Chapter 21

Lydia

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“I’ll go back to Mom’s. Keep an eye on her and Polina,” Lev says. “I’ll be there, too.”

Nikko nods. “Vera and I can stay with you, too, Viktor, if it’s alright with you.”

“That would be perfect,” I say with a smile. I want to catch up with my sister. “We have a wedding to plan. How long can you stay?”

We’re in the parking lot outside the vet’s. “I’ve got a week,” Vera says. “I wish I could stay longer. But it’s alright, Mom is almost home, and she will come, too. You aren’t far from her now, either.”

We situate the sleeping Nikita in the back seat between us. Nikko’s driving, Viktor in the passenger seat.

“What details do you still need to finalize for the wedding?”

I catch her up to speed. “Polina and Ekaterina are mostly handling all the details. It’s not like I really know anyone who’s coming.”

I’d rather it be like this. Small. Close family, no more, no less.

I’m listening in on Viktor and Nikko’s conversation.

“Obviously, security is the main concern,” Viktor says, his voice low and intense. He’s pissed. “I don’t trust the Ledyanoye Bratstvo to stay quiet for long. We need to ensure everyone’s safe. He’s doing exactly what we hoped he would do,” he admits. “But I’m pissed we haven’t gotten him yet.”

Nikko nods. “I’ve already got men scouting the location. We’ll set up a perimeter and have checkpoints. We’ll make sure security’s locked down in all places. No one gets in without clearance.”

Viktor glances back at me, then continues, “I want Lydia to feel safe on our wedding day. No surprises. This is her day, and nothing should ruin it.”

Vera smiles at me. My heart warms at his words.

“We’ll also consider a decoy route so we can keep our movements unpredictable.”

Vera chimes in. “What about the guest list? Are we sure everyone invited is trustworthy?”

Viktor answers, “We’ve vetted everyone, and it’s a small guest list.”

Nikko looks thoughtful. “And the caterers? Staff? Anyone working the event?”

“Polina and Ekaterina are handling the vendors. They’ve been given strict instructions to hire only from trusted sources,” Vera responds.

I’m thankful they’re so on top of things. “And the venue itself?”

“We’ve chosen a secluded location,” Viktor says. “It’s easier to control and monitor. Fewer entry points.”

Nikko smirks. “Like a fortress. Just how you like it, brother.”

Viktor’s lips twitch into a rare smile. “Exactly.”

I lean into the conversation, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. “And what about after the wedding?”

Viktor’s eyes soften as he looks at me. “I was thinking somewhere remote. Just the two of us. A place where we can relax and not worry about threats.”

Vera squeezes my hand. “You deserve this, Lydia. A fresh start, away from all the chaos.” She leans closer to me, her voice lowering. “Someone to watch over you, to make sure you’re safe. You deserve that, too.”

I squeeze her hand back. “Thank you.”

The drive continues in a comfortable silence, each of us lost in our thoughts. As we near Viktor’s place, Nikita stirs slightly, her head resting on my lap. I gently stroke her fur, reassured by her steady breathing.

Viktor reaches back, placing his hand over mine. “She’ll be okay, Lydia. We’ll make sure of it.”

I nod. I want her to be alright.

We arrive at Viktor’s place—our place, and everyone moves with practiced efficiency. Nikita is carefully carried inside, and Vera immediately sets to work checking her vitals again and making sure she’s secure.

It feels good to be with my sister, even though we don't really know each other that well. I want to, though. And it's the first time I realize that being around the Romanov family, seeing how their sisters and brothers interact, makes me long for something more.

“Do you want to have a drink?” I ask tentatively. And I have to admit, I am feeling at home here. I like being in Viktor's place… our place. I’m hosting Vera.

My sister looks tired, but she smiles at me. “I would love a glass of wine,” she says with a smile. “Although I prefer beer if you have that.”

“We absolutely have beer,” I say, laughing. “We have a lot to catch up on.”

