“Siroc was five years older than me. I still remember my surprise when he paid me a compliment the first time we met. We were friends, good friends, for a long time. We were nothing more than friends. Then when I was almost nineteen, we became a thing. He always made me feel loved. He was always so attentive, so giving. And it was in his giving that I started to notice when he began spending more than usual. He always saidit was just extra pay at work. There was even a time we fought about it. I realized he was involved in shady things, but I didn’t know what exactly.”
I heaved a sigh before continuing.
“I found out about the extent of it on the afternoon of the warehouse raid. I was furious. I was angry at myself for not forcing him to spill the details to me earlier. But mostly, I was angry at him for not telling me before. I went to the warehouse that evening with the intent of breaking up with him since he had proven to be someone I couldn’t trust,” I explained, my voice dropping to a whisper as I added, “But I didn’t get that chance. He was killed.”
The library was silent again, but there was a shift in Konstantin’s expression.
It was the first time Konstantin and I had spoken like two human beings, not captor and captive. I also realized it was the longest normal conversation I’d ever had with him.
“How about your parents?” he inquired, breaking the silence.
I took my eyes off the window to find him staring at me, apparently waiting for my response.
“My dad and mom died in a car crash when I was 10. The authorities sent me to an orphanage. Life at the orphanage was nothing like I was used to—in fact, it was hell in the beginning because I couldn’t imagine living without my parents—but it was okay. When I was 16, the superintendent tried to abuse me. So, I ran away.”
Is it just my eyes, or Konstantin’s jaw just clenched?
“I ran into Siroc. He protected me after that.”
I couldn’t bring myself to go further. I was already opening up old wounds too frequently. So I turned to leave.
He caught my wrist. I took in a breath, shocked. His touch was firm enough to stop me but not hard enough to be painful.But it was all shades of uncomfortable because that single contact sent a jolt through me. Then he let go immediately.
“You’re under my protection now.”
I blinked up at him, unable to think of a fitting answer.
“We’ll be going to New York soon.”
I nodded and walked away, out of the library.
Every step I took away from the library increased my urge to turn back. To say it was upsetting would be an understatement. But it felt like the little conversation I had with Konstantin only exacerbated the unwanted and totally annoying sliver of whatever-it-was. Hastening my steps in case my unreliable mind decided to lead me back into the library, I opened the door to my new room and entered.
Only the dim lights were on, and I liked it that way. The bald man and someone who was clearly one of those under him had led me here earlier in the afternoon, according to Konstantin’s promise. My things, namely the few clothes Ruslan had helped me fish out, had been moved to the room during the wedding, and I had no idea until I saw them in the wardrobe. The bald man also informed me of my new freedom to move around the house, but not without a subtle warning to stay on this floor and not wander beyond it.
Shortly after they left me in the room, Ruslan came knocking, and that marked the end of my exploration of the space, from the black-tiled bathroom to the large dresser and wide bed.
I had asked him not to ask about the wedding as I ate the lunch he brought for me. He suggested showing me around the floor after my meal—and that was how I found the library. The serene air around the tall shelves of categorically arranged books made the large room feel calm to me. So calm that I’d informed Ruslan of my intention of staying back at the library for a while longer. I ended up staying there until night crept up on me.
In hindsight, I should have just stayed in my room.
My fingers swept the edge of the bed, feeling the softness of the white cotton covers as I headed over to the wardrobe on the other side of the bed. As I changed out of my dress, my mind wandered to how the night would have gone if my groom had been someone else. But that image didn’t last for two seconds before I was picturing the real groom.
Okay, I’m done!
In the sleeveless white cotton nightgown with a square neckline accented by inset lace, I sat at the edge of the bed. I looked over my shoulder to the window on my right, appreciating how I no longer had to stay in a room with no windows.
I couldn’t stop my mind from drifting again.
The Konstantin I talked with tonight was different from the heartless killer I hated. He was more…ordinary. While I did all the sharing and telling, he seemed and felt open. It made me wonder if there was a different version of him, a more humane version, somewhere inside.
But that was not everything on my mind during and even after our small talk. Our proximity made me realize how handsome his dark brows and chiseled face were. His shirt, which was no longer covered with a suit jacket, gave me a hint of how muscular his arms were.
I shouldn’t be thinking about this.
Shaking my head, I crawled into the bed until I was right at the center. I spread my arms to either side of my body, something I hadn’t been able to do in the former room. If I couldn’t walk the streets freely yet, I could at least enjoy a normal bed.
I’m married.
