Chapter 31 He's trouble, Vesper. Waylen's warning is blaring in the back of my head as I curl up on Kovan's ridiculously large white sofa, staring out at the cherry blossom tree dropping petals like confetti across his perfectly manicured lawn. I tried defending Kovan during our FaceTime call last night. I told Waylen he didn't really know the man. But my brother just gave me that look-the one that's half Dad's disappointment and half Mom's worry and one hundred percent effective in shutting me up. "Come on, V. What are you thinking, getting involved with a man like him? If you're lucky, he's gonna break your heart. If you're unlucky, he's gonna break your spirit." The only thing keeping Waylen from completely writing Kovan off is Luka. That's the sole saving grace. Even my overprotective brother can see that this little boy needs someone who'll fight for him. He just doesn't understand why that someone has to include me. I'm so lost in thought that it takes me a minute to realize Luka has gone completely silent. He's sprawled on the carpet in front of me, surrounded by an explosion of Legos that started as a train, then became a spaceship, and now looks like colorful plastic carnage. "What happened to the spaceship?" I ask, sliding down to sit cross-legged beside him. Luka hurls a red block across the room, lower lip sticking out. "It was stupid." "Hey." I bump his shoulder with mine. "Want to tell me what's really bothering you?" He shrugs noncommittally. "C'mon," I insist. "Penny for your thoughts. Two pennies, since you're that special to me." He fixes me with a side-eye that says I'm laying it on a little bit thick. "Nothing's bothering me." "Luka." I touch his chin softly to make him look at me. "I was eight once, too. I know that look. You've got thoughts in that big ol' noggin of yours. Go on, spill. I'm listening. This is a safe space." Those gray eyes study my face like he's deciding whether to trust me. In the end, he swallows. "I'm nervous," he finally admits. "About meeting Waylen?" He nods, picking at a loose thread on his jeans. "The tutors Mom hires are always mean. Or boring. Or both." My chest tightens. "This is different," I tell him. "Uncle Kovan picked Waylen himself. And guess what? I'm the one who recommended him." Luka's eyes widen. "Really?" "Really really. I give you my word: Waylen is nothing like those other tutors. He actually makes learning fun." "What if he doesn't like me?" The question comes out so small, so uncertain, that I have to swallow around the sudden ache in my throat. "That's impossible," I say firmly. "You're the most likable kid in the world. But hey-if for some crazy reason you don't click with him, just tell me. I'll kick him out myself." Luka's jaw drops. "You would do that?" "In a heartbeat. No questions asked." For the first time all day, he smiles. Really smiles. "Okay. Cool." He goes back to toying with the Legos. I push myself up and wander toward the French doors, stepping into the garden where cherry blossoms dance in the breeze like tiny pink ballerinas. It's breathtakingly beautiful here. I'm frowning, though, wondering if maybe I steered us wrong just now. Did I just promise to fire my own brother if Luka doesn't like him? Is that overstepping? Because it feels like something a parent would do. Something that crosses Kovan's careful boundaries. And he made it very clear about how firm those boundaries are. At least he's not here to catch me brooding in anxiety. He sent along a proxy in his place in the form of his little brother. Pavel Krayev does not know when to stop talking, but fortunately, he vanished somewhere in the house a little while ago to handle something or other. Which means I have a few minutes of peace and quiet to myself in order to sort out my⁠- "Deep thoughts?" I turn to find Pavel approaching from the side garden. No peace and quiet to be found here, apparently. I watch as he walks up. Sunlight catches the green flecks in his hazel eyes. He's got the same dark hair as Kovan, but where his older brother is all sharp edges and simmering violence, Pavel has an easy charm and a gift of gab that probably gets him out of just as much trouble as it gets him into. "Just wondering if I'm screwing everything up," I admit. "Most of it involving my brother?" I can't tell if he's teasing or genuinely curious. At least he knows the full scope of the situation, so I can be honest with him. "He wants us to convince everyone we're this perfect couple, but he won't let me close enough to actually get to know him. How