Til Death Do Us Part (Kornilov Bratva Duet #2) - Nicole Fox Page 0,67
tonight, but I hope to introduce you all soon.”
I was reluctant to part with Theo, especially after what happened this morning, but I didn’t want him to be introduced to the leaders of the Irish Mafia just yet. Not until we are absolutely certain they can be trusted. It’s nothing personal towards Niamh and Seamus, but I won’t take any risks with Theo.
Hannah volunteered to watch him again, but Viktor wouldn’t hear of it. So Theo is with the nanny and several guards at Viktor’s penthouse, and Hannah has made herself scarce for the evening.
“I’ll love him, I’m sure, but I’m anxious to have some adult time with you, anyway.” Niamh smiles briefly and then her eyes grow heavy with concern. “How are you doing? I couldn’t believe it when we heard about the attack this morning.”
“Luckily, it was a near-attack,” I say, trying to sound light. “We all left unscathed.”
“Thankfully.” Niamh presses her lips together and shakes her head. “This life is not for the faint of heart. I would understand if you had needed time to unwind and decompress, but I must admit, I’m impressed that you still had us over for dinner.”
“I’ve been through worse.” It’s true, but I don’t want to elaborate on exactly what that means. Niamh doesn’t ask me to.
She nods. “You’re built for this life, Molly. You may not feel like it all the time, but believe me, you are.”
The words are meant as a compliment, but I’m not sure how to take them. So instead of saying anything, I smile and then launch into talk of her new library design.
“I want a window seat, but I’m not sure how to make that happen without blowing out a wall,” Niamh says, pointing to the exterior wall of the library on the floor plan.
I wave her away. “Built-in bookshelves. We can get some made to match the other wall and have them wrap around to this wall. Then, in the middle of the shelves, we’ll add in a deep bench seat and cushions. There can even be some shelves below and above the window.”
Niamh taps the side of my head lightly and grins. “You’re a genius. I’m not sure why I even bothered writing down ideas. Everything you say is so much better.”
“It’s a collaboration,” I assure her. “Your ideas are a great jumping-off point. Plus, you are the one who picked out the wall sconces. I wanted to do a chandelier, but you were totally right; it would have been too bright. The sconces will be the perfect amount of light while still feeling intimate.”
Niamh likes all of my ideas for the library, and I really hope she isn’t just being nice because for the first time, I feel like an actual designer. Aside from the sconces, everything in the room has been my idea. She is giving me free rein with the color pallet, carpet selection, and décor. The only constraints are nothing rustic and no yellow. Niamh hates the color.
We are just wrapping up the last few items on Niamh’s itinerary when the door opens and Viktor and Seamus walk inside. Their voices are low enough that I can’t hear what they are saying, but Viktor isn’t being as charming as he usually is around other bosses. Based on their somber faces, whatever business they were attending to has followed them to dinner, though they both try to hide it.
Seamus bends and gives his wife a kiss on the cheek, and she squeezes his hand. Viktor sits next to me on the couch and stretches out his long leg next to mind, his warmth seeping into me.
“Is everything okay?” I ask cheerfully, though I turn my head, letting my hair fall down around my face, allowing us a small curtain of privacy. I narrow my eyes.
Viktor nudges me with his hip and smiles. “It will be okay as soon as I eat something. I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Seamus says. “You two aren’t vegetarians, are you?”
“Do vegetarians look like this?” Viktor teases, flexing his bulging bicep. “This body does not run on vegetables alone.”
Seamus looks visibly relieved. “Thank God. I’m a carnivore through and through, though I think Niamh could sustain herself on nothing but foraged berries for months. She hardly eats.”
“I hardly eat compared to him,” she says, hooking a thumb over her shoulder at her husband. “And you’ll understand what that means when he eats his way through your entire pantry here in a few minutes.”