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“Lara! I’m glad you came, Elena has been asking about you.” Nikolai wraps me into his arms for a fierce hug. “We’ve been worried,” he whispers against the top of my head.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, so I pull away.
Alexei
Where are you? I went for a swim, but when I got back you were gone
Me
I’m at Nikolai’s
Alexei
On my way
“Is that Alexei?” Nikolai watches me.
“Yea, he’s on his way.”
He nods. “I wondered. He hasn’t gone a second without obsessing over you. I didn’t expect to see you without him for a while.”
Now I really feel shitty about doubting them.
“Let’s go in, I miss my niece.” Threading my arm through his, I walk unsteadily up the short steps to the porch.
“Are you sure the doc checked you out? Have you been eating okay?” Nikolai asks as we go in.
I guess I’m leaning too much on him.
“I’m okay.” All it’s doing is making me more self conscious.
“Auntie Lara!” Elena runs down the stairs from her room towards me with her arms open, but slows when she looks up at my face.
“Oh gosh! What happened to your cheek?” Her little hands fly up and clasp her own jaw in shock.
No, not her too?
The tears return and burn their way down to my lips.
“Auntie Lara is fine,” Alexei says from the door. “She’s tough as nails and a survivor.”
As if soothed by his words, Elena wraps her arms around my waist in a fast hug. “I’m glad to see you.”
But she turns just as quickly and runs back upstairs.
It breaks me to watch her go. I know she’s only seven, but it hurts to have her shy away from me.
“How are you doing?” Mila brushes her long brown hair away from her face as she steps closer.
Her smile looks genuine, even if it is reserved.
“I needed to go on a diet anyways.” I try to return her grin. My lips falter though.
Alexei’s arm snakes around my waist, and I lean into him reflexively.
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Mila laughs. “I think this means we should go out and have cheesecake.”
Her athletic build comes from being a trained assassin.
