Where the Sun Hides (Seasons of Betrayal #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

followed the action.
    “So, Vasily was his usual self, yes?” Ruslan asked.
    Kaz forced his scowl away. “Same old.”
    “The twins’ birthday is in a couple weeks.”
    Shit.
    Kaz had forgotten about that. Their fifteen-year-old
sisters would be soon turning sixteen. Vasily and Irina, their mother, had
probably planned something for the girls. Vera, their other sister who was one
year older than Kaz, would come in from the city for it.
    But Ruslan …
    Blyad .
    “Don’t worry about it,” Ruslan said.
    “I’ll talk to him—he shouldn’t exclude you with the
family.”
    “It’s easier.”
    “But you want to go, no?” Kaz asked. “See the twins, and
Vera? Irina, too.”
    Ruslan frowned. “It’s been a while for all of them.”
    Kaz was aware of just how long it had been since Ruslan had
been allowed to any family event. Vasily kept up appearances well enough, for
show and nothing else, but he made every effort to keep Ruslan away.
    He hated that for his brother.
    “I’ll talk to him,” Kaz said again, offering nothing more.
 
    The brothers turned at the sound of glasses clinking down
on the bartop.
    Kaz picked up his drink and tilted it toward his brother. “ Za
zdorov'e, brat .”
    Ruslan returned the sentiment before tipped his own glass
back and emptying it in one go. Kaz took his a little bit slower, wanting to
enjoy the taste of good vodka.
    His brother clapped him on the shoulder after he’d
discarded his empty glass to the bar. “Stay and drink. Watch the people. You
never go out unless it’s for the bratva . I’ll be around.”
    Kaz thought about it, and decided maybe he would stay. He’d
only promised to come and see the club in live action, given how much work his
brother put into it, but he did like the place.
    “Find me after you’re done vetting people at the door,” Kaz
said.
    Ruslan laughed. “Unless you’ve already found some krasivaya
kiska to take home.”
    Well, Kaz chose not to respond to that.
    But he did grin.
    Before long, Kaz was milling through the throng of people,
his gaze sweeping the floor for anyone he might recognize or for some problem
that might show up all of the sudden. It wouldn’t be a surprise if some fool
thought they could try something. He was sure that Ruslan had a dozen different
plans at the ready, in case an issue came up, but the habit was hard to break.
    Kaz didn't know how to break his habits.
    He stayed to the far walls and corners as he strolled
around the joint. His front to the people, his back to the wall—always. Cowards
had a way about them. They preferred to hit a person from behind. So even if
the club was lively with no threat in sight, Kaz couldn’t help his instincts.
    Back to the wall.
    Front to room.
    Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a flash of blonde
that drew in his attention. Just as quickly as he saw the woman, she was gone,
swallowed into the dancing, swaying bodies.
    Still, he looked again.

 

     
    S onder was hot.
    And not just a great club that was filled with patrons. No, hot .
    Violet could barely breathe when the music turned up, and
the people started moving faster around her. She had already tossed back a few
drinks and danced with her friends until her feet hurt in her heels. She still
wasn’t ready to leave. She shrugged off the leather bomber jacket she wore
overtop of her cherry-red, bodycon dress. At the same time, she leaned forward
and took a sip of the green-colored drink Nicole offered. The sour sharpness of
the liquid burned the whole way down, but she barely even noticed.
    “Good, right?” Nicole asked.
    “So good.”
    Violet looked around, trying to find where Amelia had
disappeared to in the swarm of drunk, sweaty bodies. She quickly found her,
right in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by other people with drinks
held high and grinding together.
    “I think she forgot about Franco,” Violet mused.
    Nicole snorted. “I guess so. Not like that’s a loss. Want
another drink?”
    Violet