Page 84 of Born into Blood

“I’m not absolutely sure I’m going to do it yet,” I warn her, but she just laughs.

“Even if you decide you don’t want to use them, I’m still going to have fun creating it. No pressure at all.”

When Vitya has lasted as long as he can, he reaches over and nudges her shoulder, motioning for her to turn back around. I know bodyguards are supposed to keep whoever they’re watching safe, but this seems excessive even to me. Svetlana just grunts like she’s used to it and swivels back around.

Pulling into the parking garage, I’m about to thank them and hop out, but Vitya parks the SUV and turns off the engine.

“I can just take the elevator,” I tell him.

“Luka wants me to walk you to your door,” he tells me, making it clear that it’s an order he will be following. When he sees my worry, he adds, “No one will see me,” and I realize this must’ve been what Luka was telling him when he spoke in Russian before we left. I’m not at all surprised by Luka’s thoughtfulness, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still touched by it. I love how strong he is, but there’s no denying that his soft side melts my damn heart.

“I can stay here,” Svetlana says. “I’ll just lock the doors and wait.”

Vitya cuts her a look. “You’re coming with us.”

“I’m perfectly safe to stay in here,” Svetlana tells him. “It’s bulletproof and the doors will be locked.”

He growls something in Russian that has her rolling her eyes and opening the door to step out while she looks at me and mutters, “I told you we’re practically glued together at the ass.”

Vitya ignores her and guides us to the elevators. His eyes scan the parking garage, and I wonder if this man even has an off mode, or if he’s just always this damn alert. We take the empty elevator to the fourth floor, and he says something to Svetlana in Russian that has her nodding her head and then pulling me in for a hug.

“It was really nice meeting you, Lara. I’ll swing by your new apartment in a few days to show you the sketches I come up with.”

“Thanks, Svetlana,” I tell her, returning her hug. “It was great meeting you, too.” I look over at Vitya, who’s scanning the hallway and lightly gripping Svetlana’s elbow like he’s afraid she’s going to run off. “It was nice meeting you too, Vitya, and thanks for the ride.”

He nods at me and then leads us further down the hall, stopping several feet away so my mom won’t know they’re here. If they’re curious about why I’m being so cautious, they’re kind enough to not ask or make me feel weird about it. Giving them one last smile, I slide my key in and step inside.

“Lara?” my mom immediately asks.

“Yeah, it’s me, Mom,” I tell her as if there’s any possibility it could be anyone else. I don’t remember a single time in my life when we invited someone into our home. This was always a very private space for us, a place my mom insisted we keep safe and hidden as much as possible.

I stop to grab a bottle of water from the fridge before meeting her in the living room. Pip pokes his cute little head up from where he’s napping on her lap, and when I sit down at the end of the couch, he comes pouncing over to cuddle up in my lap instead.

“I need you to tell me where you’ve been,” my mom says, and I know I can’t put this off any longer. This is my mess to deal with, and it’s not fair to push it off just because Luka can’t be here with me right now. I’m sick of lying about it anyway and ready for it to be out in the open so I can stop worrying about it.

I look at my mom, willing her to understand where I’m coming from when I say, “I was with my boyfriend. We had dinner with his family.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? How did you meet him?” She brings her hand to her mouth, nervously chewing on her thumbnail while she eyes me like I’ve just betrayed her in the worst way possible.

I sigh and lean my head back while I stroke Pip’s soft fur. “Because I knew how you’d react, because I didn’t want to deal with that reaction, and because I just wanted to be happy and normal. I love him, Mom. I love him more than I thought it was even possible to love someone, and I didn’t know how to make you understand that he’s a good man.”

“What do you mean?”

When I don’t answer, her whole body goes rigid. “What’s his name?” When I still don’t answer, she asks again, her voice shaking, and I can’t tell if it’s from nerves or rage or a combination of both.

“Luka Melnikov,” I whisper, right before she shrieks and everything goes to shit.

She jumps up, pacing the floor in front of me while she waves her hand at me like a crazed woman. “What? Why would you do this? How could you be with a monster like that? I told you what that family did to your dad, Lara. How could you betray me like this?” Her wild eyes lock on mine. “How could you betray your father like this?”

“He’s not like that, Mom, and don’t you dare throw my father in my face. I know the truth about him.”

My mom pauses, her brows furrowed in what looks to be genuine confusion. “What are you talking about? Osip was a great man, and he loved us so much.”

“No, Mom,” I tell her, gently shaking my head. “He wasn’t. I talked to Lou. I found the business card in your closet, and Luka and I went to his club. Lou told me that he was a dangerous man and that he beat you. My dad was a monster, not the Melnikovs. He did something awful to someone they cared about, and they killed him for it.”

My mom fists her hair and shakes her head. “No, that’s not true.”

“Tell me the truth, Mom. Did my dad ever hit you?”

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