Fractured Ties by Bethany-Kris Page 0,56
Albanians, and then … whoever else tried to run her and Konstantin off the road later. And all week, she’d been like this.
Happy.
Pleased.
Eager.
Soft.
Joyful.
Bubbly.
He’d never been around anyone who seemed to be as constantly upbeat and pleasant as Maya was, day in and day out. It didn’t affect his personality all that much—he was still a scowling fucker on his good days, but he did find the days passed by easier and faster when this woman was smiling at him.
How was he supposed to let that—let her—go?
He enjoyed it as much as it killed him in that moment. Her smile felt like the softest kiss against his skin—something she did often, and frequently, without warning him first as though she liked the reaction she got. Her smile also felt like a knife twisting in his chest because of two simple words.
Brand her.
Kolya still had to tell her somehow. It might not be the brand that Vadim wanted, but it was still a label. Still black ink on silky, creamy skin. Something she hadn’t asked for at all.
“Come here,” Maya said, holding a small, delicate hand out as if to reach for him. “Watch the clouds with me, Kolya.”
He lifted a brow, but crossed the room. “You’re watching clouds, dushka?”
“They’re big and fluffy this morning.”
“Oh?”
“Mmhmm. Come see.”
The smallest things made this woman happy—it was both strange and enthralling to Kolya. He could make her smile, simply by looking at her or even stroking her cheek with his thumb. And clouds could make her happy, too.
Kolya came to stand next to where Maya was reclined on the side of the bed. She was quick to push up into a sitting position and then pull him down to sit between her legs as she moved to her knees. Between her legs, with his back tucked firmly against her chest, Maya hovered a bit higher than him when he tipped his head back to look at her.
“You’re supposed to be looking at the clouds.”
He managed a smile—for her, it was easy.
“You’re nicer to look at.”
She grinned slyly. “Oh?”
“Yes.”
Maya pressed a kiss to his forehead, and whispered, “Well, thank you.”
God, this woman.
She was going to kill him.
Kolya was sure of it.
“Where’s Sumerki?” she asked.
“The hotel’s concierge took him for a walk.”
“Oh—speaking of the hotel.”
“Hmm, what?”
“We can’t stay here forever,” Maya said, dropping another kiss to his forehead. “Even if I do like the bed and the man sharing it with me.”
Kolya let out a laugh.
Maya shrugged. “Seriously, though. I know you said your place isn’t—”
“It’s a dive, Maya.”
“Still, we can’t stay here forever.”
“That’s debatable—I can afford to do exactly that, if I want.”
“Okay, well, I don’t want to.”
Fair enough.
“I will figure something out,” he murmured. “You should know, yeah, that the point of us being here was to lie low while the message was delivered to the Albanians for what they did, and to answer back on their demand to take you. It’s about keeping you safe.”
Maya stiffened behind him.
“You’ll let me do that, won’t you?”
“What—keep me safe?”
Kolya, still keeping his head tipped back, met Maya’s gaze and held it firm. “Exactly that. You’ll let me protect you, won’t you?”
“But what does that mean?”
“It means whatever it takes, Maya, as long as you’re safe.”
Maya smiled. “And happy, too?”
“Are you happy right now?”
“With you, I am.”
“Then, happy, too, yes.”
• • •
A bell above the tattoo shop’s door chimed when Kolya pushed it open—it wasn’t like his sister to work in a shop. Viktoria preferred to be anywhere and everywhere but contained. Some might say she had a wandering soul. Kolya just figured his sister was too restless for her own good. But according to Vik, that wasn’t any of his goddamn business.
So, he said nothing.
Kolya held the door open wider for Maya to slip in behind him, and only let it close once she was safely inside, with little Sumerki at her side. She scanned the place, and he did the same. Walls filled with artwork. A counter toward the back of the entrance filled with glass pipes, and different piercing jewelry. Clean floors. Bright lights.
All standard things for a tattoo shop.
“Why are we here?” Maya asked.
“Stars.”
She peered over her shoulder at him. The sweetest little knot indented in her brow. “Stars?”
“Mmm, two of them, dushka.” Kolya stepped closer to her and reached up to let his fingers graze the back of her neck. “Just below your neckline here, I think. Where not everyone can see all the time, but they will when it counts.”
He didn’t miss