Page 15 of White Rabbit
Home…? This place was was a cold showpiece, gleaming white with cherry wood floors, moldings and trims. Yards away, in either direction were curved staircases, with matching wood railings, leading to the second floor. And straight ahead was the largest Christmas tree I’d ever seen, decked with crystal, silver and ice-blue decorations.
Forget Alice in Wonderland. Maybe, I was Belle and he was The Beast, taking me to his castle. Yeah, that tracked with my life.
“Christmas…” I murmured. Last I remembered, it was September.
“It isn’t yet American Thanksgiving,” he said as he started up the staircase to our left. “But my family decorates the first week of November.”
“AmericanThanksgiving?” I echoed.
He chuckled. “My brothers and I were born here in the US, but my family is from Ukraine.Slava Ukraini.”
“Slava Ukraini,” another man echoed, joining us at the top of the steps. He leaned closer to peer at me, and I wondered how bad I looked. “Brother, what have you stolen?”
Valariy shoulder him back. “I have stolen nothing. She is my bride.”
“Ah, the infamous Brecklyn,” he said in understanding. “Welcome back to the land of the living. I’m—”
“A pain in the ass,” Valariy ground out, striding toward another staircase that would take us to the third floor.
“I’m his brother, Danik.” He wagged his finger. “The best and most handsome brother.”
“I’m sure your twin might disagree,” Valariy countered.
“How many brothers do you have?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“Six,” he sighed.
“And remember. I’m the best. If you need anything…”
Valariy glared at him when we reached the landing. “Go away. Don’t you have a weapon to invent or something?”
Danik bowed rolling his hand in front of him. “Yes,Pakhan. Whatever you want.”
“No respect,” Valariy growled, the sound absent of any ire. I’d seen the way others rushed and kowtowed before him, so I suspected only his brother—or perhaps brothers—dared to poke at him.
“But really,” Danik said, ignoring his brother’s grumbles and following along with us down the corridor to our left. “Welcome to the family. And I’m serious… If you need anything, just let me know.”
“She will,but really,” Valariy mimicked as he stepped into one of the room toward the end of a long hallway. “Go. Away.”
Danik mock saluted with a tap of his heel into his other show, winked at me then disappeared down the hallway.
“Stay away from him,” Valariy said. “Actually, stay away from all my brothers. They’re all scoundrels.”
“Scoundrels?” I asked. “That’s very Victorian.”
“Better than other things I could call them.” He placed me on the bed, the bedding like a gossamer cloud beneath me. “No walking without help,” he ordered. “Not yet. Not until you’re stronger. If you need anything, just tell me.”
I glanced around the richly appointed, but utterly dull space, done in cream and gray and more of the wood that seemed to be a theme throughout the house. The gleaming cherry wood side tables and four-poster bed seemed expensive, as did the cream upholstered chairs in the seating area near the windows and the plush cream-colored carpet I longed to feel under my bare feet.
But…it was plain. Boring.
“Is this your room?” I asked. There wasn’t a single personal memento around to signal ownership, but maybe he was minimalist. Sucked to be him, if that was the case and I was really his wife, because I liked to have my things around me—not clutter, just…some of my personal items. Which reminded me that Rad had the few I’d managed to keep. If he hadn’t tossed them while I was in the hospital, anyway.
“No. I am next door.” He sat beside my hip. He took my left hand in his, playing with my fingers. His thumb ran along my ring finger, his face thoughtful.
“Valariy,” I asked.
He glanced up. “Dr Mason will be coming by to check on you in the morning. Kazimierz, my brother who’s the doctor, can also assist if you need, and a nurse will be here soon, as well.”
