22. Bronwyn

22

brONWYN

I stumbled on shaky legs to the back of the bar and found an exit. As I burst out into the parking lot, there was a rumble of thunder from overhead. The sky looked bruised, a deep mass of black fading to purple-blue at the edges, and it had turned ferociously cold.

I heard a sound behind me and turned, expecting Radimir. But it was Gennadiy who stepped casually out of the bar.

“You were right,” I told him, still breathless. “I can’t survive in... this.”

He pursed his lips and leaned against the wall. He did arrogant lounging very well. Then his face softened, just for a second. “You did okay in there.”

I blinked at him. He looked away, like even that tiny shred of warmth had been an embarrassing slip.

Radimir burst out of the door and marched straight over to me. “Are you alright?”

I wanted to nod because, whether I liked it or not, just having him close immediately made me feel better. But it wasn’t that simple. I took his arm and towed him between the parked cars, out of earshot of Gennadiy. “How can you do that?” I demanded.

“Do what?”

“Lie. Lie right to someone’s face!”

“I’ve had a great deal of practice.”

I shook my head. “I could never do that. You put your hand on his shoulder, you sounded so sorry!”

He studied me for a moment. “You can do anything, if it’s to protect the people you care about.”

I stared back at him. His family, I told myself firmly. He means his family. The first drop of rain fell, so big and heavy it made a thunk when it hit the trunk of a car. “What about me?” I asked in a small voice.

He looked blank. “What about you?”

More raindrops fell around us, but I ignored them and crossed my arms for courage. “Have you lied to me?”

And I saw something in his eyes I’d never seen before, something that jolted me right to the core . He was shocked by the idea. Then his stony face cracked, and he gave a little laugh and shook his head. “No, Bronwyn.” He cupped my face in his hands. “I would never lie to you.”

It started to rain full-on, but I just stood there staring up at him. That laugh reassured me in a way no amount of words could have. He really meant it. The rain pelted us, soaking straight through my dress and stripping all the warmth from my body. But my face was gloriously warm where he touched me and, for a second, that was all that mattered.

Gennadiy hurried over, hunched over and scowling up at the rain. “The rest of us will hang around here for appearances,” he told Radimir. “Go be with your fiancée.”

Radimir nodded, took my hand and led me towards where the limos were parked. I wasn’t going to argue: I wanted to get as far away from Spartak as possible. And as we walked, I looked down at our joined hands. He held mine securely, protectively...but like we were equals, not like I was a piece of luggage or a disobedient pet.

He wasn’t the same as Spartak.

He held the door for me and motioned me in first so I could get out of the rain, then climbed in himself. “Let’s get you home,” Radimir told me. And he gave the chauffeur an address. One I didn’t recognize.

I turned to him. “When you say home…”

He cocked his head to the side. “To my apartment.” As if it was obvious.

I felt my eyes widen. “Wait, we…” I glanced at the chauffeur. There was a glass privacy screen between us and him, but I lowered my voice anyway. “We’re living together?”

“You’re my fiancée. Of course we’re living together.”

I tried to ignore the warm little bomb that detonated inside me each time he said that word. Everything had happened so fast: I hadn’t had time to think about how my life was going to change. The idea of losing my independence was terrifying. “No. I like where I live.”

He frowned and shook his head. “You’re not spending another night there.”

I bristled, remembering how judgey he’d been at my place. “There’s nothing wrong with my place! Turn this thing around, I’m living there!”

He stared at me. I glared back at him. His glare changed, heating rapidly, and I felt myself flush. What? I wasn’t doing anything. Maybe my lower lip had crept into a pout but…

He turned and stared out of the window at the rain hammering the sidewalks...and then he turned back to me, the lust locked under control... just. He sighed, and seemed to soften slightly. “I’m sorry, Bronwyn. I should have talked to you about this. But you’re in danger, now, and I can’t have you living in a place with broken security cameras and doors with shitty locks. You can make whatever rules you want, but you’re coming to live with me so I know you’re safe.” His voice left no room for argument: he would protect me.

I just...melted. He hadn’t been turning his nose up at my apartment. He’d been casing the joint like a criminal, thinking about how easy it was to break into. I gave a quick little nod and then, when I trusted my voice, I said, “Can we at least stop there on the way, so I can pick up a few things?”

He nodded solemnly and the look he gave me, like he was proud of me and wanted to tear my dress off and he cared about me, all at the same time…

I quickly looked out of the window. He’s just a monster, I reminded myself.

Right?