She folded her arms. “What? Should I run back to the house and get my bag too? Is that an order?” She glared at me, mocking my earlier voice.
“Come with me willingly—”
“Or?”
“Or I’ll make you. It’s your choice.”
Her mouth hung open while her father watched us, fascinated for some reason. Why the fuck did he want to listen to our argument?
“Try,” she challenged, but then stepped back, probably understanding how stupid it was to goad the angry beast inside me.
“Fine.” Before she could even blink, I reached her, bent down, and threw her over my shoulder. She started screaming like a banshee and hitting my back with her tiny fists.
“You’ll hear from me again, Edward.” Addressing her father one last time, I moved toward the car, but I still heard his voice.
“I don’t doubt it, Radmir.”
“I will not forgive you, Radmir, if you take me somewhere against my will.” She stopped her actions for a moment and asked, “Where are you planning to go?”
Adjusting her position better so she wouldn't get hurt, I simply said, “Russia.” She gasped and then hit me with all her might once again, this time digging her nails into my lower back, and I winced. “Krasivoglazaya, I’m all for you marking me, but let’s wait for the bedroom, shall we?”
“You arrogant, cocky, stubborn—”
Petor opened the car door for us, and I placed her inside, where Jake already sat in the middle, drinking in Gleb’s words. Vivian moved over and sat next to the window while I joined Jake on the other side. “Airport.”
The car moved smoothly among the dust, as Vi breathed heavily and put her hair back together, her hands fisting the only sign of her frustration. She wouldn't scream with a child in the car.
“Mommy, we are going to Russia!” He swiped his iPad and an image appeared. He practically shoved it into Vi’s face. “We can visit this ice skating rink! Isn’t it awesome?”
She forced a smile on her face and hugged him close so he ended up in the crook of her arm. “Yes, honey, it is.” But the glare she sent my way spoke about retribution later.
She could yell, hit, be mad at me.
But she’d be at my side with my child, safe, and in my fucking country.
Seemed like a good bargain to me.
Vivian
The drive to the airport was relatively short, only thirty minutes, in which Jake chatted excitedly about his upcoming trip with Gleb, who hadn't changed at all, except for a few new tattoos on his neck.
He was a tall guy with a lean body, strong jaw, and the greenest eyes I had ever seen on a man. It went well with his silver, shoulder-length hair. He reminded me of an elf, especially when he let his hair hang loose and not in a bun, and he would often scowl at my comparison, particularly when the guys laughed at him for it. He had the patience of a saint, and I always wondered about his roots. But since he was from the foster care system and found on the streets of Boston, no one knew much about him.
“We are flying in the Bratva plane,” Radmir said, but I ignored him, continuing to look with fake fascination at the empty desert road, although a few things popped up here and there. “The same one we traveled in to Irkutsk.” The place where he introduced me to the amazing Baikal Lake, nothing compared to the power and strength of that lake or how I could sit for hours and listen to the waves crashing against the stones as the icy-cold water nipped at my bare feet. Jake had the image of it on his iPad, so his next question didn’t surprise me.
“What’s Baikal Lake, Daddy?” I could hear the smile on his face as he replied.
“I’ll show you someday. The sight is too beautiful for any description to give it justice.”
At least we agreed on something.
I couldn't believe my ears when he ordered me to travel, as if my life was not my decision at all. He gave me no explanation, nothing. He showed up furious and gave me no choice, and I would have fought him hard if it wasn't for Jake. He didn't need to see us fight.
I wasn't furious he took us away, because deep down in his voice and eyes I could detect fear, and he believed he did it for our safety. But how he went about it was a different story. He had a lot to learn about relationships, and I wouldn't make it easy for him either.
His warm palm covered mine as he laced his fingers with mine, waiting for my reaction, and for a second, just because he probably needed to reassure himself I was here with him, I squeezed it lightly but quickly snatched it back so he wouldn't get cocky about it.
“Vi—” The car stopped smoothly as we parked next the Bratva’s elegant plane and the guys got up, helping Jake and me.
