Chapter 21 Sera
SERA
Thankfully, Keke is satisfied with a day of shopping before her store appearance in the evening the following day.
Because while I might not want to admit that punch made me see stars, I had a hellacious headache all day.
Fortunately, the episode seemed to have earned me the respect of the French guards.
Though the way Liev glares at them every time Etienne praises me, you’d think he’d grabbed my ass.
By the time we make it to the private lounge at the small executive airport the next morning, it feels like everything is working against us.
An accident made us late arriving, followed by a mechanical problem with the jet.
We ended up missing our slip spot to take off and are now waiting for our new assigned take-off time.
With weather causing delay after delay for the other flights, I’m starting to wonder if we will make it to Dallas today.
Keke and her entourage have taken over one entire corner, sprawled out over several seats oblivious to the other private jet patrons sharing the room with them.
Apparently after we’d all gone to bed, she’d gone live on social media again attacking ‘the tree-hugging losers’ who were trying to ruin her life.
Needless to say, the public hadn’t reacted well.
Marco and Keke have been on the phone the entire time. Every call sounds worse than the last.
My head still aches with a dull pressure behind my eyes, and my face is a little sore but nowhere as bad as yesterday. I take a slow drink of water and roll my shoulders, trying to shake out the tightness in my neck.
“You’re acting like I’m twelve,” Keke snaps, loud enough to turn heads across the lounge.
Her phone is on speaker. She doesn’t seem to care that she’s disturbing everyone around her.
“That’s because you act like a spoiled preteen,” Todd fires back. “What were you thinking?”
A couple of people nearby try and fail to hide their smiles. I scan for phones, relieved not to see any lifted toward her.
I glance at Liev. Should we step in?
He gives a small shrug. Not worth it.
Todd keeps going. “Until this tour is over, you’ll be staying at the hotel unless it’s a scheduled event and off your phone. We can’t afford more bad publicity.”
“Absolutely not—”
“It’s nonnegotiable if you want to keep your contracts.”
The argument circles until Keke ends the call and drops into a chair, glaring at anyone who looks her way.
I groan and rub my temples. “Is the day over yet?”
“Not yet.” Liev’s knee nudges mine and then stays there, pressed against me.
My skin buzzes, even though it’s just our legs touching in a crowded public space.
“Your leg is distracting,” I mutter, but don’t move away.
“You’re welcome.”
I lower my hand to my side to lift my middle finger between us. To my surprise, he catches it with his middle finger. He wraps it around mine and holds on.
My eyes fly up to meet his, but I can’t read his expression.
Then he winks, and murmurs under his breath. “I’ve been imagining putting my fingers on a lot of parts of you. I’m settling for this.”
Fire. I’m on fire.
“You’re going to owe me a whole new wardrobe of panties before this trip is over,” I tease to cover my reaction.
His eyes darken and his nostrils flare, and I worry I’ve gone too far in this game.
“I’ll buy you as many as you want.”
When we finally board, Keke downs a sleeping pill before the door shuts. Dani and Marco follow with headphones and blankets. The cabin settles into a low, artificial quiet.
“Thank god,” Liev mutters.
We’re seated in the back, away from the others. Close enough that our arms brush when we shift.
His phone lights up again, and he stares down at it before turning it off.
It’s been going off all day.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
He keeps his eyes forward. “Nothing.”
“That’s my line,” I tease, bumping him with my shoulder.
A muscle flutters in his cheek. “It’s my mother,” he admits. “She’s not used to making decisions on her own. With my father gone…”
Guilt forms a pit in my stomach. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Happy actually. She’s going on a cruise.”
I blink. “A cruise?”
“Mikhail’s wife is going with her. They’re going to England, apparently.”
I glance at his phone, then back to his face. “Is that what you meant about expenses?”
Liev stills. “She has savings,” he finally says. “And there are things arranged.”
We’ve never discussed how what I did affected his mother… the rest of his family.
“She’s never lived alone,” he muses. “She married my father at nineteen, so the prospect of doing things just for herself is exciting, but I think a little frightening, too.”
“That’s young. They must have really been in love,” I say carefully.
“It wasn’t love.” He scoffs. “It was an agreement between her father and Mikhail’s father. He was the pakhan, then.”
“Oh.” I don’t know what to say to that.
“Very few of rank marry for love in the bratva. Marriages are to cement alliances and consolidate power.”
I think of the crown on his neck. Is that what his future will hold?
