The Jersey Vignettes (6 page)

Chapter Fifteen

Sofia Vasin looked damn good for being thirty-four, almost thirty-five. Even Ana was a little bit jealous at how her sister-in-law didn’t seem to age a day. Wearing a tight club dress with heels sky high, Sofia drew the gazes of several men as she and Ana walked into the joint.

“Sofia,” a familiar bouncer drawled, grinning salaciously. “Good to see your beautiful face in this place tonight. And how is the Vasin princess doing tonight, sweetheart?”

“Fantastically,” Sofia replied, smirking. “How’re you doing, Pete?”

“Better now that you graced my night.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.”

Pete laughed. “Oh, I know exactly where it gets me. You looking for your brother?”

“We are,” Sofia said.

“He’s in the VIP with his guys.”

“Thank you,” Sofia said.

Pete nodded to Ana. “Ana.”

“Pete,” Ana greeted with a smile.

The bouncer knew better than to go off half-cocked with his flirtatious self on Ana. Koldan wouldn’t stand for that shit, and the bouncer liked his job. As Sofia walked through the entryway that led to the main floor of the club, she breathed deep.

“Ah, the smell of drunk people first thing in the morning,” Sofia said.

Ana scoffed. “It’s ten at night.”

“Morning for me, babe.”

“Still haven’t found a man to tie you down, huh, Sofia?” Ana asked.

Sofia shrugged. “He’d have to be one hell of a man, Ana. So far, I’ve found that whatever a man can do for me, I can do it myself, too.”

“Except love.”

“I do love me,” Sofia said, winking.

“I mean for someone else to love you.”

Sofia bumped Ana’s hip with hers. “I know what you mean, smartass. I’m just …”

“What?” Ana asked.

“Not at that place in my life just yet, you know?”

“Not really.” Ana couldn’t imagine her life without her sons and Koldan. The amount of love in their home was astounding. She wouldn’t give it up for the world. “My boys are everything to me, Sofia. I can’t even think of something different. It doesn’t feel right.”

Sofia smiled. “You’re a good mom. I’m happy my brother found someone like you, truly. Koldan is a special kind of guy. He’s not like a lot of these guys,” Sofia said, nodding toward the VIP section filled with younger and older men. Some Ana recognized, some she didn’t. She couldn’t spot her husband in the mix no matter how hard she tried to look. “Bratva, I mean. Koldan just turned out different. He gives a fuck. He cares. And he’s got a decent respect for women, which is a lot more than some of these guys can say.”

“I agree.”

“Comes from our mother,” Sofia said. “Well, his mom.”

“She’s yours, too,” Ana pointed out.

Sofia nodded. “She is. And I love her. But Koldan … They always had a different kind of relationship—a closer one, maybe. I never felt left out, but they just connect on a different level. Maybe like the one I connect with Adrik on.”

“Koldan loves his father,” Ana replied.

“Very much. But he holds back with our dad, too. And I get that because sometimes I’m like that with Ma. Koldan adores our mother. Cora raised him to think beyond just his wants and needs. She made sure he understood that when he loved a woman, she should be the most important thing in his life. You should thank her, Ana. Koldan turned out pretty damn well. Ma figured he would needed a special kind of woman to fit him in this lifestyle, too. So she made damn sure when he went looking, he found the right one.”

“He’s a different breed,” Ana said.

“Yeah, that sounds about right. But for me, I have no interest in being that for someone, Ana. I don’t want babies. I love my nephews just like they’re mine, anyway. I’m good like this.” Sofia laughed lightly. “Don’t worry about me being lonely or turning into some spinster.”

“Adrik would love to see you settle down.”

“Maybe I’ll find a man someday who makes me want to do that with him, but today is not that day, Ana. And tonight …” Sofia trailed off, leering at the young man blocking the VIP section to keep anyone from entering the space. “Tonight, there is fresh meat in the house. I wouldn’t mind sinking my teeth into that. Damn.”

Ana laughed. “Christ, what are you, a fucking shark that smells blood in the water from miles away?”

“Just about.”

