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“No.”
“Good choice,” he replied and fired questions. “Black or gray?”
“No.”
“Silver?”
I thought about it for a second, but while our marriage was far from traditional, I wanted his band to match the ring he’d given me.
His mother’s.
“Gold.”
“Okay, that narrows it down some.” Viktor quickly rearranged the bands until only one casing remained. “Now, the first four that you are drawn to.” His hands ushered me forward.
I did.
“Now eliminate two.”
I took each band and returned two to its padding.
“Pick one.”
I traced each edge and detail, feeling its grooves and twists. Both bands were similar, and yet unique.
I loved them both, and as I stared at them, I couldn’t decide which would bear his finger.
“Do you think he will wear it?” I wondered, lost in gold.
“Yes.”
“Haveyouever thought of marriage?”
“Yes.” My head turned to face him, but his eyes were down on the various rings. “But it’s not something I see happening. Not with what I do.”
Viktor shared, and a part of me thanked him for doing so because he didn’t have too. As his thoughts pried him away into memories, I could see the sorrow of his admission.
Viktor had someone special.
“Notwith what you do?” I echoed his words. “Lucca is getting married.”
“As a boss, he has to, Katia. And you’ve always been in harm's way by being born into this life.”
Even though I knew this, his words stung. Because if it hadn’t been me, another woman would be walking down the aisle for the same reason I was supposed to, duty. I was just offered before he sought out his future queen. In fact, we were never meant to meet. Never meant to coexist.
I repeated his words in my head, and uttered, “She’s not affiliated.”
He didn’t have to reply, his tensed body answered.
“I wish it wasthatsimple.”
Two knocks erupted throughout the room, and I was left with burning questions. Joseph stepped inside and waited near the opened door.
“Have you found anything that interests you?”
“I have,” I replied, and drew my shoulders back as he walked closer. “Which one of these is one of a kind?”
He moved closer, looking at them, and he quickly replied, “The one on your left.”
