Page 35 of Solemn Vow

“Because.” She brushes past me and hurries to the doors of the bus just as it comes to a stop and the hydraulic system kicks in, lowering the bus to the curb. She grabs at the metal pole to keep from stumbling forward, and I grab hold of her other arm, steadying her.

“Because why?” I insist as we step off the bus and head toward the salon she works in. It’s at least a two-block walk. Plenty of time for her to tell me what’s going on. Guilt rushed through her features when the woman thanked her for the television.

She stops walking.

“Because I needed the money.” She looks up at me with her face flushed, her eyes wide with frustration. “I needed cash, so I sold my television to Mrs. Lowdry because hers broke and she found mine on the Facebook marketplace. And before you ask, yes, I sold my coffee table too.” She gestures with her hand, causing some of the coffee to spill out of the small opening on the lid.

These secrets she’s being holding back, they are finally starting to surface.

Her shoulders drop and she ducks her chin. “I needed cash, so I sold a few things. Okay?”

I narrow my gaze. There’s more here.

“Why did you need cash? And what about all the little crystal ornament things that were inside the cabinet? Did you sell them too? And why are you sewing wedding dresses for your neighbors?” If she needs money, I can fix that problem withinseconds. But it’s the reason she needs cash that concerns me. Is she in trouble?

Who am I going to have to kill?

She growls then starts walking again. I’ve never heard a woman make a sound like that. I keep up with her easily, even with her fast pace; my legs are much longer.

“Marlena, you need to tell me what’s going on. And I mean now.” I grab hold of her arm just as we reach the salon. “No more games. Tell me.”

She rips her arm from my grasp. “If I tell you, do you promise to leave it alone? To leave me alone?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not leaving you alone. Ever.” I’ve been clear about this, but maybe she needs reminding. When her shift is over, she’ll have another lesson. I’ll add it to the punishment she has coming for trying to avoid me this morning.

She makes the same growly sound again. “I owe someone money. A lot of money. Now, I have to get to work. Do not follow me in there. If I lose my job because of you, I’ll never forgive you.” She pokes a finger at my chest. “Ever.”

I grab hold of her hand, bring it up to my lips, and kiss the tip of her finger.

“We’ll talk more later. Be ready to spill all your secrets, and to pay for your behavior this morning.” I open her hand and kiss her palm before letting her go.

“You just won’t take no for an answer, will you?” She curls her hand and brings it to her chest.

“Not from you. No.” I gesture toward the front door of her work. “Have a good day,moy sladkiy voin.”

She stares at me for a beat, uncertainty filling her gaze.

A woman passes us, says hello to Marlena, eyes me with curiosity, and then hurries to the door.

“Yeah. You too, Viktor,” she finally says and heads into work.

I watch through the glass walls as she passes the reception desk, waving at the women getting set up for the day.

I hope she enjoys her day, because when I get my hands on her tonight, she’s going to be begging for mercy.

Something I don’t give.

“We’ve beenable to get footage of the garage from the night of the break-ins.” Sergei crosses Andrei’s office while shucking off his winter coat. The man would never last a winter back home anymore.

“And?” Andrei looks up from his phone.

“Viktor’s hunch was right. Jimmy Agosti was involved. The two men who did the work were caught last night. I had a conversation with them this morning.” Sergei pours himself a double shot of vodka and downs it before turning away from the bar.

His knuckles are already covered in bruises and swollen. A splatter of blood blots his gray button-down shirt.

“Must have been a good conversation.” I nod to his hands.

He looks down at one as he flexes his fingers. “It’s nothing.”

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