Russian Roulette (Russkaya Mafiya) (24 page)

Viktor asked her why she was drinking and driving so irresponsibly and Elaina just told him she has a shitty life, which she didn’t want to share any of it with him. He asked if she had a sister and Elaina told him not that she knows of, but her biological family never contacted her growing up. He informed Tate she seems sincere and he believes her.

Tate, of course, had Viktor on speaker phone, so I heard the entire conversation. I can’t believe she has no idea of me either. Viktor said it took him a while to get her to stop weeping after he asked her about the drinking and driving. He thinks she was genuinely sorry and horrified that she almost killed Tate and me. Personally, I really have no idea what to think about any of this with her.

Shortly after the phone conversation with Viktor, one of his men—a guy named Hans—called to let him know what all information he found on Elaina. Hans basically confirmed what Viktor said about her. According to him, Elaina is twenty years old, born on August twenty-third (same as me), works at a shitty little bar in Knoxville called Root’s, drives a white 2010 Chevrolet Camaro (good choice), lives in a shitty dump of an apartment, was adopted, no prior run-ins with the law, and has no boyfriend.

Hmm.
I’m dying inside to go and see her. I wonder if she would share more about herself with me, if she knew I was her sister. I wonder if it will freak her out seeing that we look exactly alike. It sure as fuck tripped me out.

I huff, irritated over this breakfast dish sitting in front of me. I have way too much going on to worry about food right now. I appreciate Tate going out of his way to make it for me, and I’m sure it’s absolutely delicious, but I’m just not in the mood.

“We will go, Krasaaveetsa, as soon as you eat your food so you can take your pain meds,” Tate chastises me, with his eyebrow raised. I can’t help it if I’m excited and it’s making me not hungry!

“Tate, you have been on me for like twenty minutes buddy. I’m not freaking hungry! I will take some Tylenol, but not the strong stuff, okay? I’m feeling a lot better and I don’t want to be loopy at the hospital.” I send him my puppy dog face and puff out my bottom lip. He’ll give in, he loves me too much.

Groaning, he rubs the back of his neck. “Alright, Krasaaveetsa, but if you start to get weak then you eat what I get for you, okay?” I grin triumphantly and nod.
I win.

We finish getting dressed, me extra hurriedly attempting to rush Tate. He doesn’t even need anything but a T-shirt and pants but he insists on hair gel, body spray, et cetera. Once I’m finally able to shuffle him out the door, he steers me to the Tahoe.

We load up, heading in the direction of the hospital. Tate’s been a little paranoid driving me, so he’s been driving the big ass Tahoe everywhere. I feel like we could crunch over cars with his SUV if we wanted to.

“Hey, sugar dimples; you think the Tahoe would make it over that little Honda?” I point at a silver Honda Civic, as it slowly passes us. He glances over at me as if I’ve lost my mind. I nod toward the car in question and then I shrug.

“What? It’s a good question since we
are
in a monster truck.”

“Oh my God, Emily, you are so annoying when you get hyped up. We are not in a monster truck; she’s only got a three-inch lift and thirty-five inch tires. It just feels huge to you because you are bite size.” He shakes his head and goes back to paying attention to the road.

“Are you sure personality disorders don’t run in your family?”

“Stop, Emily. Just shut your mouth before you get me wound up.” I roll my eyes at him.

“Okay, fine, I was just asking. I mean you did just get pissy again.”

“Shhhhhhh.”

“Oh my God! Did you just shush me? You freaking, shhhhhh!” He just rolls his eyes and ignores me. I feel kind of bad for him after a moment, but I can’t help it. I’m so nervous I feel like I could blow chunks everywhere.

We arrive at the hospital and I’m still all jittery. Tate is annoyed because apparently I “bounce around and shit.” I do kind of feel like I’m bouncing when I walk, but I won’t openly admit that to him.

Tate and I walk through the hospital up to Dr. Hopkins wing with the private suites and finally arrive. I breathe deeply, taking in the large number ‘5’ on the door.

