ROSE
"Come on, Rose! Fight with me!"
Paul danced around the coffee table, fists up to protect himself, as the training scene from Mulan played out in Russian behind him. It was his favorite movie. I think we had watched it three times since I'd been here, and there was no end in sight. That was fine by me. It had been my favorite movie when I was his age, too. Thankfully, it still held up.
I popped off the couch and squared off against him, keeping my body loose. I obviously wouldn't hit him, at least not really hit him, but it was fun messing around with the kid. He kind of reminded me of Mason and Eddie when we were all younger. Constant energy. Paul was Karolina's son, and while he was only ten, he was nearly as tall as I was. He also looked so much like a mini-Dimitri, it was a little scary.
Paul laughed as I threw a quick feign to his right, slow enough for him to duck out of the way before I gave him a small smack against the left side of his head. It barely ruffled his hair, but he acted like I had just KO'd him as he let out a loud and dramatic "Ahh! You got me!"
"Gotta keep tight, Paul. Don't drop your shoulder." Ugh. I sounded like his uncle. Paul was on break from school. I should just be letting him play around without trying to correct him. But every time I saw that shoulder drop, I could hear Dimitri in the back of my mind. The least I could do was help his nephew fix his guard before Paul's training really ramped up next year.
Paul adjusted his stance, and I mimicked my earlier strike. This time he was able to block me.
"Good job!" I cheered him, holding my hand up above his head so that he had to jump just a little bit to give me a high five.
He laughed, though I could see a hint of pride flicker in his eyes at my praise. For some reason, that made me proud as well.
Once the musical montage finished, we fell back onto the couch to watch the movie again. We were trying another thing Dimitri suggested to help me with my language skills: watching Russian cartoons with English subtitles. I wasn't sure how much it was actually helping, but at least I got to hang out with a pretty cool kiddo.
I liked having Paul around and would be sad to see him leave next week. He was only home for Easter break and would be heading back to St. Basil's again soon. Viktoria, Dimitri's youngest sister, would be arriving Saturday in time for the party. She wasn't going to be staying long, just for the weekend, but I was excited to get to know her a little. I guess when Olena told her that I was moving in, she insisted on coming back to meet me rather than staying at the Academy to focus on a few of her classes.
A cabinet slammed in the kitchen, and I heard the familiar sound of Sonya grumbling. She only had a few months left in her pregnancy, but I was honestly looking forward to the day that baby arrived. Not that I was necessarily looking forwards to the baby—those things terrified me—but I hoped she would be in a better mood.
Paul and I shared a look, one that said, 'your turn,' before I decided to be the adult in the situation. He gave me a victorious grin as I stood, and I rolled my eyes in reply. Little punk.
"Can I help?" I offered, trying to sound sincere.
She lifted her gaze from the notepad she was furiously writing on and glared at me before replying. "Нет. Я в порядке."
'No. I'm fine.'
I was already pretty used to that phrase from her, even though it was clear that she wasn't feeling very 'fine.'
"P-Pozha-luysta?" I cringed at my own mispronunciation. If I couldn't manage a simple 'please,' how would I ever survive on my own here?
Keep trying, I reminded myself. Just keep trying.
She groaned. "Unless you can do the shopping…Нет."
I'm not sure what came over me. Maybe I was tired of Sonya acting like I was a burden or some pathetic charity case...not that she had actually said those things, but she certainly didn't seem happy about my presence in the house. Either way, I decided to be bold. Or stupid. Or both.
"If you write the list in English, then I'll go for you."
Her eyes widened at my offer. Her shock quickly morphed into amusement. "You? You will get lost."
"Nyet. Your mother showed me where the grocery was the other day. I can find it." It was close enough to walk to. I remembered that. There were a few twists and turns, but I was sure I could figure it out.
She rolled her eyes in a way that made me both self-conscious and annoyed. "In the store, Rose. You will get lost in the store. You cannot read the labels."
She was right. I probably wouldn't be able to read any labels. But I didn't need to read labels to figure out things like apples and chicken.
"I can do it," I assured her. When she saw I wasn't backing down, she tore off the sheet of paper that she had been writing on, crumpled it in her fist, and started writing it over in English. I went to the closet where Olena kept the reusable shopping bags and stuffed them in the sling bag Karolina had given me the other day. I never carried a purse back at the Academy, and walking around town with my full backpack just felt awkward. Thankfully, Karolina had a collection of vintage handbags that she was all too happy to lend me.