“Be nice and don’t get the poor guy in trouble, Sofia,” Ana said, keeping her voice low. “I think he’s one of Koldan’s younger guys. Trying to make his way or earn his stars … or whatever.”

Sofia pouted. “Boo.”

“You’re terrible.”

“I know,” Sofia said happily.

The man blocking the VIP section stepped aside to allow Ana and Sofia through.

“You didn’t tell me your brother was going to be here tonight,” Sofia said.

“Huh?” Ana followed her sister-in-law’s gaze to find Demyan sitting on a leather bench alongside Koldan. The two men had their heads bent and close together as they talked, like they didn’t want the others around them to hear whatever their conversation was. “I didn’t know.”

“I haven’t talked to Demyan in … years. Well, since I moved back to Jersey, anyway.”

“No better time,” Ana said.

The moment Koldan caught sight of Ana, he stood from the bench. Demyan followed suit, offering his sister a small smile before it disappeared. It didn’t matter how happy Demyan actually was in life, he rarely gave an ounce of the emotion away, especially when other people were around to see it.

Ana held her hand out for Koldan to take. He did, pressing a feather-light kiss to her knuckles in the process.

“This is a surprise,” Koldan said, tugging Ana into his side.

“Sofia convinced Cora to take the boys so we could go out. I figured here was as good of a spot as ever,” Ana explained.

Koldan nodded. “Sure. We’re just … chatting.”

“Right,” Sofia drawled, gazing around at the amount of Bratva in the room. “What are you really doing?”

Demyan laughed.  Ana watched as her brother leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to Sofia’s cheek. The two had dated long ago, but as far as Ana knew, they’d ended that shortly before Demyan’s wife came along. But, Sofia and Demyan had remained friends, even if it was at a distance.

Taking his spot back at Koldan’s side, Demyan said, “Always the observant one, Sofia.”

“Of course. How have you been, Demyan?”

“Wonderful,” Ana’s brother answered. “You?”

“Perfect,” Sofia replied. “How’s your wife?”

Demyan grinned. “Beautiful, as always.”

“I’m happy to hear it. And the babies?” Sofia asked.

“Vera is our little ballet star and Roman is … a hellion.”

Sofia winked. “Just like this father, then.”

“So my father keeps saying.” Glancing to the side, Demyan said, “And speaking of the hellion, here he is.”

Ana tousled her nephew’s hair as he flew past her, instantly seeking out his father. It wasn’t uncommon for Demyan to let Roman tag along with him for business things, if that’s what he was in Jersey for. Four-year-old Roman stood at his father’s side with a toy car in one hand and a bottle of apple juice in the other.

“You brought your son to a club?” Sofia asked.

Demyan shrugged. “He wanted to come. I’m not drinking, I’m doing business. What’s the problem?”

“Not a thing, I suppose.”

Roman looked up at his father, grinning widely. “Guess what I did, Papa?”

“What, little man?” Demyan asked.

“I got away from Moore.”

Demyan sighed, his gaze sweeping the crowd. “The whole point of Moore is that you don’t get away from him, Roman.”

“But this is
fun
, Papa,” Roman said like it should have been obvious.

“Who?” Ana asked.

“Moore,” Roman repeated, tipping his bottle up for another drink. “He’s my cow.”

“Bull,” Demyan corrected.

“Cows are bulls.”

“No, bulls are—”

“Boy cows with no milk,” Roman interrupted. “That’s what Ma says.”

Demyan tried to hold back his smile and failed miserably. Ana couldn’t help but laugh, as did Koldan and Sofia.

“Supposed to be his job, Papa,” Roman said, tugging on his father’s slacks.

“Watching you? Yes, I’m aware. It’s what I pay him for, Rome.”

“He’s not very good at it.”

“No, you’re just very sneaky,” Demyan grumbled under his breath. “Best fucking bodyguard in the family.”

“And a four-year-old gets away from him,” Koldan said, cocking a brow.

“Would you like to watch my son for a week?” Demyan asked. “He’s like Houdini.”

