Page 35 of Mafia and Scars

The drive back to our apartment passes in a blur of desert landscape and Sofia’s chatter about Viktor’s compound. She’s particularly fascinated by the security measures, asking detailed questions about the gates and guards that I deflect as best I can.

I’m feeling lightheaded by the time we reach the city limits. Probably just jet lag catching up with me. Leon’s started fussing too, his little face scrunching up.

I spot a strip mall with a small market and pull in.

As I grab my purse, my hands can’t help going to the card Viktor gave me. I turn it over, expecting to see his number.

And his cell number is there, scrawled in black ink.

But so is something else. A message:I don’t know if our paths will cross in the future. But I do know that I won’t see someone as truly beautiful as you ever again.

My heart starts fluttering too fast like a pair of butterfly wings, and I swallow thickly. I know I won’t see him again, but is it so wrong to wonder what if…?

I run my fingers over his words before slipping the card back into my purse. “Let’s get some water and give Leon some fresh air,” I tell Sofia.

As I unbuckle Leon from his car seat, I find myself wishing Geliy could take both kids for a couple of days so I could recover properly from the trip. But I know better than to hope for that. If he’s gone off on one of his jobs, I probably won’t hear from him for weeks.

He’s unreliable. But more than that, his work is dangerous—for all of us. I think about that car chase again and how terrified Sofia looked. I can’t let my children go through something like that ever again. No, it’s better that I look after the kids myself as much as possible. The Russia trip was just an exception after I lost my job at the university.

But then I think about Viktor’s gentle hands as he helped with our bags, the kind way he treated Sofia, how he made sure we had food for the road. There’s something different about him, something that calls to me despite every logical reason to stay away.

No. I shake my head firmly as I lift Leon into his stroller. I’ve sworn off dangerous men after my experience with Geliy. I won’t put my children at risk again, no matter what I might or could feel toward Viktor. I know better now. Dangerous men bring dangerous consequences.

And that’s not something I want to expose either of the children to anymore.

Except I did just that last night, didn’t I? I sigh heavily. Viktor and his house full of strapped men were as dangerous as they come.

But…for some reason, not once did I feel uncertain about us being there. Was I wary? Sure. Did I make sure we didn’t leave that room after Viktor left? Definitely. But Viktor brought something to the room when he was there. Something I don’t know how to even begin to describe. And the way he was soft and gentle with Sofia…

The cool air-conditioning in the market is a relief.

“We definitely need a car with better AC,” I murmur to Sofia, keeping my voice light despite my hammering headache. Even when falling apart, I can’t let my children see the cracks.

She nods seriously, trusting that her mama has everything under control.

We grab bottles of water and some snacks. At the checkout counter, I fumble for my wallet with one hand while keeping hold of Sofia’s hand with the other.

“That’ll be eight-fifty,” the cashier says.

I pull out a ten-dollar bill, but as I hand it over, the world suddenly tilts sideways.

My vision blurs at the edges.

My knees give out.

And the last thing I hear as darkness overtakes me is Sofia’s voice, high and frightened: “Mama, wake up! Please wake up, Mama!”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

VIKTOR

The ringing of a cell phone breaks through the silence, making me wince. It’s the first time since the chaos of the morning that I’ve been able to sink down on my bed and just breathe.

A huff of air leaves my nose as I glare at my phone. Unknown caller?

Part of me wants to let it go. Maybe one of the guys decided to be an asshole and sign me up for something stupid. Wouldn’t put it past them. But the other part of me knows it could be a runner or shipment gone wrong.

With a shake of my head, I grab the phone.