I pop open a couple of beers, and Vera and I sit in the large, expansive room next to our bedroom. Nikko and Viktor walk downstairs, planning. “I’m going to sit with Nikita for a while,” Viktor says.

“The poor guy,” I say softly when they’ve gone downstairs. “He loves that dog so much.”

“Of course. Those two are the closest, you know,” she says. “It's almost fitting that sisters are marrying brothers, isn't it?” She takes a thoughtful sip of her beer. “Kind of surprised it doesn't happen more often.”

“Right?” I smile. “Viktor told me they like to lift. That’s, uh… obvious about both of them.”

Vera's eyes perk up, and she wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Indeed.”

We giggle into our beer. I bring out a large platter of chocolates and some cookies. “Hungry?”

She nods eagerly. She's always had a sweet tooth, though she’s never been as devoted to chocolate as I am.

“Viktor ordered from some kind of bakery earlier,” she says. “Something about the Rossi family expanding in New York.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know who they are, and I didn’t know anything about ordering from New York. The only thing I know is that I ordered a bunch of different cakes for the wedding. We’re doing cake shooters.”

She laughs. “Of course you are. Cake was always your favorite.”

“Mhm.” I take another sip. “So tell me how you and Nikko met. I barely know the story.”

She shakes her head and sighs. “You know these brothers. They don’t operate by anybody else's rules. Nikko came with me as my bodyguard to that program I did in Moscow.”

I nod. This much I knew.

“Apparently, he was on a mission. I’d rather not get into the details of that mission because you might want to kill him, but his mission was unsuccessful. Instead of enacting the retribution he had planned, he ended up with me.”

“Really, whatever he was planning, being with you was definitely a better option,” I say with a smile.

Vera nods. “You can say that things worked out.”

She continues, “So, um… I sort of lied and said that he was my husband because I didn’t want anybody to know that I brought a bodyguard with me to Moscow, especially anybody in the program I was studying. You know.”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t want that either.”

“So we ended up in this room that was supposed to be for a couple. One bed…” She giggles. I laugh out loud.

“Two more beers, and I want all the details, sister.”

She winks at me. “He was protective. He really knew me. You know, not just the persona I put on, but the real me. It was… It was hot. And I fell,” she says with a sigh. “I fell really fucking hard.” She shakes her head. “And then, once the Romanovs found out, they made a deal. Father actually made a deal with them before he passed away that they would have my hand in marriage.”

“How did that work into the equation?”

“Our families have done terrible things, Lydia. In our world, bargaining a woman’s hand in marriage is the best form of retribution you can make. They didn’t want money; they have plenty of that. They wanted stability. Vows. Children.”

I think about that. Stability. Children. Is this what I bring to Viktor? I don’t know. Part of me hopes so. And another part of me is honestly terrified of being anything more than who I am now—Lydia Ivanova. Snarky, curvy, and mischievous. Who am I as Viktor Romanov’s wife?

“It's so disconcerting, being here,” I admit, feeling the weight of my emotions starting to surface.

“I know,” Vera says, her voice gentle. “But it's not like we grew up in suburbia with a regular old white picket fence and all that.” She sighs, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Especially you, Lydia. You dealt with so much shit from Father. I'm sorry.”

A lump forms in my throat, and I feel a strange wave of emotion I hadn't expected. My throat tightens, and my nose starts to tingle. I don't want to break down in front of her, but I know the only way forward is through this.

“It wasn't your fault,” I continue, my voice wavering. “You are not to blame.”

I look away, sitting on a little step stool in our bedroom. For the first time, I notice a small door barely visible behind the open closet door. It's a strange place to have a door. I just shake my head and look away. I want to have this conversation.

“It's not like I grew up with a parent who actually liked me. But I tried.” I sigh deeply. “You can only blame your shitty parents for so much, you know? And you just have to decide, this is my life now. And I can take it and make it my own.”

It feels like an odd thing to say, considering I'm being forced into marriage.

