Page 79 of Scorch

“Really, whatever he was planning, being with you was definitely a better option,” I say with a smile.

Vera nods. “You can say that things worked out.”

She continues, “So, um… I sort of lied and said that he was my husband because I didn’t want anybody to know that I brought a bodyguard with me to Moscow, especially anybody in the program I was studying. You know.”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t want that either.”

“So we ended up in this room that was supposed to be for a couple. One bed…” She giggles. I laugh out loud.

“Two more beers, and I want all the details, sister.”

She winks at me. “He was protective. He really knew me. You know, not just the persona I put on, but the real me. It was… It was hot. And I fell,” she says with a sigh. “I fell really fucking hard.” She shakes her head. “And then, once the Romanovs found out, they made a deal. Father actually made a deal with them before he passed away that they would have my hand in marriage.”

“How did that work into the equation?”

“Our families have done terrible things, Lydia. In our world, bargaining a woman’s hand in marriage is the best form of retribution you can make. They didn’t want money; they have plenty of that. They wanted stability. Vows. Children.”

I think about that. Stability. Children. Is this what I bring to Viktor? I don’t know. Part of me hopes so. And another part of me is honestly terrified of being anything more than who I am now—Lydia Ivanova. Snarky, curvy, and mischievous. Who am I as Viktor Romanov’s wife?

“It's so disconcerting, being here,” I admit, feeling the weight of my emotions starting to surface.

“I know,” Vera says, her voice gentle. “But it's not like we grew up in suburbia with a regular old white picket fence and all that.” She sighs, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Especially you, Lydia. You dealt with so much shit from Father. I'm sorry.”

A lump forms in my throat, and I feel a strange wave of emotion I hadn't expected. My throat tightens, and my nose starts to tingle. I don't want to break down in front of her, but I know the only way forward is through this.

“It wasn't your fault,” I continue, my voice wavering. “You are not to blame.”

I look away, sitting on a little step stool in our bedroom. For the first time, I notice a small door barely visible behind the open closet door. It's a strange place to have a door. I just shake my head and look away. I want to have this conversation.

“It's not like I grew up with a parent who actually liked me. But I tried.” I sigh deeply. “You can only blame your shitty parents for so much, you know? And you just have to decide, this is my life now. And I can take it and make it my own.”

It feels like an odd thing to say, considering I'm being forced into marriage.

Vera bites her lip, lost in thought or perhaps trying to find the right words. “You know, parents can be so complicated,” she says softly. “They expect so much from us.”

I nod. “Yeah, it's like they're always pushing and pulling, never really seeing us for who we are.”

She smiles hesitantly. “Let's just say, you're definitely better off here. I don't know what it would take to convince you, but I can show you that Viktor… he's a good man. Out of all these guys, he's the best one. He doesn't have an agenda. He just wants you.”

I sit back, mulling over her words. “Listen,” Vera says, leaning in to capture my gaze. “Being married to Viktor is not going to be easy. Being married to any of these men isn't. It takes someone who is strong to do it. Have you met Harper and Aria yet?”

I nod. “Yup.”

“So the Romanov brothers have chosen women who have something to offer their family. Have you considered that?”

“What? No. What are you talking about?”

Vera stands and walks the length of the room, tapping her chin as if trying to come up with the right words. “It's like this. Aria, she was a hacker. She is a hacker. Mikhail loves her, but she became head of cybersecurity here alongside Aleksander. Harper,” she shakes her head, “she's the best marksman you could imagine. She outshoots any of those guys. Literally any of them, Lydia. Aleksander didn't necessarily know that when he married her, but she has become a powerful member of this group.”

Ahh. “Your knowledge of emergency medical response, I could imagine that comes in handy here.”

I shake my head, feeling uncertain. “What do I have to offer?”

“What do you have to offer? You're brilliant. Nikko told me that you were the one who figured out that your fiancé was a fraud. Nobody else knew that. You did, though.” She sighs. “My point is this. You won't just be a pretty little thing meant to be set on a pedestal and have babies. You'll be a very active member of this family. They will lean on you… hard.”

I nod slowly, reassured. “That helps,” I say, feeling a bit of relief.

Vera smiles. “Nikko has been texting me for an hour. If you're ready for bed, let's look at the wedding details tomorrow?”

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