Charlie
A christening.Nikolai has brought me to a family christening. This entire situation has to stop. He can’t keep taking me around his family. They are asking questions I can’t answer. Arman looks at me with concern, like he’s not sure if he should say something to me or to Nikolai.
“Gregor,” Arman calls out as the father of the baby walks past us as we stand outside on the terrace of the banquet hall that’s been rented out. There are so many people in attendance, I would have thought we were at a wedding reception. And the outfits. Everyone is dressed to impress, and I’m again grateful that Nikolai bought dresses for me.
Gregor steps over to us with a wide grin. He’s older than Roman; specks of silver touch his hairline at his temples.
“I was looking for you at the church.” Gregor shakes hands and hugs his cousins. From what Nikolai has told me, Gregor is their cousin, but they are close as brothers.
“How could you find anyone in there? So many people,” Arman complains. “The Kaczmareks took up more than half the church. Did they think they needed a large army today?”
“Don’t start shit,” Gregor warns. “Hanna has enough stress from not sleeping enough and having to deal with her brothers bothering her about coming to visit. She doesn’t need a brawl between our families today.”
“What brawl? I’m just saying,” Arman shrugs. “If they’re scared of us, they should just say.”
Gregor shakes his head. “Uncle Igor, keep this one away from Hanna’s family, okay?”
Igor gives Arman a stern look. “He won’t be a problem. Where is Hanna and the baby?”
“She’s in the bathroom changing Julianna out of the christening gown with Billie,” Gregor answers.
Roman, who’s been typing away on his phone, looks up. “Billie’s here?”
Gregor nods. “Yeah.” He scans the open doors and points. “There they are.” He waves for whoever is inside to come out.
“Who’s the guy?” Roman asks with a huff.
I see who I assume is Hanna walking toward us with a baby in her arms, followed by another woman and a tall blond man who looks like a straw of hay compared to all of these Russians standing around me.
“That’s Billie’s boyfriend,” Gregor says.
“Boyfriend.” Roman says the word like he’s tasted dog shit.
“Hi,” Hanna smiles. “I’m so glad you all came.”
“Of course we did,” Igor says, pushing his way forward to get a look at the baby. “I’m glad you decided to come to New York for the ceremony,” he says, brushing his fingers along the forehead of the sleeping baby.
“You can thank Christian for that,” Gregor says. “He’s around here somewhere.”
“I spoke to him already. He’s with Amelia chasing their daughter around the dessert table,” he grins. I think Igor has a soft spot for kids. It’s strange, seeing him in this light. I know there’s violence in this man. In Nikolai too, but when they’re together like this, enjoying each other’s company, it’s easy to forget what happens when they’re ‘at work.’
“Who’s this?” Hanna asks, looking at me. I try to step back, hide behind Nikolai, but his brothers have shifted to the side to put me in the spotlight.
“This is Charlotte,” Nikolai says, gently pushing me forward with his hand on my back.
Hanna’s eyes go wide for a brief moment and Gregor laughs. My cheeks heat and I try to step back. Obviously, I’ve done something wrong.
“It’s not you,” Hanna quickly says and gives him a frown. “You’re making her uncomfortable. Stop.”
Gregor raises his eyebrow. Do they all do that?
“I knew Hanna as Charlotte when I first met her.” Billie, the other woman, speaks up. “But that was a long time ago.” Her gaze moves to Roman but quickly flitters back to me. Roman, I can’t help but notice, has a darkness to his expression. If a thunderstorm could be expressed on someone’s face, that’s how Roman looks right now. Like he’s about to blow.
“Not so long ago,” Roman states flatly. “I didn’t realize you’d be here.”
Billie’s cheeks tint pink and she presses herself further back. “I wouldn’t miss it.” She raises her chin. “It’s good to see you.” There’s a forced pleasantness here between them that erases the embarrassment I held a moment ago.
“I’m going to get a drink, Isobel,” the blond man, probably tired of being ignored, pipes up just before turning on his heel and stalking away.