Page 134 of The Wrong Brother

Her smile grows gentler. “I chose the wrong brother.”

I start to protest becauseIhad both brothers and chose the criminal. How could that possibly be the better outcome?

But Victoria sees the denial coming and continues, “Ichose wrong. I’m not going to lie; the status, the charm. I should have known better, and I didn’t. Andrei has been trying to make Ruslan out to be a villain, but…”

Her eyes shine tears as they dart away.

“One terrifies people because he enjoys it. The other terrifies people because he’ll protect the ones he loves. I know which one I’d prefer. You’re lucky, Emma.”

Emotion catches unexpectedly in my throat.

For weeks I’ve been trying to reconcile the man who launders money and commands armed men with the one who tucks blankets around me, worries about our baby, and promises not to cross my boundaries.

Victoria has somehow done it in under a minute. She stands, smoothing the wrinkles from her coat.

“You can stay,” I offer quickly. “At least until morning.”

Her expression turns grateful. “I appreciate that. But itismorning, and…”

“And?”

She smiles toward the dark window. “I think it’s time to move on. If I stop now, I’ll just second-guess myself.”

Frank rises next, a gentleman all over again.

“I’ll walk you out and make sure you leave safely. The roads are dark and winding.”

Victoria nods. Then, before stepping toward the door, she squeezes my hand.

“For what it’s worth,” she says quietly, “I think you found the better man.”

The door closes softly behind her a moment later.

I stare into the fire, listening to the fading sound of her footsteps on the porch, wondering whether tonight changed far more than any of us yet realize.

Chapter 35

Ruslan

The flightback to California feels twice as long as the flight to Colorado. Perhaps because I spent the entire trip wondering how to explain something that should never have needed explaining in the first place.

By the time I unlock the front door to the house in Santa Barbara, Kate is already running toward me.

“Uncle Rus!”

She launches herself into my arms with enough force to nearly knock me backward. I catch her automatically, laughing despite the exhaustion dragging at every muscle in my body.

“Easy.”

“You were gone forever.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

She buries her face against my shoulder.

“I missed you this time. And I was worried. Stepan was in such a bad mood.” I file that away, make a note to talk to my second-in-command and be sure he understands that Kate should never see a hint of my life outside of business. “You always come home, though.”

Her words lodge somewhere painfully beneath my ribs. I hold her a little tighter before setting her back on the floor.