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Chapter 12 – Viktor
As we left the diningroom, I laced my fingers through Briana’s and strode down the hallway. However, we didn’t make it more than a few feet before a shrill voice called after us, “Briana, dearest, we need to have a quick chat before tomorrow.”
I tightened my hold on Briana and turned to face Mrs. Pelto.
“Just the family,” the matriarch emphasized. Her lips thinned as she pinned me with a hard look.
Teeth clenched, I bit back a rebuttal and let Briana go. I couldn’t say it, and I knew Briana wouldn’t want to hear it.But what if I made the comment anyway? What if I cared enough that she was mine?
That thought tormented me as I watched the sexy little minx walk away. Her black dress was a dark promise, a shroud of sin. For the next forty-eight hours the temptress was all mine—and I wanted every damn minute. Because the day after the wedding, I would return to the grisly scene that was the underworld.
“Hey, suits,” I called after her, my voice booming down the hall.
She turned, despite the exasperated huff from her mother. Although there were a few yards of distance between us, I held her gaze and lifted my fingers to my lips. When I flicked my tongue against my fingertips, her eyes widened. Conscious of her mother’s stare, I called, “I’m going to hit the exercise room, then go back for a shower.”
Briana nodded. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Yes, you will.”
Her smart mouth popped open; a sign that she was aware of my wicked intentions—that her sweet little cunt would be pulsing from my dirty promises in a few hours.
Mrs. Pelto had to drag her away, but before she disappeared into the lounge, Briana paused and threw me a wink.
That’s it, suits. Let the ice melt.
Turning on my heel, I went to change and find a way to release the tension, knowing it was only a Band-Aid.
~*~
Drumming my fingerson the windowsill, I gazed at the waves gliding to shore. The beauty of this expensive view was lost on me. Damp hair already mostly dried, I debated putting socks and shoes back on and heading back into the resort.
The only thing stopping me was that Briana wouldn’t like me thundering into the family conference and making a scene. She would back up, and dammit, I’d worked hard and done everything in my power to ensure she was having a good time despite the chaos. Of course, the toxic environment she was subjected to right now had the potential to undo my work far quicker than my sudden appearance.
At that, a flash of anger had my muscles tensing. I cracked my neck and shifted my shoulders to keep them loose. My muscles were deliciously sore from the fight last night, and even after my visit to the gym, I still couldn’t shake my restless energy. I debated calling my sister, or hell, even my number two, Toli. But I was supposed to be lying low, and putting my mind back in the game would ruin the precious few hours I had left with Briana.
The soft double knock had my heart painfully missing a beat. I crossed the room in half a second. “I didn’t order room service,” I announced, keeping my tone light as I searched Briana for details as to how the meeting went.
My chest constricted. Her big brown eyes were missing their earlier spark. She didn’t look sad, per se, mostly exhausted. And beaten down.
“Can I come in?” she asked, looking over my shoulder.
“There’s no one here, babe,” I murmured. “I’ve been waiting foryou.”
She gave me a tired smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I thought they might have sent Gavin to talk to you.”
Walking over to the sofa, Briana dropped onto the furniture. I closed the door and slid my hands into the pockets of my grey sweats. “Why would they send him?”
Briana waved her hand. “One of the guests was talking to Gavin for a bit. He said that Gavin wanted to ask you about your construction company.”
A bolt of pure ice pierced my chest. “Your brother can talk to me; I have nothing to hide,” I said, keeping my voice light.
Thankfully, Bri didn’t catch the bite in my tone. Tipping her head back, she let out a sigh. “It was nothing. They just wanted to know if you’d come out east. Apparently, leaving Loftson, Avery, & Hobbs after my internship would be a mistake.”
I bit back my response and took a deep breath. It was not calming. I thought on what to say when Briana asked abruptly, “Can I sleep here?”
“I thought there was no bed sharing. I refer to article three, subsection five, point b,” I teased. The look on her face killed the mirth in my chest. Sinking down beside her, I pulled her onto my lap. “What really happened, Bri? Did they ambush you?” Gavin might not live to see his twin married, and her father was fish food.
