Claim

31

Kira walked into Ludis, her fingers entwined with Lyon’s, and breathed a sigh of happiness. “Oh… it’s perfect!”

The club wasn’t done, but the main room was close enough, and Kira had wanted to kick off their wedding celebration at a place that represented the fresh start of their bratva family.

Fairy lights had been hung around the room, twinkling against the deep teal walls, and a long rustic table had been set up in the center. It glimmered with candlelight, a series of small centerpieces made of simple bunches of peonies and lilac interspersed with the candles that ran its length, gold and ivory plates and chargers already in place for the meal. The light from the candles caught the crystal glasses at each place setting, making the entire vignette look magical and otherworldly.

Across the room, the new mirror shone behind the bar while a young man wiped down the newly installed mahogany surface.

“Oh, good!” Rosemary appeared from the small kitchen behind the bar, looking chic as always in a simple black dress, her brown hair in a simple braid. “You’re here.” She nodded nervously at Lyon. “Mr. Antonov.”

“Rosemary. Thank you for all you’ve done,” Lyon said.

“It’s unbelievable, Rosemary.” Kira had never been more glad she’d asked Rosemary to take over the planning of the pre-wedding dinner. She’d done such an incredible job planning the ceremony and reception, Kira knew her trust wouldn’t be misplaced.

Rosemary laughed. “I have to admit, even I’m surprised. I was a bit worried at first.”

“I don’t blame you,” Kira said. When she’d first shown Rosemary the room, it had been filled with pieces of lumber, the smell of paint strong enough to make Kira light-headed even with all the windows open. “But the room clearly didn’t stand a chance against your talent.”

Rosemary blushed, her cheeks turning an adorable shade of pink. “Thank you. The caterers are already here. I’ll just go make sure everything is on schedule. Please enjoy the evening and let me know if there’s anything you need.”

She disappeared behind a door next to the bar and Kira turned to look up at Lyon. “Do you like it?”

He pulled her into his arms. “I love it. But I love you more.”

She smiled. “I’m so happy.”

“I’m happy too.” Looking at him now, she thought she might actually believe it. He was still on guard, and she felt the bulk of his weapon under his jacket, but some of the shadows had disappeared from his eyes, and his smile seemed less strained, like he wasn’t working quite as hard to make his mouth obey his mind.

The door opened and Annie burst into the room with Borya on her heels. “Oh… my… god!” she exclaimed, looking around the room. “This is not Ludis!”

Kira grinned. “One and the same.”

“Ludis is a dive bar where all the thugs hang out when they want to get drunk and beat each other’s faces,” Annie said.

“Not anymore,” Kira said. “It’s not finished, but it will officially be the new headquarters for the bratva’s pakhan and his men.”

“I want to see everything,” Annie said.

Annie laughed and looped arms with her friend.

After that, the night passed in a happy flurry of conversation and laughter. Lana documented everything of course — no faces — and Kira wondered if she was imagining the interest in Alek’s eyes when he watched the young woman flit about the room. She was certainly the apple of her father Nikolai’s eye. He seemed to adore his daughter’s gregarious enthusiasm in spite of his own quiet demeanor.

Nadia and Luka arrived with their three children in tow at Kira’s insistence — this was a family affair, the first of many, she hoped — and Lyon spent the evening with their toddler, a tow headed boy who looked like Nadia, on his lap. He didn’t even seem to mind when the child smeared him with ice cream from the baked Alaska that was served as dessert.

Olga was there and didn’t complain once, and Lyon’s men seemed flattered to be invited. Stefan nervously asked which fork he should use for his salad before Kira told him he could eat it with a spoon for all she cared, after which he gazed at her worshipfully, like the little brother she’d never had.

Markus stared broodily at the entire scene, his eyes on all the exits even though Rurik insisted on keeping watch outside the club. Kira brought him a plate and tried to get him to join them inside, but it was no use: Rurik liked being alone, and he thanked her for the food and leaned against one of the black SUVs lining the curb to eat his dinner.

Even Oleg seemed happy, only complaining once about the caviar while his wife glared at him to be quiet.

Ivan, along with all of the Spies, had been invited as cover, but no one seemed surprised when he didn’t show. The Spies ordinarily maintained their distance from the pakhan. Borya and Luka were there ostensibly only because Annie and Nadia were friendly with Kira.

Everyone was astounded by Ludis’s new look, and Kira spent the night in a state of bliss. Only once, just before coffee was served, did she catch Lyon looking somberly at Alek, who checked his phone and gave Lyon a small nod.

It was done then.

Ivan was dead.

She wanted to feel relief, but it felt like the final piece of tape being torn from the lid on Pandora’s box. She hoped it would be empty, but it could just as easily be filled with venomous snakes.

She took a deep breath. She would worry about that Monday, after the wedding.

This was a time for celebration.