When she finally passed me the list, which only showed a dozen or so items, she had a bit of a smirk on her face. One that made me a bit concerned, like she half hoped I fumbled it.
I glanced towards Paul, wondering if I should beg him to come with me, but he was already engrossed in his action figures, and I didn't want to tear him away from his fun. So, lifting my chin and trying to put as much confidence I could muster into my smile, I spun on my heel towards the door, determined to prove her wrong.
Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Growing up at the Academy, groceries and cooking weren't things I ever had to think about. Beyond the brief moments of watching Christian in his cooking class, I had never seen a meal made. All my meals came pre-cooked on the cafeteria line. If I wanted pizza, I picked it up off a tray. Potatoes came pre-mashed. And while I had seen plenty of chicken strips over the years, I don't think I ever saw a raw piece of chicken before moving to Russia.
Which is how I ended up in front of the butcher's area, staring at a chilled window of various types of meat with no clue what I was looking at. The list said I needed one kilogram of chicken thighs. Even if I ignored the fact that I didn't know how to convert pounds to kilograms, I had no clue how to tell the difference between chicken thighs and chicken breasts without some label. And I'm pretty sure 'guessing and hoping' wasn't the best idea.
I looked up at the man behind the counter, who already seemed like he was losing patience with me. "Do you…Do you speak English? Angliyskiy?"
His face didn't change, but the slow, measured blink he gave me made me think that it was a big ol' no.
"I speak English," an accented voice said from behind me. "Do you need help?"
Oh, thank goodness. A guardian angel.
"Yes!" I turned, already feeling the panic melt away. Before me stood a guy a little older than me with sandy blonde hair and the first genuine smile I had seen outside the Belikova home. "Thank you so much. I have no idea what I'm doing."
He laughed before laying his palm out so I could hand him the list. He gave it a quick once over before rattling something off so quickly there was no way I'd ever be able to repeat it. The man behind the counter nodded once before pulling several pink blobs from the case and wrapping them up in white paper. He gave it to the boy, who passed it to me to put in my basket.
"I'm Maksim, but you can call me Max."
"Nice to meet you, Max. I'm Rose." I offered my hand to him for a quick handshake. Max was a human, which probably should have been weird for me. It had been a long time since I had really interacted with humans. Lissa and I had lived with several while we were on the run, so I was probably more comfortable than most, but it was still odd since our races generally didn't mix. Baia was the home to moroi, dhampir, and humans alike, though, so I was sure I'd get used to it again soon.
His smile brightened a little, and I couldn't begin to describe how comforting that was to me. I felt like I was practically clinging to his simple kindness. He offered to help me with the rest of my shopping (which I didn't plan on admitting to Sonya). While we walked around the store picking up cabbage and mayonnaise, we chatted a little.
"So you just moved here?" he asked. He slipped something else from the list into the basket he now insisted on carrying for me.
"Da. I just moved in with the Belikovas."
His face showed some recognition. "From America?"
I was about to ask how he had guessed, but I remembered that I was the one with the strange accent here. He could probably tell just by that. "Yes. I'm a friend of Dimitri's."
This time he didn't seem to know who I was talking about.
"Olena's son?"
Like a lightbulb going off, something clicked. "I forgot about Dimitri. He was a friend of my brother, Anton. The three of us used to play together when we were very little. He went to a boarding school if I remember correctly. I guess he moved to America after graduating, then?"
"Yes. He took a job there a few years ago." I really hoped he didn't ask for any more specifics because I wasn't quite sure how to describe his job in more human terms. Private security, maybe? I tried to change the subject towards him. "Do you live nearby?"
He nodded. "A few minutes away. I just needed to pick up a few things for my Mama."
I liked the way his eyes softened when he mentioned her. It reminded me of Dimitri whenever he mentioned his own mother. As we picked up the last few items on my list, including a few that I would never have found on my own, he led me to the front counter to pay. I counted out the cash that Sonya had given me along with the list. As soon as everything was bagged, I turned to say goodbye. As much as I appreciated Max's help, I'm sure he had his own shopping to get to.
"Thank you. Really. I don't think I could have done this on my own."
That bright smile returned. "Ничего страшного. It was no problem. And don't worry, you'll get it eventually. Just keep practicing. Do you need help walking back home?"
"Oh. No." I hiked one of the bags higher on my shoulder. "I can find my way. Thank you, though."
He looked like he wanted to say something else, but in the end, he just said goodbye. "I really hope I see you around soon, Rose."
"You too, Max."