Koldan held his hands up, conceding. “Nah, I’ll take your word for it.”

“What’s a Houdini?” Roman asked.

“A person not a thing,” Ana said to her always curious nephew. “It’s awfully late for you to be out, Roman. What did you bribe your papa with to get him to bring you?”

Roman grinned, flashing his white teeth.

Her nephew was too predictable. Roman had a way with his father, and Demyan didn’t know how to deny the boy a thing.

Demyan shook his head at the sight of his son’s knowing smirk.

“Nothing,” Roman said.

“Liar,” Demyan muttered. “He snuck into the car, and I was already backing out of the driveway when I noticed him.”

“Seriously?” Koldan asked.

“As a fucking heart attack. I called Claire to let her know. The worst part? She wasn’t even surprised.”

“Bad words,” Roman informed.

“I bought you a car on the way here. That’s your hush money, kid. Anything else and you’re going to have to owe me.”

Roman nodded seriously. “I’ll take it. Where’s Moore? He’s probably worried about me, Papa.”

Demyan gave Koldan a look that Ana couldn’t decipher.  “We good, man?”

Koldan took the hand Demyan offered and shook it. “Perfect, man. Get your little trickster home.”

“Will do.” Demyan gave Ana a one armed hug. “I will see you at the end of the month for the supper at Ma’s, yeah?”

“Sure,” Ana said.

Demyan disappeared into the crowd of people in the VIP section. Roman was right under his father’s feet the whole time.

“Christ, that kid is something else,” Koldan said.

Ana agreed. “He’s a lot like Demyan at that age. Or at least, that’s what Ma and Papa say.”

“How so?” Sofia asked.

“Articulate, above his age group, and intelligent.”

Koldan smiled. “He’s still just a kid under it all, though.”

“He is.” Ana crossed her arms, facing Koldan. “What’s going on in here tonight, anyway?”

“Nothing, babe.”

“Koldan.”

Her husband sighed, rubbing at his forehead. “Demyan and I had a couple of guys try to work together on something. They fucked it up, of course, and somebody ended up with a bullet between his teeth.” Koldan waved at the men drinking and talking in the VIP section before saying, “He brought some men and so did I. We were just …”

“Making nice for show,” Sofia said, filling in the blanks.

“It looks good for you to show up, I suppose,” Koldan said, grinning at Ana. “I wouldn’t bring my wife into a gun fight, after all. You could have called me first,
krasivyy
.”

“I didn’t know you were handling Bratva business tonight,” Ana said. “I thought you were just working.”

Koldan cleared his throat and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I am working, babe.”

Ana blinked, realizing that he was right. They weren’t normal. Their life was never going to be normal. Koldan’s work would never be normal.

“I’ll call next time,” Ana promised.

“Thanks.”

“Shouldn’t Dad have been here?” Sofia asked. “I mean if there was trouble between families or whatever?”

“No trouble,” Koldan said, killing that idea before someone else could overhear. “Which was why Demyan came tonight, so we could stop that shit before anyone got crazy ideas. As far as Dad goes, he wasn’t interested in showing face.”

“He’s the boss,” Sofia said.

Koldan’s expression didn’t change as he replied, “Is he?”

What was that supposed to mean?

Chapter Sixteen

Ana barely managed not to trip over her sons as they scrambled into the kitchen ahead of her. Koldan turned from his spot at the stove in just enough time to catch both of his sons. At four and two respectively, their sons were loud as hell and always on the go of some sort. Ana usually thought it was funny because their father was so laid back and calm.

Tornadoes.

That’s what her boys were. She loved them all the more for it.

“Slow down,” Ana said, laughing.

“PAPA!” the boys shouted, trying to climb up Koldan’s sides.

Like the patient man he was, Koldan gave his boys all the attention they wanted until they calmed down.

“Morning,
krasivyy
,” Koldan said, kissing Ana’s cheek as she came up beside him.

“Morning. Damn, you look good working at the stove.”

Koldan grinned as he worked on his egg and bacon mess. “Wanted to do something for you this morning. Give you a break or whatever.”

