Page 253 of Lethal Obsession

When I might have pulled away, he captures my face, deepening the kiss until the guests around us are whooping and cheering. When we finally part, Darya is wiping her eyes, and my father is holding her close, watching us with a gentle smile I could never have imagined seeing on his face.

Despite the protestations of the Bellinis that we should stay on the island for the night, Alexei and I make a strategic exit just after midnight.

I put my wedding dress and veil on a hanger in the room and change into the dusky-rose silk slip I chose for my leaving outfit.

I pause on the terrace to throw my bouquet. To everyone’s amusement, it’s Benny who manages to catch it.

He came for the last hour of the reception, long after Lars had fallen asleep. “He’s really going to be okay,” he says, almost as if he still needs to hear it himself. He’s still pale, with large circles under his eyes, but the haunted terror that has dogged his every expression since the accident has finally left. “Dr. Moretti said it’s going to be some time before he can fly, so we’re going to stay here awhile.”

“We won’t be sailing far.” I take his hands. “Alexei wants to stay close.”

“I’m glad.” Benny smiles. “Although, just so you know, we’re doing catch-ups on land, not on a bloody yacht. It’s going to take a while before I set foot aboard any kind of vessel.”

“Absolutely fair.” I nod at the bouquet in his hand. “I hope you plan on telling Lars you caught that.”

His face splits into a wide beam. “Oh, don’t worry, princess. It’s the very first thing I’m going to tell him tomorrow morning.”

As we pass through the crowd of well-wishers, I notice Seline standing on the fringes and pause to take her hands.

“Stay in touch,” I say as she kisses my cheeks. “I’ve missed you.”

“And I you.” She squeezes my hands. “But I’ll be going back to the States for a while. My mother doesn’t have long, and I need to be with her.”

“And after that?”

A shadow passes over her face. “I don’t know. I can’t imagine going back to France. It’s hard to forgive my family for all the damage they’ve done. I think I need to discover who I am now. Not Seline Duval, daughter of fortune-telling gypsies, or Seline Novikov, sister to a murderer.”

“I know how that feels.” Suddenly aware we’re being watched, I realize Mickey is standing close by.

Speaking of murderers, I think dryly. Mickey, by all accounts, has already made something of a deadly name for himself in Miami.

Right now he’s staring coldly at Seline, like she might be next on the list.

Following my eyes, she turns to look at my brother.

Mickey’s eyes narrow.

Tense, I watch them, unsure what either might do.

Then Seline takes a step toward him and holds out her hand.

Mickey stares at it for a moment, then finally takes it.

“Thank you,” she says quietly. She walks away before he has a chance to respond.

“Well,” Alexei says, raising his eyebrows at Mickey. “I guess that went as well as could be expected.”

“Interesting,” Mickey says, his eyes following Seline’s upright figure. “And not at all what I expected.”

Alexei grins. “Get used to that, brother.” He gives Mickey a brief embrace. “You know where I am. But for fuck’s sake, don’t bloody find me for at least a week.”

That at least gets the ghost of a smile from Mickey.

He turns to me as Alexei moves on down the line. “I’m happy for you, ’Felia,” he says quietly. “I’m happy for you both.”

“Thanks, little brother.” I hug his tense, grim figure. “It’ll get better,” I whisper in his ear. “I promise.”

His arms tighten around me, and for a moment we are terrified children again, clinging to each other because there’s nobody else to hold us.