He watched me for a minute as I walked away, perhaps making sure that I actually knew where I was going and not just going to get lost again. I passed the pharmacy where Sonya worked and a few other shops along the way, but for the most part, the streets were quiet. None of the roads were really made for cars, and while one could theoretically drive down them, It would be hard to have two cars pass side by side without bumping into the pedestrian areas. Most people seemed happy to walk from place to place anyways. It seemed like every other corner had a grocery store or whatever else you might need, so why drive anywhere if you didn't have to?
I was only a few minutes into my walk when I heard my phone ring in my pocket. It took a little finagling, but I managed to pull it out and answer without dropping anything. It was Lissa.
"Hey," I answered, happy to hear a familiar voice. I had texted her a few times over the last few days, but we had both been busy and hadn't been able to really call and chat.
"Oh my God! Finally." She had left me several messages yesterday, none of them urgent, but I could tell by the last one that she was starting to get a little annoyed that we kept missing one another. "How are you? It's been so long!"
"It hasn't even been a week, Liss." I couldn't help but laugh, but I understood. Lissa and I had been inseparable since we were five. This was probably the longest we had ever gone without seeing each other in over a decade. Still, I guess we both better get used to it. It might literally be years before I could hug her again.
The thought made me sick.
"I'm doing alright," I said, getting us back on track. "I miss you guys, but the Belikovas are really nice. I think you'd like them. How about you? How is everyone there?"
"We're doing alright. Missing you, too. It's strange. I know you aren't here anymore, but every once in a while, I'll turn and expect to see you beside me." I could hear the sad wistfulness that laced her confession. "You were always there before. I never imagined anything different. Now that you aren't close by, I don't know what to do some days. I kind of took it for granted, I guess."
"I think I did, too." Lissa was it for me. My whole life had been planned around hers. Now that I had to stand on my own two feet, I realized how much I had come to rely on that plan. "It'll get better, though. I promise."
"I know. Christian says it'll just take time." I was glad he was there for her. "Have you talked to Christian lately?"
I almost laughed. The idea of me and Christian talking was hilarious. It wasn't malicious or anything. I could even admit that he was a friend. But we weren't the sort of friends who contacted each other unless it was an emergency or something. Liss didn't need to know that, though. "No, but that's okay. Adrian texts me daily. Probably enough for all of you combined."
It was true. Adrian was constantly blowing my phone up, usually with the most random stuff in the world. Sometimes it would be a weird, off-the-fly haiku that didn't make a lick of sense. Other times it would be a picture or selfie. Occasionally he'd just text me, 'I'm bored,' as if I'd be able to magically fix that for him.
I'm pretty sure Dimitri would be a bit miffed if he found out, but it was all harmless fun. Or maybe he'd be okay with it. Adrian mentioned that he and Dimitri had 'hung out a bit' after Dimitri returned from Spokane. I wasn't exactly sure what that meant, and I won't lie and say I wasn't shocked to hear it, but Adrian said it was no big deal. Dimitri didn't mention it at all.
Either way, it was nice to be able to talk to someone if Liss and the others were in class or if Dimitri was working.
"And does…Guardian Belikov text you?" She sounded hesitant to ask, and I wasn't quite sure how to answer.
"Sometimes." I tried to be honest without giving too much away. As far as I knew, Dimitri and I were still keeping things pretty quiet. It didn't matter to me. In fact, I really wanted my best friend to know. It sucked keeping things from her before, and while I knew why I had to back then, a whole lot of those reasons disappeared when I left the Academy.
She gave a little hum of annoyance, obviously not getting the answer she was hoping for. She exchanged her fine-tuned diplomacy for bluntness. "Okay. I'm just going to come right out and ask. Eddie suggested something the other day, and while I would usually just laugh and brush it off, Guardian Belikov has been acting weird ever since you left. Like…sad. Really sad. I mean, he hides it well, but I've been getting better at reading auras recently. His always has blue shadows running through it. Even more if he's around when your name comes up. I figured he just missed you since you guys trained together so much, but after what Eddie said, I'm starting to think it might be something else."
I don't know why, but I needed her to ask outright. I needed her to say the words before I could admit it.
"Rose, were you and Guardian Belikov a thing?"
My stomach twisted a little. Everyone else had figured out the truth for themselves. I never had to actually tell them. They either knew or they didn't. But it was time. If Dimitri and I were going to work out, especially now that we were forced into this long-distance disaster, then I needed to be honest about what we were with those I cared about.
