Page 8 of Essence of Fear

“Where is Kolya?”

“Busy with Maya. You know how he is about that wife of his. She comes first.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Konstantin smirked. “No, I don’t. You simply hear it that way, sestra.”

“You can’t tell me what I hear. Unless, of course, my ears have suddenly become attached to your head. Let me know when that happened.”

She didn’t even try to tamper the coldness in her tone. She didn’t particularly have a reason to be icy to her brother, but this was her life, now. It was easier to keep people at a distance, and let them know their place, than it was for her to keep fighting them when they tried to get too close. Better to make that line in the sand clear before they ever got started.

Konstantin nodded. “I take it you don’t want to tell me the things you discussed with Vadim, then?”

“Nyet.”

“A hard no, huh?”

Viktoria smiled thinly. “Take it how you may.”

“You seem like you’re feeling …”

“What?”

“Extra nasty.”

Viktoria stared at the people passing them by instead of her brother. It was just easier. She didn’t need him to see the war in her gaze—a battle of emotions that was ever-present, and always constant in her heart and mind.

Life was not nice to her.

Not lately.

“We have an upcoming party,” Konstantin said when Viktoria kept quiet. This was typical for them. He’d try to engage her, and she just stayed silent until he gave up. “A baby shower for Maya and Kolya. I expect you to be there, be pleasant, and bring a proper gift.”

“Fine.”

“Oh, and since I know how Vadim always puts you in a headspace, perhaps you should go see your therapist while you’re back in the city, yes?”

Her jaw ached from how hard she was clenching her teeth.

He wasn’t wrong, though.

It wasn’t just Vadim and her brothers who left her with a complex whenever she was in her father’s presence. It was far more than just that. It was like every conversation with Vadim thrust her right back to a time when he had failed her the very most.

That made her feel angry.

Guilty.

So ashamed.

Dirty.

She didn’t want to blame him for what had happened to her, but she still did. She loved him, and she hated him.

“I think I will visit her, actually,” Viktoria said.

Konstantin smiled briefly as she looked back at him. “Good.”

“But not because you told me to.”