Night's Cold Kiss by Tracey O'Hara Read Free Book Online Page B

been too preoccupied to notice before. “We did it this afternoon.”
    “You should have told me,” Antoinette said, the hurt creeping into her tone. “I could have been there for you.”
    “We didn’t want any fuss.” Meaning they hadn’t wanted to give her a chance to stop it.
    Antoinette sighed. Her little brother had become a man and she’d missed it. It was time to let him go. “I’m really happy for you and Tatiana.”
    Antoinette came around the table and Nici stood. As shethrew her arms about his neck, the tears slipped down her cheeks. “And I’m so proud of you. But who’s going to take care of me now?”
    “You’ll do that yourself, same as always.” He squeezed her tightly. “You’ve never really needed me.”
    She choked back a sob as she caught Tatiana’s relieved expression over his shoulder.
    Antoinette wiped away the dampness under her eyes. “You’d better go to your…wife. She looks like she needs you.” Then she grabbed both of his hands in hers. “My blessings to you both.” She spoke the family’s traditional words, those their mother would have said if she were alive.
    His smile widened, and she could swear she caught a slight glisten in his eyes. “Thank you, sis.”
    Nici leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Sergei had told her they’d be leaving with Christian tomorrow for New York City, so she wouldn’t have much time with her brother before then. This was goodbye.
    Tatiana rushed across the room and threw her arms around his neck. Antoinette noticed the slight swell of the girl’s stomach as she returned the girl’s tentative smile.
    “Congratulations!” She stepped forward and gave the girl a somewhat awkward hug. “Welcome to the family.”
    “Thank you,” Tatiana whispered.
    Nici gave her hand a quick squeeze before the couple, arm in arm, left the room. And so did a part of her heart. Because no matter what happened now, things would never be quite the same between her and Nici again.
    “So he told you, then?” Sergei came out of the shadows.
    “How long have you been there?”
    “Long enough,” he said, limping forward.
    “You’ve known for some time too, haven’t you?”
    Sergei nodded. “He came to me just after they found out about Tatiana’s pregnancy. I told him he had to tell you tonight before we leave.”
    “That’s the reason you’re taking me with you to the CHaPR conference, isn’t it? You thought it would be betterfor Nici and Tatiana if I wasn’t around, just in case I didn’t approve.”
    Sergei’s face split into a grin. “You know me well, niece, but that’s only part of the reason you’re coming.”
    “It’s okay Uncle. Nici deserves to be happy,” Antoinette said.
    “Will you give up hunting now?” Sergei tilted his head and looked at her with a strange unreadable expression.
    “You know I can’t.”
    With a sad little smile, he nodded then turned and left her in the large empty hall.
    She suddenly felt truly alone for the first time in her life.
     
    Christian drummed his fingers on his thigh and looked out of the stationary aircraft’s window.
    “When are they due to arrive?” Viktor asked, sitting across from Christian, sipping red wine while he caressed the head of the large Siberian Malamute at his side.
    “Any minute now.” Christian frowned, checking his watch for the third time in ten minutes. “Actually I would’ve expected them half an hour ago.”
    “Well, you know what women are like, always keeping us waiting.” Viktor said.
    “Antoinette is not like other women,” Christian said, remembering the way she dispatched the dreniac with such efficient precision.
    Viktor raised an eyebrow and Christian turned to stare out of the window again. A vehicle approached, and from the sound of the engine it had to be the limousine he’d sent to pick up the humans.
    Mary, the flight attendant, stuck her head in through the door. “Your guests have arrived, sir. Captain Rogers will