Page 67 of Solemn Vow

“Ah, good. A familiar face.” A man, a little older than Viktor joins us.

“Roman.” Viktor removes his arm from around me and takes Roman’s hand, shaking it with a grin. They exchange words in Russian, talking low as though anyone around us could understand them anyway.

“Your wife?” Roman points to me and a burst of laughter falls out of me.

I sober though when I catch a glimpse of Viktor’s glare.

“Sorry,” I say softly, clearing my throat.

“This is Marlena. She’s not my wife.” Viktor side-eyes me. “Yet,” he emphasizes.

“He’s kidding. We’re friends.” I smile what I hope is a casual uplift of my lips and not the panicked grin of a loon like I feel on the inside.

“Viktor doesn’t kid.” A woman at least a decade younger than Roman steps out from behind him. She’s much shorter than her husband and has much gentler features.

“He really doesn’t,” Roman agrees with a curt nod as he wraps his arm around the younger woman. “This is my wife, Billie.” The way his features soften when he looks at her fills my chest with a gentle ache.

“Hi, I’m Marlena,” I introduce myself to her.

“Right. Viktor’s not yet wife and friend.” She flashes a genuine smile. It’s so natural, the way she’s standing with Roman. She’s not intimidated at all by these hulking Russian men.

“The old man wants to talk before dinner,” Roman says.

“Andrei and Sergei aren’t here yet.” Viktor cranes his neck, searching the room.

As if by simply conjuring his cousins by mere thought, both of them along with Izzy appear from out of the crowd.

“Oh, thank god you’re here!” Izzy hurries to my side. She’s wearing a simple black sheath dress with a string of pearls around her neck and two droplets from each earlobe. Her hair is pulled up into a twist that I taught her how to do when she was living in the apartment across from me.

“You look amazing!” She holds me out an arm length. “Viktor has great taste, right?”

I smooth my hand over the skirt of the dress. “It is pretty, but it’s a little fancy.”

“It’s not your usual style, but it’s really pretty on you.” Her eyes go to the diamond necklace.

“I know.” I tug on it gently, making sure the chain is secure. “It’s too much.”

“I have to meet with some people for a few minutes. Don’t wander too far away.” Viktor slides an arm around my waist and pulls me to him so he can kiss my temple. “And stop touching the necklace.” He pinches my hip before pulling away and throwing me a wink.

“Go to your meeting.” I try to shoulder him out of our little group, but he’s already on the move.

“You’re from New York, right?” I ask Billie after the guys are gone and it’s just the three of us staring at each other.

“Yes, but I have a friend that lives here in Chicago part of the year. She’s married to Roman’s cousin, so we’re staying with them while we’re in town,” Billie explains.

“I thought Viktor does business with the host, for real estate stuff?” I take a glass of white wine from a tray passing by us. “Don’t you work with that, too? Should you be in the meeting?”

Her smile fades at the edges. “They’re not meeting about the real estate businesses. I only manage properties in New York. I manage Roman’s properties, one for Viktor and a few others.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce Izzy. She’s married to Andrei.” I nudge Izzy forward, and she greets Billie.

“Have you been married long?” Billie asks.

“No, only a few months,” Izzy says.

“And have you and Viktor been together long?” She turns to me.

“What? No. We aren’t together. I mean not like that. We aren’t…” I drink my wine. I’ve never been drunk before, but I do know a glass or two of wine will help ease the tension out of my muscles.

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