Page 87 of Fractured Ties

God, this woman.

She was going to kill him.

Kolya was sure of it.

“Where’s Sumerki?” she asked.

“The hotel’s concierge took him for a walk.”

“Oh—speaking of the hotel.”

“Hmm, what?”

“We can’t stay here forever,” Maya said, dropping another kiss to his forehead. “Even if I do like the bed and the man sharing it with me.”

Kolya let out a laugh.

Maya shrugged. “Seriously, though. I know you said your place isn’t—”

“It’s a dive, Maya.”

“Still, we can’t stay here forever.”

“That’s debatable—I can afford to do exactly that, if I want.”

“Okay, well, I don’t want to.”

Fair enough.

“I will figure something out,” he murmured. “You should know, yeah, that the point of us being here was to lie low while the message was delivered to the Albanians for what they did, and to answer back on their demand to take you. It’s about keeping you safe.”

Maya stiffened behind him.

“You’ll let me do that, won’t you?”

“What—keep me safe?”

Kolya, still keeping his head tipped back, met Maya’s gaze and held it firm. “Exactly that. You’ll let me protect you, won’t you?”

“But what does that mean?”

“It means whatever it takes, Maya, as long as you’re safe.”

Maya smiled. “And happy, too?”

“Are you happy right now?”

“With you, I am.”

“Then, happy, too, yes.”

• • •

A bell above the tattoo shop’s door chimed when Kolya pushed it open—it wasn’t like his sister to work in a shop. Viktoria preferred to be anywhere and everywhere but contained. Some might say she had a wandering soul. Kolya just figured his sister was too restless for her own good. But according to Vik, that wasn’t any of his goddamn business.

So, he said nothing.

Kolya held the door open wider for Maya to slip in behind him, and only let it close once she was safely inside, with little Sumerki at her side. She scanned the place, and he did the same. Walls filled with artwork. A counter toward the back of the entrance filled with glass pipes, and different piercing jewelry. Clean floors. Bright lights.