Giving the pan another look, Ana’s stomach suddenly turned inside out. The smell of the food wafted upwards, and she barely managed to hold the vomit back. Taking a step away from the stove, Ana wondered what in the hell was up with her.

Koldan noticed instantly. “Hey, you okay?”

Ana shook her head, confused. “Yeah, sure. I’m just … not all that hungry, maybe.”

He didn’t look like he believed her for a second. “You love eggs, Ana.”

She did.

And bacon.

But right then, she felt like she was two seconds away from vomiting all over the floor.

Her two boys clamored up to the kitchen table, demanding food. Ana’s head spun.

“Ana?” Koldan asked, stepping into her line of vision again.

“Yeah?”

“You’re turning white,
krasivyy
.”

Was she?

“I’m going to go lie down,” Ana said. “You okay with the boys?”

Koldan frowned but nodded. “Sure, babe.”

Thankful for the weekend and the fact her boys had nothing scheduled to do for that Saturday and Sunday, Ana made her way back upstairs and to her bed. The second her head hit the pillow and she was wrapped up in the sheets that smelled like her and Koldan, Ana felt better. The nauseous sensation passed, and Ana drifted off to sleep.

Something warm and comforting woke Ana shortly after. She smiled at the sound of Koldan’s humming as he kissed a path over her forehead, across her closed lids, and down to her lips.

“That’s a good way to wake up,” Ana said, her voice scratchy from sleep.

“Hey,” Koldan murmured.

Ana opened her eyes to stare at her husband who was smiling. There was still a worried glint in his eye, though. “Hey.”

“Boys are napping.”

“Is it noon already?” Ana asked, confused.

“A little after one, actually. What happened this morning,
krasivyy
? You worried me.”

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t feel well.”

Koldan sighed heavily, rolling his thumbs over her cheek bones. “All right. How’re you feeling now?”

“Better,” Ana whispered. “Much, much better if you keep touching me.”

His grin was wicked. “I will, but I’d feel better if you got up and moved around a little first.”

“I’m fine, Koldan.”

“Just indulge me, Ana, please.”

Not wanting to argue with her husband, Ana got out of the bed like he asked. Standing up made her realize how badly she needed to pee. Waving so he could see she was fine on her own two feet, Ana disappeared into the master bathroom and shut the door to do her business.

As she turned, something off to the side caught Ana’s eye. Her birth control pills sat on the back of the sink, waiting for her to take her morning pill. She took it right after breakfast every morning. She’d used the shot for several years, but after her first son’s birth, she’d switched to the pill for an easier transition of coming off a birth control method.

Checking over the pack, Ana noted she hadn’t missed a pill, and she was already three days into her sugar pills that were supposed to be taken during her cycle. But last month …

Last month she’d gotten a minor infection in her ear after taking the boys swimming at an indoor pool. The drops hadn’t worked all that well and the infection traveled into her throat. Her doctor prescribed an antibiotic.

It was a stupid mistake to make. The doctor had even warned her to use a backup method but it just slipped her mind. With her two boys and life and everything else …

“Oh,” Ana said, louder than she must have realized.

“Ana?” Koldan asked outside the bathroom.

Ana was stunned.

Completely, utterly stunned.

“Ana,” Koldan said again, firmer the second time. Ana turned and opened the door. “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” Ana said, still unsure but smiling wide.

He would be so excited.

Koldan wanted another baby. He’d been bugging her about a third for the last year.

“I need you to go to the store,” Ana said.

“Why?” Koldan asked.

“I think I might be pregnant.”

Koldan froze. “Really?”

Ana nodded, biting her lip. “I think so.”

She didn’t get the chance to say another thing because Koldan stepped into the bathroom, grabbed her face in his hands, and pulled her in for a kiss that took away the air right from her chest. He held her close to his body and kissed her deeper until her fucking knees were weak, and she couldn’t think.

Good
God
.

She loved this man.

“I love you, Ana,” Koldan said, resting his forehead to hers.

Ana laughed, breathless and spun. “Go to the store.”

“On it, babe.”