situation calls for it. But the only time I’ve ever seen them use their power was to help someone they considered theirs. For me, that was the difference. Like Cassie said—they protect the people they love and they do it in the most fiercely honorable way possible.”
Shit.
She’d never thought about it like that. “When you put it that way, they sound like Russian Robin Hoods.”
Laughter filled the kitchen in a second and Cassie doubled over with a hand wrapped around her waist. “Oh, my God. I gotta tell Kir that one. I’m not sure if he’d be flattered or incensed.”
Evie chortled and held her hand over her face, her cheeks bright red. “I just got the funniest picture in my head of Sergei in green tights. Can you imagine?”
A fresh wave of hilarity rolled through the room, one that took a good minute or more for everyone to get themselves pulled together. When they finally did, Cassie looked to Bonnie, a warm understanding waiting behind her mirth. “Sorry. We shouldn’t laugh. Both of us remember what it was like, but trust me when I tell you—sometimes you really do end up in a fairy tale. And when Prince Charming—or Robin Hood or the Jolly Green Giant—shows up with the slipper you left behind, you put the damned thing on. Not conk him on the head with it.”
It couldn’t be that simple.
Nothing in her life had ever been that simple. Or that good.
But it had happened to Evie and Cassie. And neither of them had had it easy before they’d met their guys either.
A loud gong sounded in the main hallway that ran through the first floor. An almost divine sound that seemed to add its approval to her thoughts.
“Whoa,” Cassie said in a droll tone. “That’s some doorbell.”
The doorbell. Right. That made a heck of a lot more sense than God sending her any kind of tangible clues on what to do with her life.
“First time I’ve ever heard it.” Bonnie stood and headed toward the door. “No one’s come to the front door since I’ve been here.”
From the scrape of chair legs against the tile kitchen floors and the sound of Evie’s voice, her friends were coming along to see who was outside. “Well, I can guarantee you, whoever it is, Roman knows they’re coming or the guards would have cut off their arms by now.”
Bonnie opened the door.
On the porch stood Mr. Frannelly, a teenage boy to his right and her guards standing behind them. The boy and the guards held decent-sized cardboard boxes, and Mr. Frannelly had two oversized satchels in each of his hands.
Frannelly dipped his head in greeting. “Hello, Miss Drummond.”
“Um...hi.”
Evette and Cassie crowded close behind Bonnie.
“That’s a load of stuff,” Evette said.
“Oh, shoot.” Bonnie moved out of the way and motioned everyone inside. “Come on in. Roman’s office is on the right.”
“This is not for Mr. Kozlov.” Mr. Frannelly paused halfway into the foyer and waited for the rest of the men to make it through, then looked to her. “These are for you. Perhaps the kitchen is the best place to start for now.”
For her? That didn’t make sense.
She padded forward and motioned to the left. “The kitchen’s this way.”
Everyone followed and the men unloaded their boxes and satchels around the kitchen table. Without another word, the guards nodded to her and headed back to the porch. Frannelly and the teenage boy faced her, easy smiles aimed in her direction.
Tempted as she was to ask a ton of question and dig into everything they’d unloaded, she figured introductions were a better way to start. “Mr. Frannelly, these are my friends, Evette Petrovyh and Cassie Vasilek.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” He extended a hand to each of them then motioned to the boy beside him. “This is my son, Raymond. Roman brought him to me.”
“Oh, yes!” Evie said. “I remember Roman mentioning you now. You’re the jeweler over in Carrollton.”
He nodded. “Yes. That’s the one.”
“Sweet,” Cassie said, peering at the boxes with open curiosity. “You gotta love it when a jeweler shows up with a ton of boxes.”
“Oh, no,” Bonnie said, shaking her head. “Don’t tell me all of that is jewelry.”
Frannelly’s smile grew wider, as did Raymond’s. “Not jewelry, no. Not yet, anyway.”
Evette and Cassie looked as confused as Bonnie did, which was kind of comforting considering the situation. “Not yet?” Bonnie said.
“They’re supplies.” He opened one satchel and drew out several smaller boxes, stacking them one on top of the other.