Everything—glass, petals, stems—hits the floor in a violent crash.
“Tomorrow,” he says coldly. “You have our money ready. Or we’ll do more than break a few flowers.”
He leers at me in a way that makes me sure of what he is thinking. I shudder at the thought of this disgusting man laying a hand on me. He notices my reaction.
His eyes go sharp with anger. “Careful, little girl.”
They turn toward the door. The shorter one stops long enough to tip over another table, scattering roses everywhere. Snake-Neck spits on the floor beside the debris.
“This is your last warning,” he says. “Pay tomorrow. In cash…or otherwise.” He gives me another look that fills me with dread.
Then they leave, the bell chiming cheerfully as the door swings shut behind them. The shop falls into a suffocating silence. I stand frozen among the destruction, Vanda trembling violently against me, my own breath caught somewhere between shock and panic.
“You’re alright, Vanda,” I murmur quietly, pressing a kiss to her head. Then I lower her gently to one of the couches in the waiting area.
“Stay here,” I say, gently patting her head. She looks at me, her huge brown eyes filled with worry and anxiety. I manage a smile, running my palm down his back. “I’m fine. We’re fine.”
After she settles into the couch, I walk over to the storage room to pick a broom, then I go back into the shop and start to sweepthe shards. My head is still in a haze and I’m merely hanging on— just going through the motions.
Suddenly, the bell above the door jingles again.
I jolt so hard the broom slips from my hand and clatters across the floor. My heart slams against my ribs, terror spiraling all over again.
“Natalya? My God…it’s a disaster in here,” he says, anger already seeping through his tone. “And you are crying,” he adds, gentler.
I don’t realize I’m crying until Viktor points it out. I look up, our eyes meet and the emotions I’ve been trying to keep at bay crashes over me all at once. Viktor strides into the shop, his eyes scanning the wreckage. I watch his shoulders tense up, his usually unreadable eyes flaring up with pure, lethal fury.
“Who did this?” he growls and the sound seems to vibrate through the entire space.
I wipe at my face frantically, but new tears streak down my cheeks. “Two men. They…they said I had to pay them. A fee. Like—like we pay you.”
He steps closer and cups my face gently—so gently I almost lost it completely. “Lepestok…look at me.”
I do and the anger drains from his eyes instantly, replaced with something far deeper, heavier, protective enough to make my throat close.
“Did they touch you?
His voice was cold. Controlled. Deadly.
“N-no. I’m fine,” I whisper.
“Can you identify them?”
“Y-yes? Maybe…” I trail off with a helpless shrug. “I don’t know—everything happened so fast.”
“It’s fine, babe,” he says, pulling me against his chest. “I’m here now.”
I sag against his body and take in a deep shaky breath, letting the smell of him calm me. When Viktor pulls back, I almost protest but then he takes my hand and calls for Vanda to come with us.
He leads me up the stairs to the apartment, and takes me straight to the couch. Then he picks up Vanda, sets her beside me, and kneels in front of me. His touch is firm but tender as he pushes my hair out of my face, wipes away the tears I’ve missed.
“Stay with her,” he says softly to the dog, almost like she’s a child, then looks up at me. “I’ll be back.”
Then he walks away and it takes everything in me not to cling to him.
I’m not some clingy Disney princess who found her prince.
I watch him disappear into the bathroom and a minute later, I hear water running. Then he returns, and scoops me into his arms. I gasp, burying my face in his shoulder as he carries me toward the bathroom.