Suite 5

Tate raps lightly on the closed door. I can hear Viktor through the thin metal, shuffle around and inform Elaina that he has a surprise visitor for her. After a moment, Viktor opens the door and he looks…happy, like really happy. Tate and I smile at him and he smiles back. He even shows teeth in his smile. Well, I’ll be damned, either he has a crush or she’s just a really cool chick.

Viktor shuffles over so we can step inside. I gradually make my way around the entry and the corner in the suite, full of nerves.

Elaina’s propped up in bed with a few pillows and is looking bruised up, but remarkably better. I check her over completely, taking note of every detail. Eventually, I meet her eyes that look exactly like mine, except where mine are a light green hers are a really deep, sapphire blue.

She looks me over as thoroughly as I had done with her and when she finally takes in my face, she lets loose a blood curdling scream.

I drop to the floor, frightened after everything I’ve been through and cover my head with my arms. Tate turns around swiftly to see who’s behind me and Viktor rushes to pull her to his chest.

Elaina stops screaming and starts to stutter, “Vi-vi-vi-Viktor who-who the fuck was that? Oh m-my God, Viktor, she looked exactly like me!”

I can hear her start to cry and it makes me sad inside. I know on the pain killers it has to make things probably even weirder for her, as they did for me. Tate spins back around and realizes the reason Elaina screamed is because of me. Viktor is clutching her to his chest, his arms covering the side of her face so they are in their own little cocoon of safety. He’s mumbling something to her that I can’t hear.

Tate leans down to help me up, worried. “Are you okay, Krasaaveetsa?” I nod and stand up with his help.

I hear Elaina question Viktor if my name is Krasaaveetsa and it makes me giggle. She peaks her head around Viktor when she hears me, reminding me of a curious child.

“I’m fine, Tate, she just startled me.” I pat my shirt and glance at him. “With everything that’s been going on, I figured the best move was to hit the floor.” I peer over at her and offer her a shy smile. Elaina returns my little smile but also looks weary.

I should say something.

“Umm, hi, Elaina. You ran into me with your car.”
Shit
. I wince, did I really just open up with that? Fuck, I have to think before I speak!

“I did?” She chews her fingernail, nervously. “I’m so, terribly sorry if you are hurt because of me.” Her voice is softer than mine and I just want to hug her.

“Can I come closer so we can talk, please?” I request quietly, I don’t want to freak her out again.

“Yes, of course you can.”

I smile and sit on the edge of her bed. “So I’m guessing by your reaction, you are just as shocked about this as I am?”

Elaina sighs, nodding. “Completely, I had no idea I had any biological family close to me or any family at all, for that matter.” That really sucks but it makes me feel better that this is a big surprise to her as well.

I can’t help but feel that I got cheated as I gaze at her. I could have known her. I could have grown up with her, shared things with her, loved her. I could have had my very own sister.

“Well, I’m actually from Texas. I grew up there my whole life. I just moved here a few months ago; I go to the college at UT. And technically I’m the only biological family left. Everyone else has passed away,” I finish, mumbling.
Calm down.
I’m rambling.

She chuckles sadly, “And what are the odds that on my very shitty night, I get smashed drunk and wreck into my identical twin? The twin that I’ve never personally met or even knew anything about, for that matter? That’s really creepy if you think about it. I’m such a fuck up. I don’t know how to make this better.” Wow, she rambles too.

“Yep, very creepy, but it must have happened for a reason.”

“We have a lot to talk about.”

I nod, “Definitely.”

I give her a kind smile, lifting her hand in mine and giving it a light squeeze. Elaina returns my smile and it’s like looking into a mirror. Such a surreal feeling.

We spend the next two hours comparing our likes and dislikes. It’s amazing how much we have in common with us never even knowing about the other one. She’s like me, getting excited and gesturing with her hands while she talks. Or does that make it me gesturing like her? Viktor seems relaxed and in good spirits. Tate and he speak but not very much, he mostly just sits, watching Elaina like he’s oblivious to everything else in the world.

Tate and I take our leave but exchange phone numbers prior, promising to call if we thought of something new we were curious about. I also swore to her that I will be back at dinnertime and bring her some homemade soup. Elaina has to stay in the hospital for a while for her body to heal. During that time I’m going to get to know my sister.

