Page 16 of Solemn Vow

“I’ll be out late.”

“Are you avoiding me or avoiding telling me about Jimmy?”

“Both?” She smiles.

“I’ll let you have your night with your friends tonight, but I’ll be here in the morning. We’ll have breakfast and you can spill all your secrets then.”

Her smile fades.

“Letme have….” Her jaw tightens and she draws in a slow breath. “Goodbye, Viktor.” She yanks the door open for me.

I’ve kept Sergei waiting long enough. He’s going to be crabby as hell by the time I get there.

I grab her by the waist and pull her to me, kissing her again.

“Remember when I said you were wrong when you said there is no us?” I ask.

“Yeah?” She focuses on my mouth.

“There is very much an us,moy sladkiy voin.”

“You can’t just say that and make it so.” She rolls her eyes.

“I can. And I did.”

“It doesn’t work that way.”

I kiss her again, a short peck to her mouth.

“I’ll see you in the morning.” There’s no point arguing with her right now. She’ll only get herself in trouble, and she’s had a hard start to the day.

“Whatever.” She sighs, probably thinking she’s finally getting rid of me.

“Lock the door when I go.” I step into the hall. She waves a little and shuts the door as I turn for the stairs. I wait for the thick metal bolt to lock in place before I go, shaking my head as I jog down the stairs.

She’s thinking I’ve let the situation go, that I won’t push her.

She’s going to be surprised when I return.

I don’t let things go that easily.

A cold shiverruns up my spine.

I check over my shoulder, but no one’s there.

It doesn’t stop the creepy sensation that someone’s watching me as I make my way up the steps of the brownstone for the pre-teen girls’ party I’ve been hired to do hair and makeup for.

This mess with Jimmy is making me paranoid. No one is watching me. No one knows I’m here.

But just in case, I glance once more before ringing the bell. I’m twenty minutes early, but it’s too cold out here to wait on the street.

“You must be Marlena!” A woman dressed in a navy-blue button-down dress with a white belt and a strand of pearls around her neck greets me at the door. The ruby red of her lipstick complements the deep blue of her eyes, without making her pale complexion seem out of place.

She’s older than I’d thought she would be. Her graying hair is swept away from her face with thick curls framing it. She looks like something out of a vintage pinup magazine.

“I’m so glad you’re here. These girls are driving me up the wall.” She gestures wildly with both hands then waves me inside.

It’s all luxury on the inside. Wood-paneled walls, crystal chandelier in the foyer, and marble tiling as far as I can see down the main hall leading toward the back of the house.

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