Page 7 of Scorch

I lift the bottle. The heady, intense fragrance is her signature scent. I lift it and give myself the luxury of a deep, cleansing breath of it. Just smelling it conjures up the mental image I have of her.

I let myself linger through the shrine. I finger the napkin and press it to my lips. I read her shopping list and recite it from memory.

Chocolate

Coffee

Oranges

Something for dinner

I run my thumb along the edge of the coffee cup, where I imagine her lips graced. I place them all back down with reverence and stare at the picture of her as a teen and compare it with the way she looks now.

She’s only grown more beautiful, more exquisite, more sensual with time. Curvy and lush, she’s imposing yet graceful. Her long, dark hair cascades over her shoulders in waves, her eyes expressive and intense. She favors flowing tops and dresses that accentuate her curves.

Lydia.

With a sigh, I place everything back with precision, shut the door, and lock it behind me. I stifle a yelp when I almost trample Nikita beneath my feet.

“Jesus,” I mutter, my heart hammering in my chest. “You should give me some notice you’re there. God.”

I look at the locked door with a frown then turn around and face the bedroom. It’s hard to even believe, but if this works… if Mikhail actually pulls it off and Lydia becomes mine… I might need a bit of a feminine touch to this room.

And fucking safety measures put in place.

I snap on Nikita’s leash and head out to take her for a walk.

My phone rings with a call from my brother Nikko as I head out the entrance of my home, a few miles from the Romanov family headquarters.

“Yeah?”

“We spoke with Zofia.” Zofia Ivanova, my sister-in-law Vera and Lydia’s mother, is the Ivanov family matriarch in the wake of her husband’s death. She and my brother Nikko are the ones who make all major decisions.

“And?” My heart smashes against my rib cage, my mouth instantly dry.

“Her mother’s amenable to the idea, but I need more time. I’m working on it. Let’s assume this is a go and work accordingly.”

I swallow hard.

“Alright. Thanks.”

“But you know we need to destroy Yudin, Viktor. You know what he’ll do in retaliation. We can’t leave a single shred of him behind.”

I nod. “Consider it done.”

CHAPTER TWO

Lydia

I fiddle with my engagement ring, spinning it around on my finger, and stare. Diamonds inlaid in yellow gold, they sparkle under the overhead lights. I know they must’ve cost a fortune. Timur Yudin, a man of high taste and a high-ranking captain of the Ledyanoye Bratstvo, doesn’t do cheap things.

My belly churns with nerves as I wait for him. The guard he’s stationed by me stands, scrolling through their phone as I sit at a quiet table by myself. Timur said he’d be here any minute and instructed me to go and wait for him. He seemed a bit guarded, but that’s not unlike him after a busy day of work.

I pick up my phone and pretend to make a call, then surreptitiously put my phone camera on so I can look myself over to make sure I’m flawless. Timur doesn’t like anything less than perfection.

I’m wearing a soft green dress that highlights my curves and emphasizes the green in my eyes. My makeup’s flawless, not a hair out of place.

I finish checking myself over and, when satisfied, put my phone back down. When he arrives, he won’t like it if I’m on my phone. I’m expected to pay attention to him.

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