Page 17 of The Mobster's Flower

“You didn’t spend the night with Arya, did you?” She runs her fingers through her beautiful white hair. “You were with Vlad, weren’t you?”

“I…”

Annie grabs my shoulders and shakes me. “Are you okay? That was your first time with a man, wasn’t it. What a big step. What would your mother say? How are you feeling? This is all happening much faster than I expected.”

“I—What? Aunt Annie, what do you mean ‘faster than you expected’?”

Annie waves a dismissive hand. “I’ve known Vlad since he was a boy. I knew the moment he saw you, he’d be interested. You’re beautiful. Not to mention, that man’s only weakness is his sister, and you helped her. At the very least, he’d feel bound by his own sense of honor to repay you.”

My head spins as if I’ve been knocked sideways, and I am taken aback by Annie’s words. My aunt is the town’s baker, and I know how beloved she is. She always seems to know everything about everyone and is not the kind to judge people, but I thoughtfor sure she’d have more to say about me spending the night with a notorious crime boss.

I spent half a day and an entire night with Vlad. That’s the most time I’ve ever spent with a man. Hell, I’ve never even been on a proper date. He was kind and considerate to me, especially in bed when I could practically see his temple pulse with the strain of holding himself back. The man was patient with me.

Affectionate.

And not just with me. I saw how caring he was with Arya. How loving and concerned he was for her wellbeing. But how does my aunt know that side of him?

“Annie,” I whisper, pushing back to look at her. “How are you so okay with this? Aren’t you worried about who Vlad is?”

“I told you,” she starts, her expression softening. “I’ve known Vlad since he was a young boy sneaking into my bakery to beg for cookies. He might have a gruff exterior and live a life that sometimes crosses the line, but he’s never violent unless provoked. I’ve seen how is with his sister. There is nothing he won’t do for that girl. He’s also done a lot of work to make his family’s business legitimate and he does more than most realize to give back to our community. His father and uncle were not good men, but somehow, Vlad is different. I was happy to see him take control of the family business when his father and uncle died.”

“But we’ve only just met. There’s no reason to believe he really cares for me or that he’ll want to see me again,” I say, sharing my worst fears with the only person I trust to hear them.

Annie wraps me in her arms, and her embrace reminds me so much of my mother, I melt against her. “Men like Vlad know what they want and they don’t hesitate to go after it. For as long as I’ve known him, I’ve never heard of Vlad keeping companywith a woman. Ever. I’ve also never known the man to take a day off. So, the fact that he not only took you to his home but also spent the entire night with you, it’s safe to say he’s decided you are what he wants. I think you should brace yourself for a whirlwind courtship, my dear. You just need to decide whether Vlad—and the sometimes-dangerous reality of his world—is whatyouwant.”

Annie’s words stay with me as I walk to my room. It’s hard to reconcile Vlad’s reputation as a dangerous criminal with the sweet, generous man my aunt described. But Annie has lived in Valor Springs for fifty years, and she has an uncanny ability to see beneath the surface to the core of a person.

So, I believe my aunt is right about who Vlad is, but am I ready for not only a relationship but also everything else that will come with being a part of Vlad’s world?

Maybe I should chalk up what happened yesterday between Vlad and me as a one-time thing. I should probably forget it in its entirety and move on. Pretend that the car that destroyed my business and having sex with a man I barely know were all unfortunate, unusual incidents.

A sharp pain spreads through my chest at the thought, and I have to rub the ache away with my hand. Sadness overwhelms me, and I look at my bed longingly, tempted to climb in and just bury my head under the covers and forget everything, but I don’t.

I need to return Arya’s clothes that I borrowed and visit the hospital like I promised her I would. It’s tempting to just forget about the siblings, but that would make me no better than all the other people who’d abandoned Arya. The memory of Arya’s sad eyes as she spoke about her time abroad and how she had no family and friends tugs at my heartstrings.

Shit, not going to see her will only make me feel worse, so I decide I might as well, fingers crossed that I don’t run into Vlad at the hospital. Maybe he won’t be at the hospital when I get there. I don’t even know what Bratva bosses do, but I hope he’ll be busy doing that when I get there so I don’t have to see him.

I stop at Annie’s bakery on the way. She gives me a knowing look when I walk in and point at the desserts I want.

“You hate nuts,” she points out when I ask her to bag the almond-glazed sugar cookies.

“They’re not for me,” I mumble under my breath.

“Mm-hm. I gathered that,” she says with a smirk.

I shuffle nervously. “Look, I promised I would check on her. Are you not the one who told me to always keep my promises or I would have seven years of bad luck?”

“You were six!”

“Yeah, thanks for that by the way.” I mock glare at her. “The point is I don’t want seven years of bad luck for not keeping a promise,” I say, walking to the other side of the display and pointing at the delicious-looking fruit tarts. “Bag some of these as well, please.”

“Might I also suggest a bear claw?” she says with a smile, bagging the fruit tarts for me as well. My cheeks heat, but I nod at her suggestion. If Vlad does happen to be at the hospital, certainly he’d appreciate a treat. Oh, who am I kidding? I am equal parts hopeful and terrified to see Vlad again.

I offer to pay her, but she rolls her eyes at me and turns to attend to the next customer. I smile, waving at her as I leave, and it’s not until I step outside that the smile slips.

The hospital isn’t too far from the bakery, so I decide to walk there, all the while trying to talk myself out of just leavingthe baked goods at reception and hoping they find their way to Arya. I’m not sure I’m ready to see Vlad just yet after everything that’s happened.

Even so, I soldier on, smiling at the nurses as I make my way to Arya’s hospital room. The massive man I remember seeing with Vlad the day before is guarding her room, and his eyes narrow on me when I walk closer. Is this the ex-marine Vlad was talking about?

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