Page 51 of Solemn Vow

He lifts a shoulder. “Young enough.” He’d never let me get away with a non-answer like that.

“Are we going to play or what?” Sergei grumbles, splaying the six cards in his hand.

“It’s your turn, Marlena.” Viktor nudges my arm with his elbow. “You attack me, and I defend.”

“I’m your attacker?” I smile over my cards at him. “I think I like this game.” I lay down my highest card, a jack of spades.

“Hmm, don’t get too comfortable.” He winks and places a queen of hearts down, successfully defending against my attack.

“Shit.” I go to pick up the discarded cards, but he waves away my hand.

“Only the defender has to add the cards to his hand if he loses. You attacked, so these go in the discard pile and we both pick up a card from the deck to replace what we used,” he explains patiently while picking up the discarded cards and tossing them on the discard pile.

I watch him as he turns to Andrei and throws down a king of diamonds. They exchange some words in Russian before Andrei grabs Viktor’s card and adds it to his hand. The play goes to Pavel, who takes a long sip of his drink before laying his ten of hearts down.

Sergei laughs as he tosses a five of clubs down. Pavel takes another drink, finishing it off.

“There’s another bottle in the bar over there.” Andrei points to the wet bar in the corner of the room.

“Thanks. Anyone else?” Pavel asks as he walks over to the bar.

“I need more wine, but I can go to the bar for it.” Izzy downs the last of her Prosecco.

Andrei stills her with a simple look. “Pavel, call the bar, have them send a bottle of wine for Isolde.”

My insides tighten, watching Pavel as he makes the call then fills his glass before bringing it back to the table. He plops in his chair, already sipping it.

“Marlena. Your turn.” Sergei taps two fingers on the king of spades he put down.

“What?” I blink back to my cards in my hand and put down a two of hearts.

“You lose,” Pavel states.

I look at the cards again. I’d meant to pull the club in my hand.

“Damn.” I pick up the cards from the table and another from the deck.

The guys fall into a conversation about some deal they’re working on to open another Kraze in New York while the play continues around the table. Pavel fills his glass a second time, more drink than ice this time.

I scoot my chair closer to Viktor.

I lose my next hand. There are now ten cards in my hand and after a quick look around the table, I see Andrei is down to one.

“You okay?” Viktor’s hand rests on my knee as he leans into me.

“Yeah. Fine.” But even I hear the tension in my voice. Pavel bursts out laughing after Sergei says something in Russian and I jump.

“No, you’re not,” Viktor accuses, squeezing my knee. “What’s wrong? Is it the game?”

“No.” I glance back at Pavel then at the cards on the table. Sergei turns to me to place down another card.

Andrei puts his heavy crystal glass down on the table, making me tense again.

“Marlena, your turn,” Pavel says; there’s a slur to his voice now. How many drinks has he had? I lost count. His face isn’t red though, and his jaw isn’t set like he’s ready to fight anyone who looks at him wrong, so I can’t tell if he’s drunk or just a little past tipsy.

I move a bit closer to Viktor again.

“Moy sladkiy voin, if you want to sit in my lap, just say so.” He moves his arm to drape over the back of my chair.

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