Page 41 of Solemn Vow

Why would I risk being thrown to the ground when he leaves? What happens then? I’ll just have to figure out everything all over again.

I can’t. No. I won’t, let him turn my life upside down.

Not when it’s taken this long to get it upright.

He closes his eyes, takes a slow breath while muttering something in Russian.

Is he counting?

“I’ve told you several times already,moy sladkiy voin. I do not want todateyou.” He points to the chair. “Sit down, eat your dinner, so we can have our discussion.”

“And what discussion is that?” I’m going to regret the question, but it slips out anyway.

“How we are going to deal with Jimmy.” He puts a finger to my lips. “Say nothing. Sit. Eat. We’ll talk after. Unless you’d rather we go upstairs to the bedroom, and we can get to your punishment for this morning instead?”

My ass clenches.

My stomach takes the moment of quiet between us to grumble at the fact that I’m hungry enough to eat the table, plates and all.

“Fine. Dinner. But then I’m going home.” I take the seat, letting him scoot me in.

“Dinner,” he says, taking his seat at the head of the table. “Then punishment. Then we can discuss where home is.”

Mrs. Ivankova outdidherself with dinner. Even with Viktor’s steady glare on me, I enjoyed every bite. Much better than the can of soup and ham sandwich I had planned at home.

Viktor’s phone rings just as I put my fork down.

He answers the call then tells whoever it is to wait.

“The living room is through the foyer then around the corner.” He gestures for me as he gets up from the table, his phone pressed against his chest.

“I’ll clean up,” I offer, standing and grabbing the plate, but his hand on my forearm stops me.

“Go. Relax. You’ve been on your feet all day.” He gestures again with his chin.

“All right.” I maneuver around the chair, navigating my way through the foyer, and make my way toward the living room.

The living room has more windows than walls. From the rich, deep brown hardwood flooring to just below the ceiling, the walls are glass, but the last foot or so has beautiful stained glass.When the sun shines through it, there must be an array of colors that cascade over the room.

At the moment, it’s the lights twinkling below that have my eye. We are above Navy Pier, which stretches out below into Lake Michigan. The lights from the attractions, the restaurants and shops that line the pier, lead my gaze out into the darkness of the water.

This sort of view is a long way from the basement windows of my bedroom growing up. A four-foot by two-foot window that opened from the top, slanting into my room was the only window I had to look through when I was cooped up in my room.

On the days when my father wouldn’t bother to come home at all, I could hang out in the living room upstairs where the sunlight poured through the picture windows.

I blink back tears.

What am I doing here?

This is Viktor’s home. Just by being here, I’m probably giving him every wrong idea there is to give a man. No wonder he thinks I’m interested; I’m standing in his damn penthouse.

And Viktor.

He’s just something that’s going to be lost and bring pain.

I need to go.

I spin around to bolt for the elevator and run straight into Viktor’s chest.

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