Free Where the Sun Hides (Seasons of Betrayal #1) by Bethany-Kris, London Miller Page B

you wanted for your birthday?”
    From the corner of his eye, he could see Vasily nodding.
    Nika looked to Dina, and Dina back to her before they both
looked to Kaz and said simultaneously, “Clothes.”
    “There’s this new place over on Sixteenth Street,” Dina
said in a rush, picking up on her sister’s excitement. “We’ve been dying to go,
but because Nika is having trouble in school …”
    “Dina!”
    “What?” she returned with an arch of her brow. “It’s not
like he won’t find out from Dad.”
    “But you didn’t have to be the one to tell him!”
    And there they went, arguing as though there was no one
else in the room.
    Remembering that their birthday was only two weeks away,
reminded Kaz of their party and the conversation he’d had with Ruslan the night
before. In the chaos of everything that had gone down, he’d forgotten this, and
the fact that Vasily hadn’t bothered to send Ruslan an invitation.
    What better time to bring it up than right then?
    “No worries,” he said, interrupting their banter. “I was
just talking to Ruslan about your party and—”
    Nika gasped, smiling widely. “Is he going to come? Dad said
he couldn’t get in contact with him.”
    “Darling,” Vasily interjected quickly, coming around the
island to stand before them, his eyes gone cold as he stared at Kaz, even as he
addressed her. “Ruslan is very busy. I’ve told you this, no?”
    “I’m sure he could make it,” Kaz said, making sure to keep
the smile on his face. “After all, nothing’s more important than family,
right?”
    Vasily wouldn’t deny that, not in front of the girls, and
though he was probably boiling with anger, it was his turn to bite his tongue.
    “So how about this,” Kaz said giving each of them a
squeeze. “You give me a time and a place and I’ll make sure he’s there, even if
I have to escort him here myself.”
    “You’re the best, Kaz,” Dina said as she and her sister
started out of the kitchen, probably in search of Irina. “And we’ll text you
the name of the store.”
    “Do it now so you won’t forget.”
    She yelled her affirmation as they disappeared around the
same corner Irina had taken earlier, leaving Kaz standing with a newly pissed
off father.
    Would it ever be any other way?
    “You pull that kind of stunt again,” Vasily muttered. “I
won’t be as forgiving.”
    “Duly noted. We done here? I’ve got things to take care
of.” He had fuck-all to take care of, but he was more than ready to get away
from Vasily. If they spent too much time together, tempers were bound to flare.
    Dismissing him with a wave of his hand, Vasily said, “Get
out of my sight.”
    Kaz was almost to the mouth of the kitchen when Vasily
called out to him once more, making him pause and look back.
    “Stay away from the Gallucci girl. I mean it.”
    Offering him a salute and nothing more, Kaz went in search
of his mother to say goodbye, knowing that despite his silent agreeance, he
couldn’t make that guarantee.

 

     
    V iolet kept her head
bent down and her hands joined with her friends on both sides. Her father, at
the head of the table like always, finished saying grace with his usual solemn
thanks and little else. Violet had always thought that when it came to their
family, religion was more for show than having actual faith in a higher power
that protected them.
    After all, her family wasn’t exactly what she would call
good people.
    Well-dressed, sure. Nicely cultured and polite, absolutely.
Rich, yes.
    Sin was still sin, underneath it all.
    “The opening collection for your mother’s designs is next
week,” Nicole said to Violet’s left.
    Violet reached across the table for a bowl of mixed
vegetables to add onto her plate. She didn’t respond to Nicole because she
hadn’t asked her a question, but instead, she had stated the obvious.
    “We decided on what we’re wearing,” Amelia put in.
    Nodding, Violet continued filling her plate. Scrapes of
utensils