Two Years Later
Life was totally fair. In fact, as far as Sola was concerned, the scales were now over tipped in her favor. She had a wonderful husband who would soon be taking over as president of the Rustanov’s Moscow headquarters. And at the very young age of twenty-six, she was set to direct her first opera at the Moscow National Opera. It was a production of one of her favorite new works, Chrysanthemum, financed by Alexei and starring her hugely talented in-law, Sirena Rustanov, reprising the titular lead role she’d first debuted in New Mexico.
No, there was no doubt about it. Sola was blessed. Just unbelievably blessed and—
“Give me that note again!” Sirena called up to her from the stage, her down-home Virginia accent ringing out angry and clear across the theater space. “See what happens!”
Behind her, the stage techs and actors were scrambling to get the props, scenery, and people in place for another run through of the opera’s final scene. But while they were rushing to do Sola’s bidding, Sirena was downstage rolling her neck at her young director.
“See what happens if you give me that note again! See. What. Happens. Cuz I don’t know if you remember this, since you were only, what…like, three back then? But I originated this role, little girl. You do not get to tell me how to sing this character!”
“I truly do not know why she keeps giving Sirena this note,” Boris stage-whispered in English to his brother Alexei so Sola couldn’t help but hear. The two men were seated just behind her. “Could you talk to her, Lyosha?”
Funny how Boris, the man who’d taught her husband to kill, the man who stood north of six-foot-seven and didn’t look like anyone’s little anything, became a total younger brother with his big brother, the opera financer, whenever the subject involved his opera diva wife. Emphasis on diva.
“I have talked to her,” Alexei answered in English in the same loud stage-whisper. “She tells me ‘I am director and you are not.’ She makes Ivan happy, but not so much me.”
“Or me,” Boris agreed, in his darkest tone.
“I love my in-laws,” Sola chanted to herself over and over again: “I love my in-laws! Love. Them...”
After all, she reminded herself, they were the ones helping to make her long held dreams come true. Why, in less than a week, Brian—who’d somehow managed not to relapse into alcoholism after Eddie’s sad but inevitable death just over a year ago—would be sitting here in this very seat. She was blessed and life was fair. So fair. So, so fair…
“You look like you’re reminding yourself how fair your life is again” Ivan whispered, dropping down in the seat next to hers. As per usual, he was dressed in a suit. Today’s selection was light blue, which went perfectly with his blond hair and brought out his eyes. It was all too easy to see how he’d recently made it onto a popular American women’s magazine’s list of the world’s 50 sexiest businessmen, even though he’d only technically been a C-level at Rustanov Moscow for two months.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing…” she groaned, leaning over to kiss him.
“What now?”
“I’ve only got two more days of dress rehearsal, and Sirena’s refusing to take my advice about not holding the last note of the last aria so long. Meanwhile, your cousins are behind me throwing shade like this is The Muppet Show.
Ivan’s eyes narrowed. “I know shade, but not The Muppet Show.”
“Remember the green frog and his pig girlfriend? Oh never mind, I’ll show you some YouTube clips tonight. Anyway, there are these two old men puppets who sit in a theater and criticize everything and everyone in the show. And they’re almost as annoying as your two cousins.”
Ivan glanced over his shoulder at the two older men, who in the way of shit-starters the world over, waved back at him like everything was fine.
I still owe my cousins a lot for the putting up with me in spite of the terrible things I said and did before you made me want to be a better man.” He shifted in his seat to level with her, voice low and confidential: “But for you, I will go back to old ways. For you, I can make sure they never bother you again.”
“Aw…” She smiled at him, patting his cheek with affection. “Thank you for offering to take out your cousins for me, babe. That’s very Rustanov of you. But it’s okay, I’ve got this…”
She stood suddenly and yelled out, “Sirena, either break the note off before the one minute mark, or be okay with the curtain closing on you if you don’t.”
Then before the diva could respond, she announced, “And if anyone other than me wants to keep talking during my rehearsal, let me know so I can call security to escort you out.”
She could feel Alexei and Boris’s petulant glares burning into her back, but she didn’t hear another word from them after she sat back down.
“This is why I love you, Sola,” Ivan said, grinning at her when she was back in her seat. “You are so little, but so fierce. And you are still the most surprising.”
“I love you, too,” she said, grinning back at him. “But speaking of surprises, why are you here?”
Ivan sobered then, and a shadow crossed his face. “The woman who served as maid of honor at our wedding…the one you flew back to see when she graduated from medical school—Anitra, yes? Anitra Dunhill?”
“Dr. Anitra Dunhill,” Sola corrected, knowing just how hard her best friend had worked to earn that title.
Ivan only frowned. “I was afraid of that.”
He took out his phone and showed her a post with a screaming headline.
Sola’s eyes widened. “No, that’s impossible! She would not have gotten married. Not without telling me. And definitely not to someone like him!”
But before Ivan, who didn’t know Anitra nearly as well as Sola did, could answer, she was grabbing her own phone and placing an international call to her best friend’s West Virginia number. Only to curse when it went straight to voicemail.
“Is this article I’m reading true?” Sola demanded as soon as her friend’s easygoing voice promised to get back to her. “And if so, what the hell, Anitra! Why would you marry—actually marry—somebody like that?!?! Call me back as soon as you get this!”
* * *
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Why is Sola so upset?
Who did Anitra marry?!?!
Keep reading for a very special preview of
HIS FORBIDDEN BRIDE!
* * *
Oh, my gosh!!!
I can’t believe this series is finally finished. I’ve had so much fun with the Rustanov family and their quirky loves, that I can hardly believe their story is done. Well, at least their story is done for now. I’ve learned you never know who will show up next in one of my books, so keep reading!
Speaking of cameos, what was up with that strange little Idaho mountain town and Damianos Drákon? Check out my boxset of bestseller shifter novels, Their Alpha Kings.
I am beyond thrilled you joined me for this series. What a wild, hot, and sweet ride! If you enjoyed Ivan and Sola’s story, please show your love by leaving a review on Amazon.
And don’t forget to keep swiping for a very special preview of HIS FORBIDDEN BRIDE.
So much love!
Theodora Taylor