"Yes," I said, feeling both worry and relief in equal measure. It was good to finally tell her, but I was worried about how Lissa would react. "Dimitri and I are a couple."
There was a bit of silence before she suddenly let out what I could only call a squeal. "When did this happen?! How could you not tell me something so big?!"
"Shhh." I hushed her, not knowing if she was in the privacy of her room or the middle of the cafeteria. "It's not like we could tell anyone. I mean, even if you overlook the age difference, he was my mentor. And your primary guardian. There were so many reasons why it was a bad idea and never should have happened."
"But…"
"But it did." The admittance was bittersweet. "I swear, we tried to fight it for a long time, but I think it was inevitable. Nothing really happened until right before I left, but we had been dancing around it since the beginning."
"Wow. That long?" I could almost feel her disappointment through the phone. However, I didn't know if it was directed towards her or me. "Why didn't I see it? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Like I said before, neither of us really wanted it to happen. At least, not really. Not at first." Even when I pushed him, I think we both knew that it was just a fantasy that couldn't last. Not with that situation we were in. "Our focus had to be on our charge. You."
"Me? Are you saying it was my fault you two didn't get together at first?" She didn't sound offended, just surprised.
I had stopped walking at this point, instead finding a bench in front of a small shop so that I could rest my arms a little. The bags were getting heavy, and this was obviously a conversation that deserved my full attention. If I had been smarter, I would have waited until I was already home to talk to her.
"I wouldn't say it was your' fault.' You didn't do anything wrong. You just…were." I wasn't sure how I could explain it without Lissa feeling guilty. "As our charge, you had to come first. Completely. If it came down to it and we had to choose to either save you or the other, we couldn't hesitate. Emotions…emotions could have cost you your life. Neither of us could allow that, so we just, I don't know, pushed them away? Or tried to, at least."
Tried and failed miserably. I didn't regret it, though. It would have been hard if I had stayed at the Academy, but we would have figured out some way to make it happen. I knew that now.
"But you and Guar–Dimitri are together now? Right."
"We are." I couldn't help my stupid grin. "We just hit this point where we couldn't pretend we didn't love each other. And then I was expelled so…"
"So it didn't matter anymore."
"Exactly." Another small silence fell between us. An early spring breeze (which felt much more like a winter one, in my opinion) was starting up, and while I had my thick coat on, it still didn't feel like enough. I needed a hat, maybe a scarf, too.
Lissa was the first to break the quiet. "Well, I wish you had told me earlier, but I think I understand why you didn't. I'm sorry you had to deal with it on your own."
"It's okay, Liss. And now you know, so you don't have to worry about it anymore." Even though I was happy she knew, I needed her to keep it somewhat quiet. For Dimitri's sake. "Listen, you can't tell anyone."
"Not even Christian?" I think they were at the 'no secrets between us' stage in their relationship, so I allowed it.
"Christian's fine. Eddie, too. But I don't want it to get around the school. Just because I'm not there anymore doesn't mean it can't still harm Dimitri's reputation. I swear, he didn't do anything wrong, but some people may not believe that if they don't know the whole story." The last thing I wanted was for Dimitri to be judged or have his career impacted because of me. "Just keep it on the down low. It won't matter much in a few months, but just for now, please don't let it get out."
"I promise." I half expected her to offer her pinky, even though there was no way I could see it. Pinky swears were sacred, and I knew she'd do everything in her power to make sure things stayed within our little group. "Wait. What about Adrian?"
"Oh. Um, Adrian knows," I said sheepishly, bracing for what I knew was coming next.
"Adrian knows?" Yeah, that was about the reaction I was expecting. Her screech rose again in pitch. "Adrian? You told Adrian and not me?"
"To be fair, we didn't tell Adrian. He figured it out the first day he saw Dimitri and me together at the ski resort. Something about our auras when we're together." Granted, we had been pissed at one another more often than not that week, but I guess whatever it was that tipped Adrian off still managed to show through all the angst and heartbreak. "I think that's why he likes flirting with me so much. He likes getting a rise out of Dimitri."
Another frigid blast of air burned the side of my cheek, and I started to see the little sparkles of snowflakes beginning to fall. "Hey, Liss? I need to get going. I have groceries, and Olena will probably want to start making dinner soon. I'll let Dimitri know that I told you everything when I talk to him tonight."
"Okay." I could tell she was itching to tell Christian, and I really hoped he and Eddie wouldn't freak out on Dimitri once they learned the truth. "Talk tomorrow? I need to ask what you want for your birthday."
