Page 54 of Velvet Chains
We’re both crying and laughing at the same time, spinning around in a circle with little Lucas giggling between us. His chubby hands pat my cheeks as if trying to comfort me.
But then Ser pulls back, her tear-filled eyes suddenly sharp with concern. “Lu Lu, what the hell is going on? Where have you been? And who are these guys?”
She jerks her chin toward Victor, who’s still watching us from a distance, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.
“I thought you were dead!” Ser’s voice is high and thin as she hands little Lucas to James.
She’s looking at me like I’m a ghost, her hands fluttering around me as if she’s not sure I’m real. Then, without warning, she slaps me. Hard.
“Ouch! Ser, what the hell?” I yelp, rubbing my stinging cheek.
Ser blinks at me, then at her hand, as if surprised to find it raised. “Did that hurt?”
“No, it tickled,” I deadpan. “What do you think?”
She has the grace to look sheepish. “Sorry, I just… I wanted to make sure this wasn’t a dream.”
I stare at her. “Ser, you’re supposed to pinch yourself if you think you’re dreaming, not slap your best friend!”
She’s already crying again, her words coming out in a jumbled mess. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just… I had to make sure you were really here.”
James steps in, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shaking shoulders. He hands her a napkin, which she promptly blows her nose into with a honk that would put a goose to shame.
“Hey, Laura,” he says, bouncing Lucas a little. “This is quite the surprise. Ser’s been in and out of the police station, and she even went to your dad’s house…”
He lowers his voice, glancing around as if afraid of being overheard. “And no one would say a word about where you were.”
Ser’s head snaps up, her eyes blazing. “Laura Anne Thompson, if you don’t tell me what’s going on right now, there’s going to be hell to pay! Now, are you going to tell me who these guys are or what?”
I glance over my shoulder at Victor, who’s watching us with an unreadable expression. What is he playing at, bringing Serena and her family here?
“Ser, listen… It’s complicated.”
She arches a perfectly sculpted brow. “Complicated like you’ve been secretly dating a Russian underwear model, or complicated like you’re in some deep shit and need your bestie to help you bury a body?”
Before I can even begin to formulate a response, Victor strides up to us, his presence commanding and intimidating. He’s so tall, so broad, that he seems to block out the sun.
I hear Ser’s sharp intake of breath, and I know exactly what she’s thinking. Because I’m thinking it, too.
Holy shit, he’s hot.
But there’s more to it than that. There’s a danger to him, an edge that sets my nerves buzzing with equal parts fear and excitement.
“Kiska,” he says, his voice low and smooth. “Care to introduce me to your friends?”
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. “Victor, this is Ser, my best friend. And her husband James, and their son Lucas.”
Victor nods, a small smile playing on his lips. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. I apologize if my men were a bit… overzealous in their invitation.”
Serena snorts. “Overzealous? They practically stuffed us into a sack and threw us into the back of a van! I thought we were being kidnapped by the Russian mafia or something.”
Victor’s smile turns wry. “Not quite, but close enough.”
Ser’s eyes narrow. “And why exactly did you ‘invite’ us here, Mr. Mysterious? Who are you, again?” She glances at me, then swings her gaze back to Victor.
Victor nods, his gaze assessing as it sweeps over them. “A pleasure to meet you all. I’m Victor Morozov, Laura’s husband.”
Ser’s jaw drops. James blinks rapidly, as if trying to process this new information.
