“We will.”
“Marble Palace is over there.”
“This place has a lot of palaces.” Smoke came out of his nose as he raised his hand and pointed. “What’s that big ass colorful building over there with all the. . .blue and gold cupcake tops?”
“Those are onion domes.” I laughed. “And that’s called the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.”
“That’s a name right there.”
“It speaks for itself.”
“That it does.”
He gave me the joint, even though it was close to being done. “Was blood spilled there?”
“Yes, indeed, Maxwell.” I finished the joint. “It was a Russian Emperor. Alexander the Second. Not a bad guy, he ended slavery in Russia.”
“I like that shit.”
“Not everyone liked it. Many people tried to kill him. For a long time, Alexander II always escaped. Then, a group of anarchists threw a bomb at his carriage. It was kind of like a grenade for their time.”
“Then, he died?”
“Not yet. Alexander II was shaken, but not completely hurt. He jumped out of the carriage and began to chase them. But then a second guy threw another bomb. That mortally wounded him. He bled all over the ground. They took him back to the Winter Place. A few hours later, he passed away.”
“That shit was still gangster though.”
“Gangster indeed. His son, Alexander III erected a church where his father had bled. The exact spot. They had to narrow the canal, so the area where Alexander II traveled was included within the walls.”
“He loved his father?”
My heart ached for mine. “Yeah. He did.”
Maxwell glanced at me. “Would you make your father a church like that?”
“No. He already did it for himself. What about you? Will you, when your father passes away?”
“He already did.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I looked at him. “How long has it been?”
Maxwell stood silent for several seconds and then smoked. “Em killed him, when we were young.”
The mouse?
Shocked, I didn’t know what to say.
“Don’t feel bad.” Maxwell sighed. “He deserved it. He did things to Em that he shouldn’t have. Something was wrong with him.”
“I understand.” I turned away. “I understand more than you know.”
In silence, we gazed upon the church that stood off in the distance. Alexander III had spared no expense, over four million rubles went into the construction. The majority of it came from the Imperial Family as well as investors. The church boasted richly decorated onion domes, embellished with topaz, lazurite, and other semi-precious stones.
Maxwell pulled out another joint.
I gave him a sad smile. “Another one?”
“Yeah, man. Even though they were fucked up.” Maxwell waved the new joint in front of his face. “Let’s smoke for our dads.”
I nodded.
“Besides, long morning. Long day. Who knows how this evening will go? Always be prepared, my friend.”
I considered those prophetic words and grinned. “Then, light it up, Maxwell.”
“My man.” Maxwell brought a flame to the tip, inhaled a few times, and handed the second joint to me.
“This is the most I have ever smoked in a day.”
“You’re with Maxwell now. This won’t even be a record by the end of the week.”
I coughed a little and gave it back to him. “I’m glad this day is finally ending.”
“It’s been a rough week for you. Sorry about your dad by the way.”
“Sorry about yours.”
“Shit happens.”
“Well, a lot has happened in these past days.” I inhaled and blew out a cloud of smoke. “Hopefully, no more problems will come.”
Maxwell winked at me. “You didn’t cough this time.”
“Correct, but you finish this. I would like to have at least one lung this evening.” Still, I took another hit and gave it back to Maxwell. “After this, let’s get ready for the ballet.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Out of everything that’s happened this week—thinking Kazimir had died in New York, and then realizing he was alive, the war with Sasha, my father’s murder, and all our killing here. . .losing Ava could be the thing that ends me.”
One touch.
One caress.
One seductive kiss from Ava and my life had shifted.
My heart had gone even crazier for her.
I would stop at nothing to keep her. Last night had changed the game. This morning had solidified it. I could not go on without her. My heart. My soul. Every possession in my grips would be forever hers.
From that moment of making love to her, everything I did, every breath that expelled from my lungs, every beat of my heart, would be hand-wrapped and gifted to Ava.
When those beautiful lips had met mine, it sealed her fate.
Disrupting my thoughts, Maxwell patted my shoulder. “Naw. I’ve got you. You’re the homey now.”
I quirked my brows. “Homey?”
“You’re my brother.”
I curved my lips into a smile. “I have always wanted a brother.”
“You’ve got one in me, especially since you saved me from that crazy woman.”
“Has Valentina called you yet?”
“No. She won’t.”
I laughed and walked off the balcony. “She will. You’re just at round two right now. There’s more games to come from Valentina.”