I look down at her, grinning all the way now.

“Yeah?” I say. “What do I have to do to be your date?”

Yelena

Sebastian walks me the three blocks to the party. He is very handsome, I’ll admit, though I was never raised to have my head turned by a pretty boy. In Russia, beauty is for women. Power is for men.

What impresses me is his height. I’ve never seen a man who made me feel small. Even in my heels, Sebastian towers over me. I have to tilt up my chin to look in his face.

I’ve always loved and hated my own height. I like feeling strong. But I hate the way everyone wants to comment on it, as if they’re the first person to notice. Their jokes are unoriginal, and the way their eyes comb over me is even worse. They want to collect me like I’m a trading card that will complete their set.

But of course, I’m not available for collection.

I’m the daughter of Alexei Yenin, Pakhan of the Chicago Bratva. My father will find the appropriate match for me when the time is right.

I’m not exactly excited for that. Marriage does not appear to be a happy institution, from what I’ve seen. Too many men beating their wives, controlling every moment of their day, and taking mistresses whenever they please.

In Russia, it’s not a crime to beat your wife. It’s only a criminal offense if she requires hospitalization. You may have to pay a small fine — but that is paid to the government, not the woman.

I watched my own father hit my mother many times. And she was a good wife.

I don’t think I’ll be a very good wife.

I’m not a very good daughter. Or at least that’s what my father tells me.

I think it’s better to be smart than to be good.

We arrive at the house on Madison Street where Grisha is throwing his party. Grisha is my second-cousin. He likes pretty girls, fast cars, and expensive drugs. I wouldn’t say we’re close friends, but I’m allowed to come to his house because he’s family.

Tonight he’s celebrating his twenty-sixth birthday. I turned twenty-five last week. There was no party — my father just looked at me coldly and told me I’m getting old. He used to say that to my mother: “Men age like fine wine, women age like milk.”

Well, she ages like ivory now because she’s bones in a box.

Lucky you, father. You won’t have to be offended by the lines on her face.

This is what I’m thinking as I climb the steps to Grisha’s house. It makes me scowl, so that when his friend Andrei opens the door, he startles and says, “You look like you’re about to murder someone, Yelena.”

“I might,” I say, pushing past him into the house.

Sebastian follows along after me. He doesn’t seem uncomfortable, coming into this house where he knows no one. I guess a man that big doesn’t get intimidated easy.