Twilight Sins: Chapter 48

It’s barely six in the morning when I step into the hall, but there’s already light coming from under Mariya’s door. Or, still light coming from under her door.

Jetlag hit her hard the first few days, but she’s adjusted back to the stereotypical teenage circadian rhythm just fine. Up all night, sleep all day, rinse, and repeat.

I planned to talk to her about what happened yesterday with the scrawny waiter in the alley some other time. Preferably once I’ve scrubbed the image from my mind. But I’m feeling more patient now than normal, so it’s as good a time as any.

I open the door. She’s lying on her bed, her phone perched on her bent knees. She doesn’t move except for the flick of her eyes to the door. “I could have been naked.”

“You aren’t.”

“I could have been, though.”

“Then lock your door if you don’t want people barging in.”

She arches a brow, looking every bit like our mother. “Okay. Leave and I’ll make sure I lock it next time.”

I’ve survived assassination attempts. I’ve killed men armed to the teeth with my bare hands. A teenage girl is not going to be the death of me.

But she is sure as fuck going to try.

I close the door behind me and cross my arms. “We need to talk.”

“Uninterested,” she drawls, never taking her eyes from her phone.

Luna told me to be gentle with Mariya. To spend time with her.

I think I’ll get through to her in my own way.

I cross the room in two steps and swat her phone onto the floor. “It wasn’t a question.”

That draws her attention. She glares up at me, her chin jutted out.

“If you’re going to stay here,” I continue, “there have to be rules.”

“No joy, no fun, no life,” she says, ticking the list off on her fingers. “I already know the rules.”

“Making out with some slimeball fucking busboy in the alley isn’t a life, Mariya. It’s not ‘fun.’ It’s trashy and fucking dangerous.”

“Says the guy who let Luna move in after one date.” She rolls her eyes. “Double standard, much?”

I grit my teeth. “You aren’t me. I’m an adult.”

I’m the leader of a Bratva. I hold your entire world together.

“And what the fuck am I?” she snaps. “I’m almost eighteen. I’m not a kid anymore, Yakov. I know it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, but I’ve grown up.”

As if I need the reminder. The last time I saw Mariya, she had glitter streaks in her hair and a stuffed frog she kept in the center of her bed.

I look around the room and see the ratty green frog slouched on her bookshelf. A lot has changed, but not everything. Not the important things.

I take a deep breath and turn back to her. “It’s not about whether you’re still a kid or not, Mariya. It’s about keeping you safe.”

“And what if I don’t trust you to keep me safe?”

“Then get on a fucking plane and go back to live with Mother,” I spit. “If you’re going to live in this house, you’re going to follow my rules.”

She crosses her arms and flops back against the upholstered headboard. “I’m not agreeing to rules before I know what they are.”

“If you leave the house, someone goes with you. Always. I don’t care if it’s me, Nik, a guard—someone has to be with you at all times.”

“I object.”

I shake my head. “You don’t get to object.”

“Yes, I do!” she cries out. “I’ll follow your rules, but I’m not going to sit at home the way you make your girlfriend. I have a life outside of this house. I won’t be caged.”

“Luna isn’t caged.”

“She is always here. You’ve isolated her from everyone and everything. She’s alive, but at what cost?”

My molars grind together. “Luna just went out last night.”

Mariya frowns. “She did? I thought she was in your room all night.”

“Nope. She went out.”

“With who?” she asks quickly.

“Who the fuck do you think? Me.”

Her eyebrows raise. “You took her out? Like, on a date? I didn’t think you were capable.”

“You don’t know anything. You haven’t even been here.”

She narrows her eyes. “Through no fault of my own, may I remind you. But I don’t need to have been here to know what’s going on. The staff isn’t afraid to gossip in front of me. The maids are all talking about how Luna is the first woman you have ever brought home. I don’t know if that’s more sweet or sad.”

“It’s neither. It’s my business. It’s also not the fucking point.”

“Then please, for the love of God,” she whines, “get to the point!”

I grit my teeth and count to ten so I don’t succumb to my temptation to throw Mariya in the dungeon for the duration of her stay here. “You said you want to be treated like an adult. Well, here’s your chance. Get your shit together, follow my rules, and prove to me that you’re ready to make adult decisions.”

“Yes, sir.” Mariya lifts her fingers in a salute and then rolls her eyes.

I’ve snapped femurs for less disrespect than that, but it’s as good as it’s going to get. It’s better than “yes, Father,” so I count it as a win.

I leave and pull her door shut behind me.

Nik is standing in the hallway, his shoulder resting against the wall. I told him to be here first thing in the morning to talk about what to do now that I’m greenlit. I figured he wouldn’t get here until closer to sunrise.

He takes one look at my face and winces. “Parenting got you down?”

“I’m not her parent. I’m—” Shit, I don’t know what I am anymore. “I’m keeping her safe.”

“If she follows your rules,” he warns. He peeks over at me. “Do you think she will?”

Behind me, the lock on Mariya’s door clicks into place.

I sigh. “I really fucking doubt it.”