Page 169 of The Wrong Brother

Emma laughs softly. “He probably waited as long as he could.”

“He has impeccable timing.”

Silence settles comfortably around us, broken only by Roman’s contented little noises as he eats.

Tomorrow.

The thought—the reminder—returns with surprising force. I look up at Emma, and when our eyes meet, I know she’s thinking the same thing.

She speaks before I can.

“My parents will be here in…what? Nine hours?”

“Approximately.”

She watches Roman instead of looking at me. “I’m nervous.”

“I know.”

“I keep telling myself it’ll be okay.”

“It will.”

She sighs. “You’ve never met them. They’re good people.”

“I believe you.”

“But...” She hesitates. “Sometimes I feel like they just... overlooked me.”

My chest tightens. This isnotthe time for the Bratva boss in me to come out, but I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling protective of Emma—or our son.

“Matilda was always the impressive one. Valedictorian, a lawyer. She’s on the board of a non-profit now, and my mom can’t stop talking about it.”

I reach for her free hand. “You’re successful, too, Emma.”

She gives me a small smile. “I don’t think they ever really saw it that way. And they…can’t. I can’t tell them…”

She trails off; the smile disappearing. I understand at once, and the truth of her statement stings. As far as her parents are concerned, Emma met and ended up with a fashion millionaire. She “got lucky.” They have no idea what an important part she plays in my business or in this family. And they never will, because the last thing I can tolerate is a New York lawyer who knows about the Bratva getting too close.

Emma warned me. Not long after we came back to California, she told me that somehow Matilda knew about me. About thePakhansspread across the country.

Roman finishes eating with a sleepy sigh, his eyelids already drooping. Emma carefully lifts him onto her shoulder.

“They’ll probably be excited about Roman.”

“They will.”

“And maybe they’ll finally...” Her voice trails away.

I stand and kneel beside her chair. Taking Roman carefully into my arms, I settle him against my shoulder before reaching my free arm around Emma’s waist.

She leans into me immediately.

“L’vyonak.” She smiles faintly. “You are anything but invisible.”

My voice is quiet.

“If they cannot see the extraordinary woman standing in front of them, then they’re choosing blindness.”