Vera bites her lip, lost in thought or perhaps trying to find the right words. “You know, parents can be so complicated,” she says softly. “They expect so much from us.”

I nod. “Yeah, it's like they're always pushing and pulling, never really seeing us for who we are.”

She smiles hesitantly. “Let's just say, you're definitely better off here. I don't know what it would take to convince you, but I can show you that Viktor… he's a good man. Out of all these guys, he's the best one. He doesn't have an agenda. He just wants you.”

I sit back, mulling over her words. “Listen,” Vera says, leaning in to capture my gaze. “Being married to Viktor is not going to be easy. Being married to any of these men isn't. It takes someone who is strong to do it. Have you met Harper and Aria yet?”

I nod. “Yup.”

“So the Romanov brothers have chosen women who have something to offer their family. Have you considered that?”

“What? No. What are you talking about?”

Vera stands and walks the length of the room, tapping her chin as if trying to come up with the right words. “It's like this. Aria, she was a hacker. She is a hacker. Mikhail loves her, but she became head of cybersecurity here alongside Aleksander. Harper,” she shakes her head, “she's the best marksman you could imagine. She outshoots any of those guys. Literally any of them, Lydia. Aleksander didn't necessarily know that when he married her, but she has become a powerful member of this group.”

Ahh. “Your knowledge of emergency medical response, I could imagine that comes in handy here.”

I shake my head, feeling uncertain. “What do I have to offer?”

“What do you have to offer? You're brilliant. Nikko told me that you were the one who figured out that your fiancé was a fraud. Nobody else knew that. You did, though.” She sighs. “My point is this. You won't just be a pretty little thing meant to be set on a pedestal and have babies. You'll be a very active member of this family. They will lean on you… hard.”

I nod slowly, reassured. “That helps,” I say, feeling a bit of relief.

Vera smiles. “Nikko has been texting me for an hour. If you're ready for bed, let's look at the wedding details tomorrow?”

“It's hard to believe it's coming so soon. We put it off, and we were planning a month, but everyone’s in agreement we need to move this up. But yeah, I’m good.”

Vera stands up.

“Go to your husband. I'm sure Viktor and Nikko are done soon. I need to find my future husband too,” I say with a laugh.

Vera leans over and gives me a hug. “I love you, Lydia,” she says softly.

I hug her back, warmth spreading across my chest. “And I love you.” Maybe one of the best parts of all this is that I might get to know my sister a little better.

Vera leaves, and I start my hunt for Viktor.

It's dark in the hallway as I look around for Viktor. The distant roll of thunder catches my attention.

Wandering the halls of his home—our home?—I feel a sense of foreboding. Everything is dark, moody, and the thunderstorm outside these windows doesn't help. I pause on the landing of the stairs, staring out an oval-shaped window into the night.

Lightning strikes overhead, lighting up the yard below. I pause, my heart skipping a beat. What is that down there? What is that?

I strain my eyes, thinking it must be Viktor, for some weird reason, taking a walk in the rain. But then, when the clouds shift, allowing more light to illuminate below, I realize it isn't Viktor or even one person but several. I stand up straighter, my heart beating faster.

There are half a dozen men with weapons outside this window, surrounding our grounds. Oh my God.

“Viktor! Viktor!” I can't stop my voice from shaking. I need to see him; I need to see him right now. “Viktor, where are you?”

My voice is shaky despite my best efforts to keep it steady. When I get to the landing, he pokes his head out from the den where Nikita lies. Of course, he's with Nikita. That makes perfect sense. I blame the stress for not figuring it out sooner. I’m so foolish.

He's immediately at attention, ready to kill.

I run to him, and he quickly gathers me in his arms. The immediate feel of his hand on the back of my head and his other hand around my waist makes me breathe easier, if only for a moment. “What is it? What happened?”

“People outside with weapons. Lots of them! Are they going to attack?”

