Midnight Sanctuary (Bugrov Bratva #2)(39)

The distraction technique works. Elle launches into a full story about the whole shebang. Her eyes light up as she speaks and I can tell how much that day meant to her. Her enthusiasm is catching because suddenly, I find myself imagining another wedding—one that involves Uri and me.

Stop that right now.

No good is gonna come of daydreaming about things that might never happen. Uri is many things, but the marrying kind? Yeah—I don’t think so.

“By the way, your mom and dad were at the wedding. They gifted me a crystal vase. It was very sweet.”

I tense up a little. “Did they ask about me?”

“Um, well, your mom did mention she thought it was ridiculous that you’d chosen a job over my big day. But if you’re asking if they suspected that something was amiss, then the answer is no, I don’t think they did.”

Sighing, I try to push my frustration away. Uri returned my phone back to me some time ago. He’d kept up the fa?ade of my “work trip” to Cuba. Every so often, he texted my mother or answered a message from my father. He’d done a pretty good job, all things considered, of making it sound like he was me.

Not that it was a hard thing to do. My conversation threads with my parents were short, to the point, and lacking any real affection.

“I texted Mom yesterday and asked how she and Dad were doing. Still haven’t received a response.”

“Shit. I’m sorry, hon.”

I shrug. “You’d think they’d want to be close with the one child they have left. But apparently not.”

“You guys went through a rough patch after Ziva died. Maybe you just need more time to recover from that.”

“Eight years is pretty long for a ‘patch,’ Elle.”

“Did you guys ever have a real conversation?” she inquires. “After that big blowout fight?”

I tense up, goosebumps spreading over my body like wildfire. I actively avoid thinking about that time because it puts me right back in the moment and it’s not the kind of memory I want to relive. It’s not the kind of memory I ever wanted to live in the first place.

“No, not really. We just did what we always do: swept it under the rug.”

“No wonder it’s festered.”

“Nothing’s festered,” I argue, sounding defensive even to my own ears. “I was never close to my parents.”

“It was never this bad, though,” Elle points out. “Come on, Lys, let’s be real here. You’ve been gone for months without much of an explanation and I was way more concerned than your parents.”

It hurts to hear but it’s true. “I’ve tried with them, Elle, but—

“Have you?”

“Excuse me?”

She hides behind her glass of water for a moment. “I’m just saying, I was there. I saw it all unfold. After Ziva died… emotions were running high. Things were said. And instead of dealing with the fallout, you all retreated to your separate corners.”

My stomach roils uncomfortably. “Why are you pushing this?”

Elle frowns. “Because it’s important to have people in your life, Alyssa. A support system. Someone who’ll notice if you, oh, I dunno… randomly disappear.” She glances towards the window. “I’m not sure that relying on one man, no matter how handsome or how nice his car, is the right thing for you.”

I sigh and give her hand a squeeze. “I know I can’t get you onboard today, so all I can do is let time convince you that Uri is a good man. He’s just… complicated.”

She doesn’t look satisfied with that answer. “Don’t you want something simple?”

“I did. Then my sister died.” Elle raises her eyebrows and I take a deep breath. “Sorry,” I murmur quickly, running my hand over my stomach. “I just… I really wish she was here.”

“I know. I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t poke; you know what’s best for you.”

I smile and make another attempt at changing the subject. “Tell me all about your honeymoon. Where’d you guys end up going?”

“Hawaii,” she says as her eyes light up all over again. “Two full weeks by the beach in this really nice resort. We used up all the money we got as wedding presents but it was totally worth it.”

“I’m so glad.”

“And we came back from Hawaii with a little lifetime souvenir,” Elle says as her cheeks flush with color. “I’m pregnant, too!”

I gasp as shock and joy jolts through my body. “Seriously?”

“Doubt I’m gonna have twins, but there’s definitely one bun in the oven. Liam and I are over the moon.”

“So am I! Elle, our kids are gonna grow up together!” There’s an emotional wobble in her chin as we slide out of our seats just so that we can embrace. “This is just great news.”

It is great news.

Now, if only we can get Polly back safe and sound, I can really enjoy it.





24





URI





I’m waiting for Alyssa outside the restaurant when a call comes in from Nikolai. “Where are you?”

“Out.”

“Okay, then you can go check out this place called Matros. I’ve heard through the grapevine that Sobakin might have been an investor in the bar. Maybe we can poke around there, see if something comes up.”