Chapter 52 Amara
AMARA
There’s nothing like going from being wet in every meaning of the word in a shower at the mercy of a man trying to teach you a lesson, to sitting at a fancy restaurant in a dress that’s too tight, with a ponytail that’s also too tight, watching a Bratva pakhan eat his weight in caviar.
I cross my legs under the table and Ransome puts his hand on my thigh. He slides it up a little. I slide it down. And so it goes.
“Amara, those earrings are lovely,” Ransome’s mother compliments me from across the table. I don’t really know why we are here having this midday seafood lunch. No one is talking, save for his mother, who is just staring at me looking for some way to make this less awkward.
“Thank you. Ransome got them for me.”
“Of course he did.” She smiles at him.
“Making good use of family money, I see,” Anton mutters. Ransome’s hand tightens on my thigh.
“I learn from the best.” He nods at the mountain of caviar that probably cost more than the earrings did.
“Well, I think these lunches are lovely,” his mom goes on. “It’s nice to just have a family meal free of business talk and—”
“Dmitry is pressing on the agreement, son,” Anton cuts in.
Ransome stiffens. His mom reaches for her drink.
Baron, who is sitting on the other side of Ransome, holds face as always. Though he does keep glancing out the window.
“I never agreed to the arrangement and have no need for it,” Ransome says.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Anton says. “The Chadovichs are very fickle people.”
“Speaking of that, I swear I can hear engines,” Baron says with an uncomfortable laugh. Both his and Mav’s necks crane to see out the window.
“It doesn’t matter what you need, son. It’s not about you. It’s about family.”
“Is it though? Because the last time I checked, it was about money.”
“That is definitely a revving engine,” Baron says, and Mav stands up.
The engines get louder, loud enough to drown out the fighting between Ransome and his dad. Meanwhile, Baron looks worried.
“Uncle,” he says, pushing away from the table. His voice sounds urgent.
The arguing halts.
Ransom’s mom reaches for the wine bottle.
Baron bolts up.
Mav’s eyes widen.
And…
“EVERYONE DOWN!” Baron shouts just at the shattering of glass and the ringing of bullets pops through the air.
The next thing I feel is the wind knocking out of me as I hit the floor and Ransome lands on top of me.
There’s screaming. Car tires screeching. And then white noise that fades into a ringing and my vision goes dark.