Chapter Twelve

Brooke

"S orry I'm late." The words rushed out of my mouth as I yanked off my jacket and dropped down in the booth at Valley View Bar and Grill, and smiled at Lara. "Class ran long and then I had to pick up a few items at the market before Karina had date night with Ryan."

"No worries. I've already had one margarita. Why do you look so stressed?" she asked with her brows pinched together. "Do you want me to kick Ryan's ass? Because I totally will."

"No, but thanks for the offer. He came and picked up Karina and I gave her a hug and a kiss goodbye and offered him a small, friendly smile before I escaped to the kitchen." Was it how I wanted her relationship with my brother to be? Not even close, but there was too much water under that bridge, unless he stopped being so judgmental about my life decisions.

"So, what's put that look on your face?"

"After school, Karina asked about her father and why he couldn't visit her like Teresa's father does every other weekend and on Tuesdays and Thursdays." I laughed at Lara's wide-eyed expression. "That was my response too."

Lara leaned in close. "What did you say to her?"

I shrugged. "The usual, that her father lived in another country, and he couldn't visit. What else could I say?"

"The truth, for starters."

"Lara," I began, but she cut me off.

"Keeping her a secret was justifiable when he was on the other side of the world and you had no way of telling him, but now he's here. Your excuses are getting thin, my friend. Plus, Karina is getting older, soon she'll figure out there are things like video chat and ask why she can't use that to talk to her dad."

"It's not that easy. He's not the Ilya we remember. He's hard as steel now, if I tell him he'll either be angry that I kept her from him, or he might decide he wants to go for custody. I don't want to risk that." There were also some of the irregularities I found when doing his accounts, and the warning that Ryan gave me, that was weighing on my mind. I wasn't sure if he was skirting around the edge of the law with some of his businesses. If that was the case, then I didn't want him in my daughter's life.

"You won't be able to hide it from him forever, Winter Valley may be a decent sized town, but it's no New York City. You'll run into him sooner or later when you're with Karina. One look at those baby blues and he'll do the math."

I knew she was right, and playing this game with Ilya now living in Winter Valley was dangerous. "I can't tell him."

Sympathy swam in Lara's eyes, and she covered my hand with hers. "I get it, but if he really isn't the Ilya you remember, how do you think he'll feel if he finds out some other way? Because he will find out."

My shoulders fell and I wanted to hit my head on the table because Lara was right. "I know that in here," I tapped my temple, "but I can't bring my mouth to say the words. And worse? I don't want him to know."

"That makes sense. You've had her to yourself all this time and sharing her is scary. But losing her would be worse."

I nodded, pausing when the server came with two fresh margaritas. "And now we're back to why I don't want him to know. He could take her because he wants to be in her life or just to punish me." That was my greatest fear, that Ilya would take her, that I would lose her. "I can't lose her."

"It's a risk you'll have to take." We shared a long look before we turned to our respective drinks.

"Hello, ladies." That smooth, cultured, slightly accented voice was too familiar.

Lara looked up first, and though I didn't look at her, I heard the smile in her voice. "Ilya Kuznetsov. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" She laughed. "Good to see you again."

"Lara Hill, you're looking well." There was a hint of amusement in Ilya's tone, and even though I didn't want to, my gaze turned to him. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." Her gaze slid to the man at his side, I'd met Dmitri on a couple of occasions, the first time when I went to Ilya's nightclub. Lara's smile brightened as her eyes ate him up.

Ilya stepped closer to me and dropped a hand on my shoulder possessively. "Can I buy you lovely ladies a drink."

Lara's gaze slid to mine, and I clearly but silently communicated that she should turn him down cold, right now. But amusement flashed in Lara's eyes before she glanced up at Dmitri and then Ilya. "Only if you gentlemen join us."

"Traitor," I mumbled under my breath, and slid across the booth to put as much distance between me and Ilya as possible.

Ilya filled the booth with his presence, resting his arm along the top. "What are we drinking?"

"Margaritas, what else?" Lara laughed and turned to Dmitri. "I'm guessing you're more of a vodka or whiskey on the rocks type, right?"

"I am growing fond of tequila," he said with a slow smile that transformed him from a seriously dangerous-looking man to attractive and almost boyish.

"I won't say no to tequila. We can toast to new friends and reconnecting with older ones." Lara's eyes sparkled with mirth, and I rolled my eyes in response.

"This margarita is enough for me, thanks." The last thing I wanted was to lose my wits with Ilya nearby.

"Come on, Brooke, live a little," Ilya said with a grin.

I glared at him. The last time I lived a little, I ended up losing my virginity and the life I had mapped out. "I am alive, therefore I am living. End of discussion."