Page 78 of Scorch

I’m thankful they’re so on top of things. “And the venue itself?”

“We’ve chosen a secluded location,” Viktor says. “It’s easier to control and monitor. Fewer entry points.”

Nikko smirks. “Like a fortress. Just how you like it, brother.”

Viktor’s lips twitch into a rare smile. “Exactly.”

I lean into the conversation, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. “And what about after the wedding?”

Viktor’s eyes soften as he looks at me. “I was thinking somewhere remote. Just the two of us. A place where we can relax and not worry about threats.”

Vera squeezes my hand. “You deserve this, Lydia. A fresh start, away from all the chaos.” She leans closer to me, her voice lowering. “Someone to watch over you, to make sure you’re safe. You deserve that, too.”

I squeeze her hand back. “Thank you.”

The drive continues in a comfortable silence, each of us lost in our thoughts. As we near Viktor’s place, Nikita stirs slightly, her head resting on my lap. I gently stroke her fur, reassured by her steady breathing.

Viktor reaches back, placing his hand over mine. “She’ll be okay, Lydia. We’ll make sure of it.”

I nod. I want her to be alright.

We arrive at Viktor’s place—our place, and everyone moves with practiced efficiency. Nikita is carefully carried inside, and Vera immediately sets to work checking her vitals again and making sure she’s secure.

It feels good to be with my sister, even though we don't really know each other that well. I want to, though. And it's the first time I realize that being around the Romanov family, seeing how their sisters and brothers interact, makes me long for something more.

“Do you want to have a drink?” I ask tentatively. And I have to admit, I am feeling at home here. I like being in Viktor's place… our place. I’m hosting Vera.

My sister looks tired, but she smiles at me. “I would love a glass of wine,” she says with a smile. “Although I prefer beer if you have that.”

“We absolutely have beer,” I say, laughing. “We have a lot to catch up on.”

I pop open a couple of beers, and Vera and I sit in the large, expansive room next to our bedroom. Nikko and Viktor walk downstairs, planning. “I’m going to sit with Nikita for a while,” Viktor says.

“The poor guy,” I say softly when they’ve gone downstairs. “He loves that dog so much.”

“Of course. Those two are the closest, you know,” she says. “It's almost fitting that sisters are marrying brothers, isn't it?” She takes a thoughtful sip of her beer. “Kind of surprised it doesn't happen more often.”

“Right?” I smile. “Viktor told me they like to lift. That’s, uh… obvious about both of them.”

Vera's eyes perk up, and she wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Indeed.”

We giggle into our beer. I bring out a large platter of chocolates and some cookies. “Hungry?”

She nods eagerly. She's always had a sweet tooth, though she’s never been as devoted to chocolate as I am.

“Viktor ordered from some kind of bakery earlier,” she says. “Something about the Rossi family expanding in New York.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know who they are, and I didn’t know anything about ordering from New York. The only thing I know is that I ordered a bunch of different cakes for the wedding. We’re doing cake shooters.”

She laughs. “Of course you are. Cake was always your favorite.”

“Mhm.” I take another sip. “So tell me how you and Nikko met. I barely know the story.”

She shakes her head and sighs. “You know these brothers. They don’t operate by anybody else's rules. Nikko came with me as my bodyguard to that program I did in Moscow.”

I nod. This much I knew.

“Apparently, he was on a mission. I’d rather not get into the details of that mission because you might want to kill him, but his mission was unsuccessful. Instead of enacting the retribution he had planned, he ended up with me.”

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