Page 38 of Brutal Loyalty

He didn’t reply.

“Hey!” Elena raised her voice. “Answer me, dickwad! What’s got your panties in such a bunch?”

Kostya stopped at one of the parked cars. He looked back at her, narrowed his eyes in total hatred, and then yanked open the door and sank into the seat. Before she could get another word in, he slammed the door shut.

“Rude!” Elena grumbled. She crossed her arms and watched the car speed off. “What the hell is his deal, anyway?”

“His deal is that he doesn’t know beauty when he sees it,” Roman said, startling her. “Don’t let him ruin today for you. Your mother is sitting inside. She needed a break before making the last leg of the journey to her new room. Would you like to accompany us there?”

Elena smiled at him as she leaned against his side and took his hand in hers. “I’d love that.”

“Then let’s go.” Roman squeezed her hand and guided her back into the Sokolov mansion. Thoughts of Kostya floated away in Elena’s mind. There were other, better things to worry about.

Her life as a Popov was over, but her life as a Sokolov had just begun…and with Roman here by her side, what a life it was already shaping up to be.

---