Page 19 of Married to the Don (Kornilov Bratva Duet 1)

Molly

Apparently, the snack table was enough for Theo because, a few minutes after getting into the room, he burrows under the scratchy blankets and falls asleep. The mattress is bad by most standards, but it’s better than the thin pads we usually get at the shelter, so Theo probably feels like he’s sleeping on a cloud.

The room was probably redecorated at the same time the lobby was—no more recently than the late eighties—but it’s clean. I’m hesitant to give Gropey Greg from the front desk any credit at all, but the room smells lemony fresh and every surface is shining. Clearly, he had the fear of God put into him by Viktor.

The thought of Viktor makes my frazzled mind nearly short circuit, so I quickly shove him aside and focus on the basics.

I’m hungry.

I’ve never ordered room service, but even if I had, I don’t think that experience would be of much use considering the motel doesn’t actually offer room service. So, I call the front desk and try to remember which restaurants I saw nearby. Greg has been replaced by the other employee Viktor told him to call in, and he takes my order of a cheeseburger and large French fry from the burger place next door as though it’s something they do for all the guests.

When I hang up, I pace across the floor and then look back at Theo. He’s still sleeping soundly, and I’m not sure what to do. Usually, when I find any small amount of free time, I flip through some of the interior design books I’ve picked up from garage sales and donation bins over the years. They aren’t exactly textbooks like what I would have had if I had gone to school, but I can still learn from them. Unfortunately, I forgot them in my gym locker. After everything that happened this morning, I’m not sure I’ll be allowed in to get them back.

With nothing else to do, I pad into the bathroom and close the door.

I can’t remember the last time I showered without an audience. The showers at the shelter are always overcrowded, with lukewarm water at best, which is why I take Theo to the gym. Took him there, I suppose, since I doubt we’ll be able to do that anymore.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. That’s a worry for tomorrow. For right now, I have a sleeping boy in the other room and a clean, hot shower to luxuriate in.

The water is almost too hot, but I don’t mind. It washes over my achy muscles as I finally let myself think about Viktor.

He saved me, yes. If he hadn’t shown up, Greg would have taken advantage of me and probably kicked me out without even giving us a room. So, I owe Viktor for the bed and the shower and the food.

But why would he do it?

If he owns motels like this one all over the city, then he has to know unsavory things are happening on the premises. Most people coming to these places are renting by the hour, and everyone knows it. He wouldn’t be worried about someone as inconsequential as me running off to tell people what the clerk had done to me. The reputation of his business wasn’t in jeopardy. So, there was no need for him to be kind to me, to make amends. Why did he?

Pity is the first option that pops into my mind, but men like him—powerful, wealthy, and incredibly handsome—rarely ever have a concern for the less fortunate. I’ve met enough of them to know that they believe they got to where they are because of hard work and that I got to where I am because of a lack of it. If I could only work more hours, spend my money more responsibly, and open a savings account, then things would turn around for me. As though I haven’t been trying that for the last four fucking years.

I feel latent anger rising up inside of me, and I tip my head back into the spray and remind myself that Viktor didn’t say any of that. He was nice to me. And Theo.

He was also handsome.

I know that shouldn’t have a bearing on the situation, but how could it not? One minute, I was desperate and sandwiched between a dirty wall and an even dirtier man. The next, I was looking up at a square-jawed, blue-eyed savior. My prejudices aside, Viktor has been nothing but a saint to me, and I have no reason not to trust him.

So, why don’t I?

I towel off, and slip back into my jeans and T-shirt. Is this one-night stay just a taste of what Viktor can offer before he, like most men I’ve known in my life, expects something in return? Or is he really as kind as he seems?

I quickly do the math of how long it would take staying in the free room before I could save up enough for a deposit on an apartment. I’d need first and last month’s rent plus the fees, but once I had that, I could make the monthly rent fine.

I don’t know how much Viktor is willing to give, but when there is a knock at the door, I know that right now, he’s at least willing to give me one night and a meal. I plan to take it.

“Your food,” a young red-haired man says. His nose is covered in freckles. He looks like he can’t be older than twenty.

I step into the breezeway and pull the door partially closed behind me so I don’t wake up Theo. “Sorry, I wish I had a tip or something, but I really don’t have anything to—”

“Viktor told me not to accept anything if you did offer it,” he says, waving away my concerns. “So don’t worry about it.”

I nod and take the food. Grease is leaking from the bottom of the bag, and I think I probably should have ordered a salad, but I didn’t want to make my free meal rabbit food. I wanted it to be indulgent.

The man smiles and turns to leave.

“Wait.”

He turns back, eyebrows raised. “Do you need something else?”

“Um, well. Actually, I just wanted to know who Viktor is.”

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