Page 62 of Black Castle

Chapter Nineteen

Vivienne

I know I have said it like a hundred times already,” Kenji huffs, hitching the strap of his duffel bag tighter around his shoulder, as they walk through the pavement of Moscow Domodedovo Airport. “But you know when I told you to follow your heart, I didn’t mean, fly across the world on a whim to see a guy you’ve had blocked for weeks now, without even letting him know beforehand that you’re suddenly coming to see him, right?”

To that, Vivienne shoots him a look even though, once again, he’s right. But forty-eight hours ago, this had felt like a rather brilliant idea. Now, standing in an unfamiliar country, disoriented by the swarm of unfamiliar voices and flashing Cyrillic signs, it suddenly feels like a reckless, terrifying decision.

Ever since she came to America, she has never left the country. Never gone to a place more than two hours away from home.

And here she is, in a country where she knows no one but a man who, despite all she thought she knew, is suddenly feeling like a stranger.

If she doesn’t get kidnapped and killed here before she gets to Lucan, Isadora would do the honor if, for some reason, she doesn’t make it back to America on time and Isadora returns before her.

“I still can’t believe I actually agreed to this.” Kenji removes his sunglasses, raking his hand through his blond hair. “No, this is so fucked up.”

“For a second, just shut up and let me think, geez,” she hisses.

“What if we get stranded?” A look of horror flashes through his eyes.

“We won’t.” The words are sharp, defensive, a mask for the gnawing doubt in her gut. “Worst-case scenario, we crash at a motel or something.”

“People get killed in motels,” Kenji mumbles under his breath and Vivienne presses her lips together, dragging in a sharp breath.

Following her heart like Kenji suggested had seemed like the right choice indeed. And Lucan was the only name that kept echoing in her heart. Seeing him face-to-face had felt like the best way to get the closure she needed, too. So spending all the money from the handful of art commissions she got through her, though, poor marketing skills on Instagram, had seemed worth it. But standing here now, she realizes how reckless that decision was, and how little thought she gave it before diving in.

It’s like walking into an examination without knowing the subject, let alone having studied for it.

She is probably more scared than Kenji is right now. With the winter air nipping at her skin despite the thick wool jacket she’s wearing, sweat beads down her back, soaking into her black cotton top.

She’s terrified, alright? But she won’t let it show.

She can’t.

And no matter what goes down here, she must return Kenji to his mother in one piece. They had told Rose they were going on a vacation—Russia, of all places.

The woman had raised a brow but didn’t argue as long as it made her son happy.

Maybe Rose should have argued, for once, not succumb to Kenji’s request. Because if she did, Vivienne wouldn’t have made this reckless decision.

Kenji nudges her arm, drawing her out of her thoughts. “Let’s try the payphone over there.” He gestures toward the phone booth across the street.

“Oh, okay.” Unlocking her phone, she pulls up Lucan’s contact details. But when they reach the booth, reality slaps her.

No coins.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kenji groans, slouching against the booth. “Let’s try with a card.” He swipes out his debit card from the case his phone is secured in.

Vivienne presses her palm to her forehead. “For heaven’s sake, you can’t use a US-issued card here.”

“Whatever.” He clicks his tongue. “Do you have another solution?”

“Give me cash.” She thrust her hand in front of him, impatiently bouncing on her heels.

Rolling his eyes, Kenji quickly unzips his cross body bag, revealing the wad of Russian rubles Rose had gotten for them in case of emergencies.

“You know you can’t use cash on the payphone, right?” He arches his brow, handing her the money. “Just saying.”

Vivienne ignores him at first, glancing toward the lone figure on a nearby bench—an old man sitting with a weathered slouch. Then she turns back to Kenji. “I’m gonna trade for coins.” She begins to head away before Kenji gets to say anything.

---