Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
He dips his brush into the paint, mixing colors and using techniques that show a skilled hand as he works. It’s a new obsession to watch him this way. The concentration on his face. The artist at work. I can’t look away, and I never want it to end. But inevitably, it does.
He takes a step back, examining his work before he looks at me.
“Are you going to show me?”
He stalks back to our makeshift bed, mounting me with a hard dick that pokes into my belly. We kiss, and he takes me again.
When he comes, his face collapses on my breasts, and I stroke his hair.
“What will you call it?” I ask sleepily.
“Inamorata,” he says.
“I see that you’ve brought the Valentini girl with you this evening.”
Viktor has cornered me on my return from the washroom, and his mood has soured now that the celebrations are winding down.
“Alexei asked me to bring her. It seems his wife is quite fond of her, and he thinks they might do well to become friends.”
“Then she should be here with Mischa,” Viktor says. “It does not look right, you bringing her here like this. In fact, I have tired of this whole charade. My Ana is waiting for your proposal, and I am ready to announce your intentions with her.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “It was not my intention to disrespect either of you. I thought we had an understanding—”
“Time is up,” Viktor growls. “Do you want to marry my daughter or not?”
I need a cigarette. Or ten. Any answer I may give him won’t be satisfactory. Either way, the consequences will mean paying with my life. It’s either death if refuse, or death if I give in. A life without Nakya is not a life I can imagine. I’m not ready to let her go, which is why my mother’s file still sits unread in my vault at home.
“I would like more time to get to know Ana,” I say. “So that we are both certain it’s the right decision.”
Viktor scoffs. “What else is there to know? She is beautiful, and she was bred for this life. She’ll be loyal and faithful. And most importantly, she is Russian.”
His words serve a purpose. He wants me to know that Ana is everything he thinks Tanaka isn’t. The words of a hypocrite, considering we are here to celebrate the pregnancy of Alexei’s wife. She is not Russian, nor does she have any of the traits that Viktor expects in a wife. But he has given Alexei his blessing. It would seem his good will is not equally distributed after all.
“Ana is very young,” I remark. “I only worry that she will rush into this and regret it later. I want to be certain of her decision.”
Viktor doesn’t answer. Alexei has discovered us lurking in the hall, and he’s coming our way.
“Are the celebrations over so soon?” he asks.
Viktor forces a smile for his benefit. “Of course not. We were just discussing some business, but I assure you, the celebrations will continue.”
Alexei nods, and Viktor slaps him on the shoulder. “You’re going to make an excellent father. Let’s go see about a cigar, shall we?”
Before they leave, Viktor issues his final ultimatum. “One month. No more, Kol’ka. You will have your answers, or you won’t. But either way, you will wed my daughter.”
“It was a lovely party,” Nakya says as we walk through the door.
She’s made several attempts at small talk already, sensing something is off. After my conversation with Viktor, my mood soured, and for me, the celebrations were over. I drank simply for the sake of drinking, and now I can’t see straight.
I send away the bratok who drove us home and lock up the house.
“You should go to bed, zvezda.”
She moves closer, attempting to lure me back in with her honeyed lips. For one week, we have spent every night together. I have not tended to my Vory duties, forsaking all that is important because of her. And still, it is not enough.
“You aren’t coming with me?”
“No.”
Her shoulders sag, pieces of her hair falling around her face as she lowers her gaze. I think I liked her better when she refused to show her emotion.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“You shouldn’t have been there.” The words unleash from my tongue like a whip, and she flinches in kind. “You can’t control your emotions. They are written all over your face for the world to see. For Viktor to see.”
“I didn’t think—”
“That is exactly the problem,” I sneer. “You don’t think. And I have grown tired of it.”
Her chin quivers, and she clings to my shirt. “Please don’t do this, Nika. I know that you care. This isn’t you talking.”
“You are mistaken, pet. It is exactly me talking. I’m bored of you, so do yourself a favor and get out of my sight.”