Elias

“I didn’t agree to this shit,” I said.

My brother just laughed. “It’s a birthday party. We wear hats.”

Amethyst, my sister-in-law, pulled the shiny pink hat onto my head.

“It’s perfect,” she said, her expression serious for a moment until she broke and started to laugh.

I scowled at her, but had to stop when Crystal toddled over to me.

She was reaching for the hat, and I kneeled down and let her try to grab it.

“No, Crystal. Leave your uncle’s hat alone.”

Amethyst grabbed the baby and then secured her in her high chair.

“Elias, would you mind helping Kayla?” Amethyst asked.

“Help her do what?” I responded, the good mood that I was grudgingly beginning to accept fading in an instant.

“She went downstairs to get your gifts for Crystal,” she responded.

“My gifts?” I blinked, confused, before I noticed Amethyst’s raised eyebrow.

Davit laughed, and I scowled at him before turning my attention back to Amethyst.

“My gifts. Right. I can do that,” I said, and then I headed to the elevator.

It seemed yet again Kayla had taken it upon herself to do something on my behalf. So what that I had forgotten to get Crystal a gift?

I ran one the most lucrative crime families in Europe, so sometimes shit slipped.

But not for Kayla.

No. She was always right there, ready to step in when she saw a deficiency and ready to rub it in when she “saved” me.

By the time I got off the elevator, any trace of my former good mood was gone. I went into the apartment and found Kayla bent over picking up a stack of brightly colored packages.

My gaze drifted toward her ass, but I forced myself to look away and focused on her face.

Saw that calm, placid expression that always drove me into a rage.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I growled, somewhat pleased that I managed to keep myself from yelling.

Not that Kayla was bothered. Oh no, not her.

She was never bothered, at least not by me.

“I’m getting Crystal’s gifts,” she said, her voice betraying no emotion.

“What gifts? Gifts you bought with my money?” I said as I stalked toward her.

“Some of them, yes. The most expensive ones. I also got her a few things with my own money,” she said.

I chuckled, and she lifted a brow in question. She didn’t ask the question, though, something that annoyed the fuck out of me. But I still answered.

“You say that like your money isn’t my money. Like everything you have didn’t come from me,” I said.

She tried to hide it behind calm and meekness, but I knew Kayla was prideful, and felt a moment’s victory at her slight flinch. It was almost nothing, but I’d seen it, knew that I’d gotten to her.

Not for long though.

In the space of a breath, she recovered and said, “That’s your choice.”

The implication of that statement wasn’t lost on me, just as she’d wanted. My temper was rising, but I kept it in check. Despite how I acted, I loved my niece, and wanted to enjoy her birthday, so I couldn’t let Kayla derail me.

“What did you buy for me to give to my niece?” I asked.

“You know elephants are her favorite, so you paid for a toymaker to hand make her a stuffed one,” she said.

“You bought her a teddy bear?” I scoffed.

“No, Elias, you bought her a teddy bear,” she countered.

I took the packages from her, and we headed for the door.

“What else?” I asked.

“A vicuña wool coat and matching bib set,” she said.

“A coat and some bibs? What were you thinking? I won’t look cheap with my niece,” I said.

Kayla was in front of me, but I knew she rolled her eyes as she pushed the elevator call button. “Don’t worry. I made sure her gifts are outrageously expensive enough to satiate your ego.”

“No jewels, though?” I said as I got into the elevator.

“No. Amethyst said absolutely not,” Kayla said as she turned to look at me. “Nice hat.”

Despite myself, I smiled, and she returned the expression.

The rest of the ride passed in silence, and I felt that familiar confusion Kayla stoked in me.

How did she get me so off balance, so angry, and at the same time comfortable?

I didn’t know, and I hated not knowing things.

We got off the elevator and went back into Davit and Amethyst’s place, and I pushed thoughts of Kayla aside, knowing now wasn’t the time to try to sort out whatever the fuck was between us.

“Perfect timing,” Amethyst said when we walked in. “Here comes the cake!”

Her mother walked in carrying a small cake with a single candle.

Crystal looked at it, dismissed the cake, and grabbed for the candle.

I laughed, watching in wonder.

 Never, ever, had I imagined something like this.

My brother married, settled, with a child. No doubt others soon to follow.

But I was happy for him.

He deserved this, a peaceful life, and it was my job as the eldest, and the boss of the family, to ensure that he and his were taken care of.

And I would.

I always had, and I always would.

Crystal, finally bored of the candle, grabbed two handfuls of cake.

She took a bite, frowned, and then went for the candle again.

“Well, I guess she’s not a fan of cake,” Amethyst said.

“I am.”

At the deep, raspy voice, I turned.

I’d known this day was coming, but was surprised nonetheless.

“Father,” Davit said when the owner of the voice walked into the room.

I looked at Amethyst, who was staring at the doorway warily.

Then I looked at my father. He was in his seventies, and the years in jail had clearly taken their toll.

But he was here, still formidable.

And free.

I hadn’t yet decided if that was a good thing or not, but I guessed it didn’t matter.

Not now.

He walked into the room and stopped in front of Crystal’s high chair. Then he looked at Davit.

“Are you going to introduce me to my granddaughter?”