Chapter 34
Laura
THE NEXT morning.
I walk into the mansion, footsteps sharp against the polished marble floor. Victor’s waiting for me by the car, his arms crossed and his brow furrowed.
“Hey,” I greet him, my voice coming out a little more breathless than I’d like.
Damn, he looks good. Tired but still hot as hell.
His muscles are hard under the white shirt he’s wearing, and those forearms… God, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since last night.
But Victor just nods, sliding into the G-Class without so much as a “hey” back. My heart sinks a little at his lack of response.
I was so excited when I got his text late last night, saying he’d be sending me over to the bookstore today. But now, seeing him in this mood…
Well, good morning to you too, Mr. Grumpy Pants,I think, trying not to let his attitude get to me. Who pissed in your coffee this morning?
Victor reaches over, opening the passenger door for me. I hike up my black skirt a little, trying to climb into the tall SUV gracefully. It’s not easy in these heels and this tight skirt, but I manage, sliding onto the leather seat next to him.
I can feel his eyes on me as I buckle my seatbelt, and I glance over, catching him staring at my chest. My white cashmere button-up is gaping a little, revealing a hint of cleavage. I clear my throat, and Victor’s gaze snaps up to my face.
I take a moment to really look at him, noticing the dark circles under his eyes, the weariness in his posture. He looks exhausted, like he hasn’t slept in days. A part of me wants to reach out, to pull his head into my lap and run my fingers through his hair until he falls asleep.
Stop it, Laura,I scold myself, shaking off the thought. He’s not a puppy. He’s a dangerous man who’s only tolerating you because he has to.
“What happened?” I ask, taking in his disheveled appearance. His usually immaculate suit is wrinkled, and there’s a splash of something dark on his white shirt.
Victor scowls, his eyes narrowing. “What makes you think something happened?
I raise an eyebrow, pointedly looking him up and down. “Well, for starters, you look like you just went ten rounds with a bottle of vodka. And lost.”
Victor’s jaw clenches, and for a moment, I think he’s going to snap at me. But then he sighs, his shoulders slumping. “It’s been a long fucking night.”
Alright, he’s definitely not in the mood for jokes today, got it. That frown could scare off a clown.
I want to press, to demand answers, but I know better. Victor’s not exactly the sharing type. If he wanted me to know, he’d tell me.
So I just nod, settling back into my seat as he pulls out of the driveway. The silence between us is heavy, awkward. I fiddle with the strap of my purse, trying to think of something to say.
“Thanks for letting me go to the bookstore today,” I offer, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. “I really appreciate it.”
Victor grunts, his eyes fixed on the road. “Don’t mention it.”
I bite my lip, frustration welling up inside me. Would it kill him to have an actual conversation? To act like he doesn’t completely despise my presence?
Should I tell him what I saw on Dimitry’s phone?
But I swallow down the words, knowing they’ll only make things worse.
“Did you, um… did you have breakfast?” I ask, immediately cringing at how lame I sound.
Victor’s eyebrows lift, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “No. Did you?”
I shake my head, my cheeks heating. “No. I wasn’t hungry.”
Liar. You were too busy freaking out about seeing him to eat.
We lapse into silence again, the only sound the hum of the engine and the muted rush of traffic outside. I fiddle with the hem of my skirt, trying to work up the nerve to make the situation less awkward. Like trying to start a conversation in an elevator with someone who just saw you trip over your own feet.
“How was dinner with the family?” Victor asks suddenly.
I startle, caught off guard. “Oh, um… it was fine. Good, actually. Your dad seems to be doing better.”
Victor nods, something like relief flickering across his face. “That’s good. I’m glad,” he grunts with a sardonic snort. “Old man’s tough as nails. Papa would stand up and march on, heart stabbed with a knife and all. Stubborn doesn’t half describe him.”
I laugh. “Reminds me of someone I know.” I give Victor a pointed look, my lips curving into a teasing smile.
Victor’s eyes flick to me, a smirk playing on his lips. “Careful there, kiska. You don’t want to cross the line with me. I might just have to pull this car over and punish you.”
His words send a shiver down my spine, and I feel heat pooling in my belly. Damn him and his ability to turn me on with just a few words.
I swallow hard, trying to ignore the way my body responds to him. “Is that a promise or a threat?”
Victor chuckles, the sound dark and dangerous. “With me, it’s always both.”
Something in his tone makes me worry. His look of amusement has changed to one of primal hunger, that predatory glint in his eyes that surfaces at random moments, always catching me off guard.
My breath hitches. My heart starts to pound. An electric charge shivers over my nerve endings. From one moment to the next, I go from being annoyed with him to feeling like a mouse that realized there’s a cat crouching right behind it, ready to pounce.
“I’d like that.” I gasp. I can’t believe that I just admitted that out loud.
He reaches out to hold my hand, “Sweet little kiska, if you keep tempting me like this, I won’t be held responsible for what I do to you. I’ll have you screaming my name, begging for more.”
His words make me press my thighs together, trying to alleviate the ache building between my legs.
Fuck, how does he do this to me?
I pull my hand back, pretending to adjust the seatbelt that’s digging into my stomach and breast.
I hesitate, biting the inside of my cheek. Now’s as good a time as any, I guess.
“Victor, there’s something I need to tell you.”
He glances at me, his brow furrowed. “What is it? Are you all wet for me now?”
I glare at him, irritation flaring. “Can you just stop it for a second? This is serious.”
Victor’s smirk fades, and he sits back, his expression turning guarded. “What’s going on, kiska?”
I take a deep breath, reaching into my purse. My fingers close around the cool metal of the necklace, and I pull it out, holding it up for him to see.
“It’s your mother’s necklace. I… we broke it when my dress got stuck the other day.”
Victor looks at it, and for a moment, I think he’s going to be angry. But then he reaches out, taking the necklace from my hand. His fingers brush against mine, sending a shock of electricity up my arm.
“It’s fine,” he says, his voice gruff. “I’ll get it fixed.”
He slips the necklace into his pocket, his hand lingering for a moment. I watch him, trying to gauge his reaction. But as usual, his face is a mask, giving nothing away.
I bite my lip, gathering my courage. “That’s not all. At dinner last night, I saw something. On Dimitry’s phone.”
Victor’s head snaps up, his eyes boring into mine. “What did you see?”
I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. “A message. It said something about a ledger. And that he needed to find it, or else.”
Victor’s jaw clenches, and he looks away, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. “Fuck.”
I wait, my heart pounding. Is he going to explain? Tell me what’s going on?
But he just shakes his head, his expression closing off. “Don’t worry about it, kiska. It’s nothing.”
Frustration wells up inside me. “It didn’t sound like nothing. It sounded like a threat.”
Victor’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see something like fear flicker in their depths. But then it’s gone, replaced by cold determination.
“I said don’t worry about it. It’s my problem, not yours.”