Page 88 of The Wrong Brother

Then she’d have nothing,the voice in my head whispers. And despite the fact that I’ve kept my promise, I haven’t looked any further into her past than what Andrei offered. I can’t help the feeling that I want to protect her from whatever downfall was coming for her before we met.

My phone vibrates against the seat beside me.

Kate.

The irritation leaves me instantly.

I answer the FaceTime call without thinking, and my niece’s face immediately fills the screen, grinning and eyes glittering with mischievousness.

“Uncle Rus!”

“Solnyshko.” My voice softens automatically. “Why are you not in school?”

“It’s lunch.” She squints suspiciously at the screen. “You look grumpy.”

Frank snorts quietly beside me. I glare at him before focusing back on Kate. “I’m working.”

“You always say that.”

“Because it is usually true.”

Kate rolls her eyes. She’s leaning on one elbow, the fast-paced blur of teenage life in a cafeteria behind her.

The sight hits unexpectedly hard. I miss her.

This is the longest we’ve been apart since I brought her to California after I found her in the system. The longest since I became responsible for someone other than myself. For someone who never planned to be a parent, I’m still constantly surprised at how okay I seem to be doing at it.

Frank notices the shift in my expression immediately and tactfully returns to studying fabrics.

“When are you coming home?” Kate asks.

“Soon.”

“You said that four days ago.”

“I’m beginning to regret teaching you math when you were five.”

That finally earns a laugh from her. “Liar.”

My chest tightens slightly at the sound. Dangerous thing, attachment. It gives people leverage.

Then Kate brightens suddenly. “Where’s Emma?”

I nearly choke. Frank stifles a laugh into a cough.

Kate blinks innocently at my expression. “What?”

“Why are you asking about Emma?”

“Because I like her. She’s still there with you, right? We bought all that stuff for the wedding. The news says it’s going to be this week.”

Her answer is so quick and honest that it catches me off guard. I adjust my tie unnecessarily, suddenly aware that Frank is listening much too carefully.

“She’s at the hotel,” I say evenly.

Kate narrows her eyes. “She should be withyou.”

Frank laughs outright this time.