me, but she knows I’ve been dying to get out of the house. She probably sent the printed invitation to add a little pomp and pizzazz for my sake.
All I have to do is glance out the window at the swarm of guards patrolling this sector of the house to know I won’t be able to make it.
Polina places the invitation carefully on the table. “If Guilia invited you, maybe Arsen won’t mind. Enzo has tightened her security, as well—ever since Arsen told him about Jasper’s attack.”
“That’s true.” Something like hope settles in my chest. “Guilia has a ton of security. I might even be able to leave some of my men here. Give them a break.”
Polina winces. “Well… maybe they should still come.”
I brush aside that suggestion with a wave of my hand, already making my way out of the room. “I’m gonna go get ready. Can you inform Vasily that I’d like to leave in half an hour?”
Polina picks up the invitation again. “Who delivered this?”
“Ooh! I can wear my new floral summer dress!” The thought of leaving the house has got me positively giddy.
“Have you asked Arsen yet?”
“I will. But he’s been so busy. I’ve barely even seen him.” The few times I have called, he hasn’t gotten back to me for hours. The security team sends him half-hourly updates on my safety, so he knows I’m alive. Right now, that’s his main goal.
I don’t want to bother him with something as inconsequential as lunch out with a friend when he’s trying to hold his Bratva together. Besides, as Polina pointed out, Guilia has security. With her, I’m almost safer than I am at home.
“Are you taking Nina, too?” she asks.
I spin around and run a hand along my daughter’s chubby cheek. She blinks at me slowly, her head resting on Polina’s shoulders. Her eyes are getting heavier and heavier by the second.
“It’s almost her naptime. And she’s still recovering from that little cold last week. I want her to get her rest.” I bite my lip. “Would you mind if I left her with y?—?”
“Obviously,” she interrupts, looking offended that I was even going to ask. “Evelyn will be here soon. Between the two of us, we’ll keep the little princess happy.”
I kiss my girl on the cheek and give Polina a squeeze in thanks, then I rush upstairs to get ready.
Arsen will find out about the lunch later when I’m back home safe and sound. He might be a little upset, but it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.
And I really, really need this lunch.
“Guilia’s regular booth,” I repeat, starting to get frustrated. I’m not one to berate waitstaff, but Enzo needs competent people running his restaurant, and the woman in front of me is a few colors short of a full crayon set. “Guilia Calcagno.”
“I know who she is.” The woman tucks her sleek, dark hair behind her ear and scans the reservation list again. “Mrs. Guilia hasn’t reserved her regular booth for today.”
I check the time on my phone. I’m twenty minutes late. Guilia should already be here.
“She’s probably in one of the private rooms then.” Guilia typically likes to sit in the main dining area with the rest of the guests.The better to be seen,darling, she said last time we were here. But considering everything going on, maybe she’s taking extra precautions.
The woman shakes her head. “Mrs. Guilia isn’t here.”
“Something must’ve come up then.” I force a smile onto my face. “Just show me to a booth, and I’ll wait for her.”
