Page 41 of Never Distract a Biker

But for now, I let the silence envelope us. The future is uncertain, but one thing is clear—I’m not giving up. Not on myself, and not on the life growing inside me.

17

Scarlett

The sound of the door creaking open pulls me out of my thoughts. I sit up on the bed, clutching a pillow to my chest as Yelena and Alina step into the room. There’s an energy about them, vibrant and mischievous, that makes it impossible not to be curious.

"Scarlett," Alina begins, her tone light and inviting. "We’re having a movie night. You should join us."

My eyes widen slightly. A movie night? My curiosity spikes as I picture the three of us sneaking out of this mansion and into a local theater. The idea is almost laughable, given the fortress-like nature of this place, but it’s a surprisingly pleasant suggestion.

"Where are we going?" I ask, tilting my head. "Are there theaters nearby?"

Alina exchanges a look with Yelena, and they burst into laughter. "Oh, Scarlett," Alina says, wiping a tear of amusement from her eye. "We’re not leaving the house. This mansion has its private theater."

“Of course it does.” My lips twitch with disbelief. "Let me guess, there’s also a helipad?"

Yelena smirks, raising an eyebrow. "Obviously," she replies, as though the absence of a helipad would be unthinkable.

My mouth falls open, and I almost trip over my own feet. "You’re kidding," I say, trying to gauge if they’re pulling my leg.

"Nope. It’s on the east wing," Alina chimes in, her voice so matter-of-fact it borders on smug.

"Of course it is," I mutter under my breath, shaking my head as I follow them out of the room. This place continues to surprise me, its extravagance bordering on ridiculous.

As we wind through the endless halls of the mansion, I can’t help but marvel at its sheer size. Every corner we turn reveals something new—an antique vase, a stunning painting, or a gilded mirror that looks like it belongs in a museum. By the time we reach the theater, I’m already overwhelmed.

But when the double doors swing open, my breath catches in my throat. The room is massive, its walls lined with plush velvet drapes, and the seats are more luxurious than any I’ve seen in a public theater. A crystal chandelier hangs overhead, casting a warm, inviting glow.

"Is this … normal for you guys?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"For us? Yes," Yelena says with a shrug, as though it’s nothing.

"Unbelievable," I mutter, my gaze sweeping across the room.

Yelena picks up a phone mounted to the wall and rings the kitchen. "We’ll need popcorn and drinks," she says, her tone brisk. "Caramel for me."

"And caramel-cheddar mix for me," Alina adds, grinning.

Both of them turn to me expectantly. I hesitate, knowing I can’t stomach anything too flavorful these days. "Just plain popcorn," I say, earning a look of confusion from both twins.

"Plain?" Yelena asks, raising an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Pregnancy," I reply with a sigh. "Flavors make me sick. And trust me, if you don’t want to be cleaning up my puke, plain is the way to go."

Yelena rolls her eyes. "Fine. Plain it is."

A few minutes later, housekeeper Anna arrives with a tray of snacks and drinks. The twins dive into their colorful popcorn while I take a glass of water and a steaming cup of ginger tea. The scent calms my queasy stomach, and I sip it gratefully.

"Let’s pick a movie," Yelena says, plopping onto one of the chairs and grabbing the remote.

Scrolling through the options is an ordeal in itself. Yelena insists on horror, her eyes lighting up at every bloody trailer. Alina waves her off, declaring that tonight calls for romance.

"And what about you, Scarlett?" Alina asks.

"Thriller," I reply without hesitation. "Something with suspense."

The three of us glance at each other, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Finally, Alina grabs some paper and writes down our choices. "We’ll draw lots," she declares, rolling the papers into tiny balls.

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