Page 58 of Blood Oath Christmas
"We'll be fine," I say, though I'm already scanning the street for anything that looks out of place. "Keep the engine running."
Ivy leans over and kisses my cheek, a gesture that's becoming more natural between us with each passing day. "I'll be quick, I promise."
I catch her hand before she can pull away completely. "If anything feels wrong—anything at all—you call out. Don't worry about being polite or making a scene. Just yell."
She nods, and I can see she's taking me seriously. Good. She's learning that in my world, paranoia keeps you alive.
I watch her walk up the front path, noting how she checks over her shoulder once before knocking on the door. She's learning my habits too, picking up on the constant vigilance that's second nature to me. The door opens, and I catch a glimpse of Trisha's red hair before both women disappear inside.
Viktor shifts in the driver's seat, adjusting his position so he has a clear view of both the front door and the street behind us. "So," he says after a moment, his voice carefully casual. "How's married life treating you?"
I almost smile at the question. Viktor has been mysovietnikfor over a decade, and in all that time, he's never once asked me about my personal life. The fact that he's bringing it up now tells me he's genuinely curious about this situation with Ivy.
"It's… complicated," I admit.
"Most good things are." He glances at me in the mirror.
"She's not what I expected," I say finally.
Viktor chuckles, a low rumble in his chest. "None of the good ones ever are. Remember when you first told me about this plan? You said it would be simple. Marry the girl, keep her safe, honor your debt to her father."
"It should have been simple."
"Should have been," he agrees. "But now?"
I think about Ivy's laugh when she beat me at chess two nights ago. The way she hums while she's cooking breakfast.How she fell asleep reading on the couch yesterday, and I found myself just watching her breathe for longer than I care to admit.
"Now it's not about the oath anymore," I say quietly.
Viktor nods like he expected that answer. "You love her."
It's not a question, and I don't treat it like one. "Yes."
"Does she know?"
I run a hand through my hair, suddenly feeling older than my forty-two years. "She married me for protection, Viktor. She's still processing everything that's happened to her. The last thing she needs is me complicating things further by declaring my feelings."
"Maybe," Viktor says. "Or maybe she needs to know that this isn't just about duty for you anymore. That you're not going anywhere even after the threat is gone."
Before I can respond, Viktor shifts in his seat, adjusting his position to get a better view of the house. The silence stretches between us, comfortable in the way that only comes from years of working together. I watch the windows of Trisha's modest two-story home, looking for any sign of movement.
"She's been through a lot today," Viktor says finally, his voice low and thoughtful. "Finding out about her father like that… it changes everything for her."
I nod, my jaw tightening as I think about the conversation we had earlier. The way Ivy's face had crumpled when I told her the truth about her father being Bratva. She'd looked at me like I was a stranger, and maybe in that moment, I was.
"I should have told her sooner," I admit, the words feeling heavy on my tongue.
Viktor turns to look at me, his dark eyes serious. "You told her when she was ready to hear it. Any sooner and she would have run."
"She might still run." The thought sits like a stone in my chest.
"She won't run," Viktor says with certainty. "I've been watching her, Konstantin. Even before you brought her into our world, I've been keeping an eye on her like you asked. She's stronger than she knows."
I remember the night I gave Viktor that order, just days after Andrei's funeral.Watch over his daughter,I'd told him.Make sure she's safe, but don't let her know.For years, he'd done exactly that, becoming a shadow in Ivy's life, ensuring no harm came to her while she lived her quiet, normal existence.
"She has his eyes," I say quietly, thinking of my old friend. "Andrei's eyes. The same determination, the same fire when she's angry."
Viktor chuckles, a rare sound from him. "She definitely has his temper. Andrei would be proud of her." His voice grows serious again. "The woman she's become, the strength she's shown. Even with everything that's happened, she's not broken."