are we supposed to sell an amazing connection when we're basically strangers?" Pavel grins. "Have you tried sneaking into his bed at night?" "That's not what I meant at all." "It's the fastest way to get close to a man, though. That and through his stomach, of course, but based on my initial survey of your pantry, I'm guessing you don't do much of that." A blush creeps up my neck. "I eat!" "Mhmm." "... when I remember to." He winks. "Even superheroes need fuel, Doc." "I'm not a superhero. I'm just trying to do right by my patients. And by Luka." "Speaking of which..." Pavel's expression turns sly. "What's Waylen's real purpose here? Besides making my brother insanely jealous? Don't get me wrong-I do love that aspect of his involvement. I've just been wondering if there's a bigger plan at play." I fight back a laugh. "Believe it or not, I was only thinking about Luka when I suggested him." "If you say so." He shrugs and starts whistling. "Better hope he has good reflexes, though. There's going to be some serious dick-swinging behavior once Kovan gets back and that security training begins." "Can we not discuss my brother, my fake boyfriend, and anything dick-related in the same sentence?" Pavel's eyebrows shoot up. "'Brother'?! Waylen is your brother?" Shit. Cat's out of the bag. I mime zipping my lips and throwing away the key. "Oh. Oh. God, this is rich." Pavel looks absolutely delighted. "Does Kovan know?" "That's between me and Kovan." "That's a definite no," he decides instantly, looking no less thrilled by the prospect of Kovan being kept in the dark. "You're going to let him keep thinking Waylen is competition?" I hide my face downward when my phone buzzes. It's a text from Waylen saying he's almost here. "It's more fun this way." Pavel throws back his head and laughs. "You're diabolical. I like you." I'm still blushing as I turn back into the living room. "Come on," I call to Luka. "Time to meet your new best friend." He abandons his Legos and takes my hand, his palm slightly damp with nerves despite our successful little pep talk. We walk to the circular drive just as Waylen's silver Volkswagen Beetle putters through the gates. "That's my tutor?" Luka stares in awe as Waylen unfolds his tall frame from the tiny car. "He looks like a basketball player." "Tell him that. He'll love it." Waylen approaches us with the kind of smile that crinkles his whole face and makes his eyes disappear. The same smile that used to calm me down during Dad's worst days in the hospital. "You must be the famous Luka," he says, crouching down to the boy's eye level. "I've heard amazing things about you." Luka's expression turns skeptical. "What kind of things?" I watch my brother's face, curious how he'll handle this. Luka has been lied to by too many adults. He's learned to test them. He wants to know, Are you the kind of grownup who says stuff because it's what you're supposed to say? Or do you only say what's true? Way touches his chin like he's taking the question completely seriously. "Hm, lemme think. I heard you're smart and kind. I heard you're brilliant at science but math makes you want to throw things. I heard you love astronomy and that the planetarium at the science museum is your favorite place in the whole city. I heard you're quiet because you think a lot, not because you don't have anything to say." Luka's eyes just keep getting bigger and bigger with every accurate depiction. "You have heard about me." "I would never, ever lie to you, Luka. And I hope you'll never lie to me." "Okay." Luka nods, some of the wariness leaving his small shoulders. "So," continues Way, "if you get bored during our lessons, or confused, or tired, you'll tell me, right? We can take breaks or try something completely different." The amazement on Luka's face breaks my heart a little. Such simple things. Such magical impact. "Really?" he whispers. "Really." Luka looks at me with an expression that clearly says, Is this guy for real? "I told you he was cool," I whisper with a grin. "Now, let's go inside and show Waylen where you'll have your lessons." As we head toward the house, Waylen falls into step beside me, his voice dropping low. "This is where the boss man lives? Bit much for a single guy, don't you think? What's he compensating for?" "He's not single anymore," I remind him pointedly. "And he's trying to make a home for Luka." "Still doesn't explain why you're all crammed into your tiny apartment most nights like sweaty little sardines." "That's because I need to be close to the hospital." I