Three weeks later…

It’s been three weeks since I first met my sister and I love her to pieces. It’s like I’ve found a clone, discovering all the things she does, eats, likes, et cetera. She’s pretty much become an instant best friend. We’ve even introduced her to all of our other friends.

London and Avery seem a little on edge, unsure about her, but I know they will come around the more they get to know her. They’ve actually been hanging out more with each other, since I’ve been spending so much time getting to know Elaina. I knew those two would become good friends though; they are more alike than they realize. Ever since that first day, London showed up in the courtyard at the college and they trumped my vote to go out.

Elaina ended up losing her job from that shithole bar, Roots. Tate gave her a new, better paying job at OO7. According to Tate, Viktor prefers 007 to Tainted so he told Tate to let her work at 007, because he has to be able to keep an eye on her.

I personally think it’s way too soon for her to be working and so does Dr. Hopkins. She barely got released two days ago. Elaina was stubborn and declared that she would lose her apartment if she didn’t go to work, and refused any of Viktor’s help.

She enlightened me that for the past week, Viktor was trying to get her to stay with him at his house. I think it’s a great idea since it’s a lot closer to Tate’s house and I can see her more, but that’s not my business. If Viktor is at all as persistent as Tate, Elaina won’t stand a chance fighting against him. With some of the shit she told me she’s been through, though, she definitely deserves a little piece of happiness.

It’s a Friday night and London called earlier, wanting us to all go out. I’m feeling way better, almost completely healed up. Most of the cuts that I received from the accident that will leave marks will disappear in a few years, since they weren’t too deep. I still have a few marks from the deeper bruises left but they have faded so much, that they are barely visible. After Dr. Hopkins ran all the tests, he informed me that I have something that causes me to bruise more than average and stay bruised up longer. I can’t remember what he called it, but it sucks.

My body has looked like I was beaten up for weeks now. I’m sick of people glaring at Tate when we go shopping or to eat. They have no idea just how much of a good man he truly is.

London and Cameron are still up and down since I got into the wreck. I can’t believe they’ve even lasted this long. London must really care for him. Normally, she would have kicked him to the curb by now. She’s too smart for her own good, though; she ends up getting bored easily.

Avery and Nikoli still date occasionally but are not serious. I guess they’re both satisfied with their friends with benefits situation and I’m happy for them both. I think they’re both lonely and will end up moving forward when someone new comes into the picture. I don’t know though, I could be wrong.

Viktor and my sister are adorable. Viktor is constantly chasing her and trying to woo her. I kind of hope she eventually gives him a chance; I think he could make her really happy.

I peek out of the kitchen looking for Tate.

“Honey bun!” I holler for Tate.

I think he’s in the living room watching ESPN. I was so happy to find out he likes sports because I love football and baseball. I don’t like to watch a lot of games but if one’s on, then I will certainly take the time and check it out.

“Yeah, Krasaaveetsa?” he bellows back. I was right. I find him in the living room with ESPN muted and texting on his phone.

“Hey, stud, London texted me and asked if we all wanted to go to OO7 tonight. I know my sister’s off and Avery already said she wants to go, too. Are you up for it or should I just plan a girl’s night out?”

He grabs my arm and tugs me onto his lap. I love being on his lap, it’s so comfy. “Yes, little lamb, we will go. Is Cam going, do you know? I’ll text Viktor and Niko, I’m sure they will want to tag along.”

“I don’t know about Cameron,” I shrug, “but I would think so if London’s going.”

“Okay, cool, baby. Text London back and I’ll text the guys.” He smooches me on the lips and pats my thigh so he can stand up. Knowing Tate he’s going to go scour his closet for something to wear. That man is as bad as a female when it comes to what he’s going to wear somewhere.

I head back to the kitchen for my phone and excitedly text London back.

Me:
Yep we’re in! Did you ask my sister too?

London:
Of course I did! 9:30 p.m.?

Me:
It’s a date!

London:
Sounds good.

Me:
Yaay!

I finish with texting London and instantly pull up Elaina’s number.