“I know you said you and your father weren’t…” I grimace not sure how to phrase it. “Are you close with your mother?”
He looks away. “I love her. She’s my mother.”
That doesn’t answer my question.
I feel his arm tense next to me and think that’s all he’ll say.
He surprises me when he continues. “She’s not a strong woman, and that makes it hard to have a relationship.
My father was a monster who thrived on our pain.
I was still a small child when I realized that all the things she promised me…
that she would leave him, that she would protect me… they weren’t promises she could keep.”
“Because of the bratva?” I frown.
Liev shakes his head. “No. Once Mikhail took power, things were different. Believe it or not he has a hard line on how he views duty and family. If she’d gone to him, Mikhail would have supported her leaving.
” He cuts me a look. “Not because he thinks hurting people weaker is wrong, but because she is Kovalyov, and my father’s duty was to care for his wife not disrespect her.
It’s messed up, but it makes sense in its own way.
We protect our own. Or we’re supposed to. ”
“I’ve found it’s the people who say they love you, who hurt you the worst.”
He turns his head to look at me.
“I’m not just talking about Aaron. My dad never wanted me.” He tenses next to me then his hand moves, thick fingers slide between mine and lace our hands together. I give him a rueful smile. “It’s not a secret. I’m sure you know about my dad.”
Liev nods. “The boxer.”
“He and my mom had Brady young, like really, really young. He was getting ready to go pro, and a family would just be in the way. He would visit every now and then. On one of those visits, I was a souvenir.” To my surprise, the familiar pain doesn’t come.
“I always hoped that on one of his visits he’d finally be interested in me.
Maybe talk to me. But he never did. Brady got a little attention because he was a boy, but Ray always looked at me like he was afraid I’d bite him. ”
“We did discuss your feral tendencies.” He bumps my shoulder, and I smile.
“Good point. Things were a little better when I got older. He came to see me right after…” I bite hard on my lip as the pain finally surfaces. “He took one look at my injuries and…” My voice breaks off.
Liev’s face darkens, and his fingers grip mine tighter.
I swallow past the emotion. “He made a joke about how at least I was smart… something like that. Honestly, I don’t remember exactly what he said, just that it brought home to me how damaged I am now.
After my first freakout in the hospital, they wouldn’t let me have a mirror again. ”
Liev swears viciously under his breath.
“It’s okay. I mean, I guess in his defense half my head was wrapped in bandages, and it was pretty gross to look at… And he’s been punched in the head… a lot.”
“He was involved in Elizabeth’s rescue last summer.” Liev frowns.
“Yeah, we needed his help. He’s apologized for what he said, and I know he’s trying to make amends, but I haven’t been ready to hear them yet.” I inhale through my nose. “But maybe someday. So, I understand all about asshole parents.”
He leans in and kisses my temple. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For leaving the gate open.”
I stare at him blankly. “What are you talking about?”
“Never mind,” he says softly, this time bending to kiss my lips, not caring who sees.
By the time the hotel doors slide open in Dallas, everyone is done. Keke storms in behind Liev, forcing me to leave Dani and Marco behind to keep pace with her. Her sunglasses are still on even though it’s late evening and we’re standing under a massive chandelier.
“I can’t believe this. I had stores picked out I wanted to go to.”
“You still have tomorrow,” Dani sighs.
“No, I won’t,” Keke snaps. “They’ve got me under hotel arrest now.”
The desk clerk looks up as we approach, smiling brightly. “Good evening. Welcome—”
Liev steps forward, and the man looks like he’s swallowed his tongue. “We’re checking in. Three rooms. Two junior suites and a double room adjoining one of the suites.”
“Yes, sir, we have your rooms ready per the notes on the reservation.” His smile brightens when he addresses Keke. “Ms. Novak, welcome. We’re happy to have you.”
Keke slides her sunglasses down her nose and stares at him over the top. “I need a room with a real tub.”
“You have one,” The clerk assures her.
“And I want to go shopping tonight.”
The clerk blinks. “I’m… not sure how I can help with that.”
“Keke, it’s late. And Todd said—” Marco begins to say.
“I don’t care.”
“Let’s get settled in the rooms.” Liev sounds like he’s chewing glass.
The clerk slides the keys across the counter and is listing the amenities when his words bring my heart to a stuttering stop.
Liev hears them too. “A king bed?”
The clerk checks again. “Yes, sir. That’s correct.”
“We booked a double.”