can hear the edge creeping into my voice. "You promised to keep an open mind." "I am keeping an open mind." "By criticizing everything you see?" "I'm being cautious. There's a difference." I grab his arm, lowering my voice as we climb the stairs. "Kovan's brother, Pavel, is around somewhere. Can you please not pick a fight in front of the man's family?" Waylen sighs. "Fine. I'll give you one thing: I like the kid." "You'll like Kovan, too. Eventually." He shakes his head doubtfully. "No promises. He's trouble, V. Capital T-R-O-U-B-L-E." It doesn't take long for the magic to blossom. "I love him!" Luka shouts, racing into the kitchen where I'm sitting with Pavel. Through the doorway, I can see Waylen hunched over their makeshift robot, trying to get it to take a few staggering steps. "Your brother's got skills," Pavel admits, watching as Luka goes scampering back and Waylen shows him how to adjust the robot's balance. "Robotics on day one? Smart move." "I told Kovan he was good." I take another bite of the pie we're sharing, surprised by how flavorful it is. "God, this is delicious." Pavel's expression shifts. "Not a fan?" I ask. "Don't tell me you're a vegan." "God, no. And it's not that." He clears his throat. "It's... Vitalii used to make those for Luka. Now, Kovan keeps them on hand for whenever the kid is missing his dad." The pie turns to sawdust in my mouth. "Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't⁠-" "Don't apologize." Pavel manages a smile. "Kovan puts everything he has into taking care of that boy. It would put most parents to shame. It puts me to shame, that's for damn sure. Doesn't stop me from getting fat and happy off these bad boys, though." To prove his point, he takes a monstrous bite and smiles at me with crumbs dropping from his lips. I watch him chew for a minute. "He really is better off here than anywhere else in the world, isn't he?" Pavel nods and swallows. "If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be here, either." Before I can respond, Luka once again comes bouncing into the kitchen, this time cradling the robot like a precious baby. "Look! He can roll forward and backward!" Luka sets the robot carefully on the counter, facing me. "His name is Viking." For the second time in as many minutes, the smile dies on Pavel's face. "Viking's a great name," I say quickly, but I'm still busy puzzling out Pavel's reaction. Something's wrong. "I'm going to find him a little jacket," Luka announces, and races upstairs. The moment he's gone, I turn to Pavel. "Now, what is it?" His jaw tightens. "After Vitalii died, Yana got Luka a puppy to stop his crying. Kid was over the moon. Named it Viking." My stomach drops. "Oh, no." I can already tell that this story is headed for a sickening end. "Dog kept barking. Yana couldn't handle it. So one night while Luka was sleeping, she had Ihor get rid of it." Pavel's voice turns bitter. "When Luka woke up crying for Viking, she told him the dog went to keep his daddy company, and if he loved them both, he wouldn't cry about it." "Jesus Christ," Waylen breathes from the doorway. "She's a real gem," I mutter, my hands clenching into fists. "Makes our mom look like a saint, huh?" Waylen jokes as he moves to stand beside me. Pavel glances at my brother. "You two had it that bad growing up, huh? Well, trauma bonding is good for sibling closeness, I guess." I whack him. "Hush! You weren't supposed to blab about that." Waylen frowns at me. "What game are you playing, little sister?" "You're the one who didn't want me leading with the fact that you're my brother when we first met everyone!" I cry. "I didn't want you leading with it, yeah, but that's because I didn't want pity or anything like that." His frown deepens. "And also, that was before he hired me. What's the point of keeping it secret now?" "That's my business." Pavel starts laughing, the sound echoing off the marble countertops. "I should have seen it long before she told me, honestly. You two argue exactly the same way." As Luka thunders back down the stairs with a tiny doll jacket for Viking, I lean closer to Pavel. "Your brother can be... difficult sometimes. As I'm sure you know. I wanted to get under his skin a little." "Mission accomplished." Pavel grins and mimes locking his lips. "Like I told you earlier: Your secret's safe with me." I watch Waylen help Luka dress the robot in its new jacket, my chest warming at the sight of my brother's patience and kindness. Maybe this will work out after all. Guess we'll see once Kovan gets home.