Page 55 of Til Death Do Us Part (Kornilov Bratva Duet 2)

“Life kicked the crap out of you,” I finish for her. “You don’t have to apologize to me.”

She gives me a sad smile and sighs. “Hannah gets me, you know? I know the two of you are tense around each other, but she knew me before the shit hit the fan, and I like that we have so much in common. She understands my feelings on a lot of things. In a way no one else can.”

The knife in my stomach twists. “Not even me?”

“Not even you,” she says gently. Molly curls her fingers around my hand on her thigh. “You’ve been through a lot, too, but Hannah and I both had kids so young and spent time on the streets. We lived the same way for so long that we can understand each other.”

I nod and swallow.

So much has been taken from Molly in her lifetime. Do I really want to take this away, too? She has a friend. Someone she likes and relates to and trusts. Can I really strip that away?

“Viktor?” Molly’s voice is gentle. “Are you mad?”

Hannah was drunk. That much was obvious.

Even though her actions were reprehensible, there is every chance she’ll wake up and deeply regret them. Or, better yet, that she won’t remember the encounter at all. Should I really threaten their friendship over something that might not matter after a good night’s sleep and a few painkillers?

“Nothing.” I shake my head and kiss her. “It’s nothing.”

I kick off my shoes, slide out of my jeans, and crawl under the blankets with Molly. She closes her laptop and curls into me, too. As though it is normal. Natural. As though we’ve done this every night before this and we’ll do it every night after.

It feels good enough that I allow myself to forget what happened in the kitchen.

If it happens again, I’ll tell Molly. Without hesitation.

But for now, I’ll find solace in Molly.

A voice in the back of my head reminds me that I need to stay cold, detached. When I relax and let my guard down, bad things happen. But with Molly’s small body curled against mine, her breath warm on my chest, it’s impossible to feel anything other than delicious warmth.

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