The Prelude (A Musical Interlude Novel) - By Kasonndra Leigh Page 0,35

ailments of the mind and being different. It’s about taking chances and feeling life build up inside you after such a long time of walking around like a zombie,” I say firmly. Lila scoffs and looks shocked.

Alek clears his throat and says, “Luca, if you’ll keep Lila entertained while I have a word with Ms. Angelo please.” He takes my hand, pulling me around the corner where we first collided a little over a week ago. “What’s wrong with you?”

“You embarrassed me,” I say, hugging my shoulders. “Why’d you have to go and mention ‘that’ day?”

“Is that it? I’m making you act this way because I embarrassed you? No one knows what happened besides us.” His accent has suddenly deepened and he’s standing with his hands on his hips. I don’t know why, but I’m feeling a bit intimidated.

“That overdone song plays on the radio at least a hundred times a day. Anyway, you asked me to be your singer,” I remind him.

“And you turned me down.”

“You didn’t give me time to think about it.”

He closes his eyes a short moment, inhaling deeply. “There’s more riding on the success of this production than you realize. I have a show to run, Erin, not a babysitting service.”

His words smack me harder than a hand could ever do. “I won’t hold you up then,” I whisper and start walking back toward Luca. Alek reaches for my hand, but I snatch it away.

“Erin, I’m sorry,” he calls out behind me.

I would’ve stopped. I wanted so much to go back to him. But my nose stings and my vision’s all blurry. I’m not used to feeling tears as often as I’ve been doing lately.

I don’t get this thing that’s taking over my head. I blame Reckless Me for slacking on the job. And I want to bitch-slap Righteous Me for being right all of the time when it comes to the men in my life. “Luca, take me home now, please?” I say, my voice trembling.

Adriana stands outside the door to her room now. She takes one look at my face just before she purses her lips and gives her brother a hard look that reminds me so much of their mother.

“Your performance was fantastic, Adriana,” I somehow manage to say. Luca and Adriana exchange glances one last time just before he and I head toward the exit. I simply ignore Lila standing there with the big smirk on her face.

I’m sure Adriana will want to find out what happened the next time I see her. For now, I just want to go home, back to a place where I don’t have to worry about the crappy things that happened tonight when I attempted to step out of my comfort zone.

Chapter Nine

Alek

I walk through the door and hear his voice.

Right away, I storm into the living room. My brother, Dmitri, stands and greets me in the name he always used for me when we were younger. That was a lifetime ago. Before he and my father partnered up in all things illegal and almost got me killed in the process. I haven’t spoken to him in years, and now here he stands in my mother’s house.

“Sasha, my little brother. How I’ve missed you.” He glances around me. “Where’s your boyfriend, Nikolai? You mean to tell me he’s not trailing behind you tonight?”

“What are you doing here?” I ask, moving over to Mother. Glancing at me with red-rimmed eyes, she smiles. She has been crying, and doesn’t want me to know it. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?” She shakes her head.

Dmitri sucks his teeth. He’s three years older than me. “Why would I hurt Katerina? She may not be my real mother, but she has always treated me with respect.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I ask through the venom boiling in my throat. “You’re not welcome in this house, or anyplace near my family.”

“Is that a way to address your blood, Sasha? We haven’t seen each other in years. I’m hurt.” He makes a sad face, but I know the gesture isn’t real. “I came to see my step-mother. Wanted to tell her how much Father misses her. He’d like to see you again too, if you don’t mind.”

He takes a step toward Mother, but I move in front of her, blocking his path. “Easy, brother. This isn’t about you, at all,” he warns.

“Dmitri was just on his way out the door,” Mother attempts to say in a controlled voice. “Isn’t