Page 79 of Scarred Ruin

“You’re right,” Maxsim told his daughter.

“Women usually are.” Mina’s answer brought laughter all the way around, including to Sergei who I thought never cracked a smile.

Maxsim acted as if he’d been shot, tumbling backwards. Mina was giggling her pretty princess head off while waving a Snickers bar in front of him.

Which he snatched in record time. “Did Miss Izzy teach you that?”

Mina nodded profusely.

“Traitor,” I huffed.

“So, Sergei. Do you have a girlfriend?” Hope’s question further lightened the mood as she slipped her arm around the terse Russian’s, who immediately stiffened.

“Be careful, Hope,” I told her. “I have it under strict authority that Russian Bratva do bite.”

“What Sergei doesn’t know is that I can dish it out with the best of them.” Her response was followed by haughty laughter. She even offered him a bite of the candy, brushing a portion across his lips.

I adored my best friend, especially since she was inclined to ignore the protocol. Whatever that was.

Both Sergei and Maxsim were uncomfortable as hell.

“Relax,” I told him.

“She’s a ballbuster.”

“And your soldier is a stick in the mud,” I whispered.

“He can be,” Maxsim admitted, saying it loudly enough Sergei glared at him. “Just two more stores, Mina. Then Mario is going to take you and Shadow home.”

“O-tay, Papa.” She skipped forward, Sergei shaking his head as he tried to follow.

“Does that mean we’re staying?”

Maxsim shrugged. “Maybe you’re right in that I need to relax. Svetlana is at the house and will put Mina to bed for me. We can stay for an hour or so.”

“So demanding, and I know I’m right.”

“I worry.”

I slipped my arm through his. It felt natural doing so. I wasn’t under any illusion of what we were, but I also had no intention of allowing him to ruin the moment for his daughter. “Tough day at the office?”

At least he almost laughed. “Something like that. Someone is actively attempting to sabotage my company.”

“You have no idea who that person is, do you?”

“None. But it keeps me cautious.”

I tried handing him the mask again. “Put this on. You need to remember that when you’re wearing a costume, you can be anyone you want to be. Tonight, you’re not the powerful Bratva Pakhan, but a father doting on his little girl.”

He eyed me curiously. “Maybe, but danger surrounds us.”

“With the group over there? The little mermaids? Or the spooky vampires in that group? Maybe it’s the superheroes across the street.”

“All of the above.”

My groan was loud enough he grinned. “You’re such a killjoy. Put the mask on. Indulge me.”

“Fine, but it doesn’t change the fact anyone could be out here.”