his head. “I don’t think so.” If Eva had made the connection, she hadn’t mentioned it yet.
“Mind if I do the honors?”
Gabriel gave him a have-at-it wave.
Eva had already adopted a defensive stance by crossing her arms over her middle and tipping her head down. “What now.”
Alek was smiling as he sat on the arm of the sofa. “My father’s name was Evgeny. He passed away when I was a teenager, but his brother took over raising me like I was his own son. They had a sister, too, but she’s also gone. My uncle, your father, is all that’s left of that generation. And thank Christ for that because he’s an incredible man who you’re going to love as much as we all do. Welcome to the family, Eva.”
SIXTEEN
Around her surprise, a startling rush of emotion swept through Eva as she gaped at Gabriel’s business partner.
Alek Tarasov. Of course.
Once again, what she knew was realigning in her mind. And this time, the picture left behind was something beautiful. Something she’d never expected to have until she had children of her own.
A family.
Her arms fell from their tense cross and she clasped her hands together so she wouldn’t click her nails. She had a cousin. A handsome, successful male cousin. She disregarded the mob stuff because it had no place in this amazing moment of discovering she truly was no longer an orphan in this world.
He stood when she approached, looking a bit wary as she searched his features for some sort of resemblance. She thought she saw something in the shape of his eyes that reminded her of her own reflection, but that could just be wishful thinking.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” She heard the hope in her teary voice.
He shook his head. “No. It’s just me. Our aunt had one son as well. You’ll meet him soon. His name is Sergei.”
A sound of amazement came from her. Our aunt. He couldn’t have known what that meant to her, and rather than try to tell him, she chose to show him by wrapping him in a warm, grateful hug. When she felt his arms slowly circle her in a strong hug back, her breath snagged and she wanted to cry like a baby.
After a moment, she forced herself to step back and give her wet cheeks a rub. “Sorry if that made you uncomfortable. It’s just that I thought I was alone, but now I have a father, and you. That’s…well, it’s really, really great.”
She was touched to see his throat work as if he was also having some trouble with it. He cast a sidelong glance at Gabriel. “You take care of her or I’ll kill you,” he said in a low voice.
“Amen,” Quan murmured as he pulled his cell out and walked off.
Gabriel came over and exchanged a handclasp and backslap with Alek before her cousin gave her a nod and followed Quan out.
“Be ready in ten,” Gabriel ordered in a rough voice without looking at her. “We’re going to your place to grab some of your things.” His jaw was tight as he, too, turned and slammed his way out of the suite.
† † †
As they drove to her house, Eva tried to make a mental list of what they would bring back to the hotel with them and what she would delegate Gabriel’s people to put into storage—a suggestion Gabriel had made a few minutes ago under the reasoning that her keepsakes and heirlooms would remain intact if Stefano decided to burn her house to the ground to send a message.
As she looked out the window at the passing scenery, she tried to wrap her head around how these people operated. Burning someone’s home down. Holding someone against their will. Causing a car accident that left someone dead.
How did they live like this? Reacting so absolutely when something didn’t go their way.
She was still wondering when the Escalade turned onto her street and she spotted an unfamiliar car parked in front of her house.
“Does that car belong to one of your guys?” she asked Gabriel, who was driving. She was riding shotgun and Quan and Alek were right now unbuckling their belts in the backseat.
“No.” Gabriel’s arm came out to hold her in place as he swiftly pulled over. “It isn’t familiar. And with Nick gone, so are our eyes,” he said into the suddenly tense atmosphere.
“You know my neighbor?” she asked in surprise.
Gabriel’s focus stayed on the unknown vehicle, but something flashed