“Where?” he snaps, running to the window to look. “Oh. Damn. I'm sorry, Lydia. Baby, I should've told you. Those are the men I called in as backup. Our guard.”

I swallow. “Of course. The guard. God, I'm so dumb.”

“Don't call yourself dumb. I don't want to hear that again,” he says gently, though there's an element of steel in his voice that reminds me exactly what it feels like to be under his command.

“They are here overnight, even in the rain?”

“Of course. They'd stay there through a snowstorm or a blizzard. They're here to protect you.”

Not us, I think to myself.

“Okay, that makes sense.”

He kisses my cheek. “I’ll tell you next time. Are you going to bed? We’ve had a long day. I'll join you in a few minutes. Did you have a nice visit with your sister?”

“I did, but we need a lot more time to catch up. I hope we can get that.”

“I'll do whatever it takes. If she has another job to go to, I'm happy to travel so that you can visit her nearby, if it's feasible. Same with your mother.”

“But they need you here?—”

He smiles. “And you're needed too, but most of the time, what you'll be doing for us can be done remotely.” He bends over and kisses a little curlicue on the corner of my temple. I love it when he does that. I think over what Vera has said, what she's revealed.

He's known me and wanted me for a very long time. And maybe that should freak me out. Maybe it's just a part of who he is, who we are as two unconventional people.

“You’d do that for me? Travel so I can be with my sister?”

“Of course,” he says warmly.

“I would love that, thank you.”

His lips meet mine, and I'm instantly aroused, instantly malleable and molded to him. I lick his tongue, savoring the thrill of his moan. It feels like lighting a match when I kiss him back. I run my hand down the length of his front, relishing the feel of his muscles, his hard abs, his bridled, unfathomable strength.

He kisses me again. “I have one more dose of medicine I'm going to give Nikita, then I'll join you. Why don't you get some rest. It's been a long day.”

He's not wrong. Part of me wants the assurance of him next to me in bed more than anything now. I follow him back to the room beside Nikita. I bend over the top of her head. “You're such a good girl, and I am so proud of you,” I whisper to her. “Get some rest now.”

His eyes meet mine when I rise. I love her.

I try to puzzle out how I feel about being a member of this family. It isn't just my husband's family anymore, but my sister's, too. Joining with the Romanovs is an excellent decision for all of us. Even my mother will be better off.

Not that you have a choice, a little voice in the back of my head says, but that voice is getting quieter.

I walk softly over to the dresser, my hands roaming over the folded clothing. It's all so beautiful, and it fits me so well. The smallest of luxuries, but I cannot take it for granted.

I open his drawer beneath mine and bury my head in the clean, folded white tees. I inhale deeply. They smell like him, invigorating and manly.

It's a little chilly tonight with the thunderstorm rolling in, but I’ll be warm in his tee. I steal one from the drawer.

A little golden key beneath his tees catches my attention. Huh. I eye it thoughtfully before I put it back. It looks like a small key you might use to open a desk drawer.

I strip off my clothes, feeling the cool air on my skin, and toss them toward the laundry basket. They fall to the floor.

“Good one, Lydia.” I shake my head and walk over to pick them up. I'm about to put them in the hamper when I look at the door again. I step over to it, curious. I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Something tells me I'm going to turn this handle and find myself upside down.

I take a deep breath and slowly turn the handle, curiosity and a touch of dread swirling within me.

The door is locked. Huh.

Strange.

I try the handle again, but it doesn't open. Not sure why I do because if it didn't open the first time, it definitely won't the second time.

The key… there was a key among his T-shirts. What if I… I walk over to his drawer and remove the key; my movements are hurried because I know I shouldn't be doing this. It's what he calls snooping.

He's against it, but dammit, I'm going to be his wife. He shouldn't have locked doors from me.

I walk back to the door and slide the key into the lock.

My heart races when it fits. I push the door open and stare for a moment before I realize what I’m seeing.

My hand covers my mouth in disbelief.