The God (Bratva Blood #3)- S.R. Jones Page 0,68

of their house, on the spacious patio. There are candles burning all around, the pool is lit, and the sun is setting. It’s a stunning scene.

I sip at a glass of wine, a local village wine, apparently, which is delicious. My mother turned down her invite. She refuses to mix with the people here. Her disdain for them is mortifying. We’ve always had a tricky relationship, but these days she’s making me actively dislike her. Every time I see the scars on Bohdan’s legs I want to march into her room and throttle her. How could she do that? How can she still believe she was right to, despite what happened to Bohdan because of her actions?

I glance at him now and smile to myself. And how can he forgive her? It shows what a huge heart he has.

The setting sun casts Bohdan in a golden light. His hair is a little longer than it was when he first arrived in Paris, and it glints lighter at the ends where it’s changed in the sun. His skin is golden, and his eyes are so blue. He’s laughing at something Alesso is saying, and my heart starts to beat entirely too fast.

God, he’s beautiful, and kind, and I’m a mess. One day he’ll realize it. He’ll look at me and see me for what I really am. A messed up, neurotic weirdo who can only feel good when she’s dancing or with him. Has he become my new addiction? Replaced the dancing as the only way for me to feel remotely calm?

He looks to me and smiles. I smile back, but he must see the sadness and uncertainty behind it because he leaves Alesso and comes to me. He slips an arm around my waist and pulls me into him. “You okay, lost girl?” he murmurs in my ear. “Because you know, you’re not lost any longer, right? You have a family and a home right here if you want it.”

As if to emphasize the point about how well we’re fitting in here, Mr. Bojangles comes tearing around the corner, his little legs working furiously as a giddy Gulliver chases him.

“God, Gully, careful,” Cassie admonishes as the dog nearly takes her legs from under her.

“Dinner is ready.” Violet appears at the double doors leading from the house to the patio area, and we all head to the table to sit. Bohdan takes my right, and the handsome one, Alesso, takes my left.

Feeling protected by Bohdan’s presence, I can enjoy the buzz and hum of conversation all around me as I lean into Bohdan and nibble at the delicious food and sip at the wine. The table is groaning with delicacies. There are vine leaves wrapped around rice. Deep-fried calamari, as well as deep-fried eggplant and zucchini slices. Two huge bowls of Greek salad punctuate each end of the long table, and warm bread sits temptingly in the center. There’s a variety of meat on one platter, and cheese on another. Olives in bright green bowls are scattered around the table, and people are piling their plates high and devouring the food.

There’s some white stuff in front of me, and I’m not sure what it is. Alesso glances at me and follows my gaze. He smiles. “Have you ever tried it before?” he asks me in excellent English.

“No, what is it?”

“Skordolia, but they say it is not for the faint of heart,” he says with a grin.

“Why not?”

“Find out. Try some, a little only, on some bread.”

I take a spoon, ladle a little of the dip onto my plate, break off some bread and taste. Oh, good God in heaven. Garlic. So much garlic.

“The vampires in the hills won’t get you tonight.” Alesso winks at me.

I take my wine and wash the dip down with a big sip. At this rate, I’ll be more than slightly merry. I don’t drink a lot, and this is my second or maybe third glass.

“I hear you’re a famous dancer,” Alesso says. “World famous.”

I sort of nod and shake my head at the same time, not sure how to answer. If I say no, it’s a lie, but saying yes is bigheaded.

“You’ve never seen anything as beautiful as Dasha dancing,” Bohdan speaks across me.

“I’d love to see you dance.” Violet sighs and hugs herself as if me dancing for her is some sort of personal dream come true.

“Dance for us,” Andrius says as he stands and strides into the house. He returns moments later, and music