Page 77 of Vendetta Vows

"Goodnight,zarechka," he whispers against my mouth.

"Goodnight," I breathe back.

Ruslan straightens up, gives me one last lingering look, then turns and walks to the door. The soft click as it closes behind him echoes in the silent room.

20

RUSLAN

Her hand feelssmall in mine. Delicate fingers entwined with my tattooed ones.

The contrast only highlights how different we are, yet how perfectly we fit together.

The world blurs outside the tinted windows as we're being driven toward our meeting with the wedding planner.

Something has changed between us the other night.

Both of us came dangerously close to revealing the cracks in our carefully constructed walls.

When I admitted my ridiculous fear of spiders, her laugh had caught me off guard. It wasn't polite or practiced, but genuine as it bubbles up from somewhere deep and unguarded.

The sound wrapped around me like a warm embrace, making me want to tell her a hundred more embarrassing truths just to hear it again.

Then there was that moment when I confessed my own fear that I wouldn't be able to keep her safe. But more importantly, that I cared about her.

I expected her to pull away, to reject the weight of what I was offering. But she didn't. Instead, she leaned in, those hazel eyes searching mine for lies she didn't find.

But what haunts me most was how quickly darkness shadowed her face when she spoke of being on stage. The memory of playing Beatrice lit her face up. But that fire was also extinguished just as quickly.

I recognized that abrupt retreat into herself.

Something happened seven years ago that stole not just her safety but her dreams.

It's the monster she's running from. Her stalker.

Whoever he is, he didn't just scare her.

He destroyed the woman she used to be.

And if I ever find him, I'll destroy him for hurting her.

I notice Aurora's sharp intake of breath and realize my grip on her hand has tightened. My thoughts of vengeance against her stalker have made me unconsciously clench my fingers around hers.

"Sorry," I murmur, immediately loosening my hold. Her delicate hand feels so fragile against mine. "Did I hurt you?"

"No." Her voice is soft, reassuring. "I'm fine."

"How did you sleep?" I ask, my eyes taking in Aurora's profile. The morning light catches the golden strands in her dirty blonde hair.

"Fine." Her voice carries that hint of laughter that first drew me in, though I can tell it's a practiced response.

She's lying. The slight darkness beneath those hazel eyes tells me she probably tossed and turned all night, just as I did.

"Fine?" I arch an eyebrow, my thumb tracing small circles on the back of her hand. "That's all I get? Just 'fine'?"

Her lips twitch, fighting a smile. "What were you expecting? A detailed report?"

"Maybe." I lean closer, close enough that I can smell the coconut from her lotion. "I wanted to find out if your sleep was as troubled as mine."

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