"You already got me a phone," I reminded her.
"Yeah, but that was a going away gift," She said, brushing off my insistence that the phone was more than enough. "You need a specific birthday gift. Especially with you turning 18. Think about it tonight and I'll call you tomorrow."
After we said our final goodbyes and hung up, I gathered all the groceries again, ready to rush back home before I became a popsicle out here. I only made it a few steps before my frozen and numb fingers dropped one of the bags, sending the contents sprawling against the thin layer of snow that was already forming on the pavement.
"Shit." Thankfully, nothing was broken. As I tried to pick everything back up, another set of hands started helping.
Most people had already taken shelter inside, so I was surprised to see someone out here in the open. Not quite as surprised as I was to see that it wasn't just anyone. It was a guardian. He placed the last item in my bag and stood, reaching his hand out to help me up.
"Thank you, Guardian…" I drifted off, waiting for him to give me his name if he wanted to. He seemed like the dedicated sort, with a similar expression that Dimitri often wore while working.
"You may call me Pavel."
Maybe not a guardian, then. If he wasn't, he certainly used to be. I could tell he was well-trained. I looked around, trying to find a charge that might indicate one way or another, when I spotted a man who was probably in his mid-40s walking over.
He was Moroi, but while he still had that certain paleness all Moroi had, there was a tan or olive tone to him as well. What I could see of his hair was dark, as was his goatee. But it was his clothing that really stood out.
The only way I could think to describe him was loud. Not vocally. Visually. He had a long dark coat on, but it wasn't a duster like Dimitri's. It was wool or something and looked like it had been custom-made just for him. It screamed money. There was even a pocket square on it. I thought only suits had pocket squares, but I guess I was wrong. It didn't quite match the dark crimson scarf he wore, but they clashed in that purposeful way that only the very skilled could manage. He also had a gold earring poking out from under his hat, but only in one ear.
He was either a pirate, pimp, or mob boss. I knew what I had my money placed on. We were in Russia, after all. Not only that, but he also had a dangerous air around him. I was pretty sure he knew his way around a baseball bat and a few broken kneecaps.
Instantly, I felt myself tense up. This was a man not to be messed with, and even though he was giving me an easygoing smile right now, that didn't mean he wouldn't flip on a dime and cause me some trouble. Sure, I could probably take him, but I wasn't sure I wanted to test my luck. Not with Pavel and the other guardian who was half hiding about fifteen feet away.
"Thank you, Pavel." His accent surprised me. It wasn't Russian or American. Honestly, I don't think I could have pinned it down if I had tried. It was pretty hypnotic, though. As I stood, he extended his hand. "My name is Ibraham Mazur. My friends call me Abe."
"Rose." I shook his hand but remained wary. Even giving him my name seemed unwise. Sure, he hadn't done anything to threaten me, but his whole vibe screamed 'stranger danger.'
"I haven't seen you around here before, Rose." He tilted his head, almost looking amused at the way I tried to hold him at bay. As he studied me, a chill ran down my spine. It was similar to the feeling I sometimes got when Yeva looked at me. Like they knew something. I had a suspicion that his easy smile and jovial persona were just a mask hiding something much more sinister. For now, though, he seemed to be playing nice. "You must be the new girl that moved in with Olena and her family."
"How did you know?"
"Small towns tend to talk." He shrugged as if it was no big deal. "I've actually heard quite a bit about you. You have quite the reputation."
Well, that was anything but reassuring. I wrapped my jacket tighter around me, shivering slightly but not because it was cold. "Rumors have an unfortunate habit of following me around. I'll save you the time and effort; most of them are lies."
"I sincerely doubt that. You seem like someone who likes to dance alongside danger. I appreciate that in a person." Most people would see that as a bad thing, but he almost looked…proud? I couldn't get a read on this guy. I was also starting to get the feeling that this was more than just a chance encounter with a stranger. "You intrigue me, Rose. I'd love to speak with you more. I may be interested in your services."
All of the alarm bells went off in my mind. I took a few steps back as I realized I was alone with three men, one who seemed to be a pretty influential moroi, in a town with a certain reputation. Sure, the whole blood whore thing wasn't quite as prevalent as I had initially expected based on the horror stories passed around the Academy. However, Karolina had still warned me to stay away from a particular part of town, especially once night fell.
"Look, I don't know what you heard about me, old man, but I don't offer those types of services."
His brow furrowed for a moment before he realized what he had said. After his initial surprise, his eyes darkened a little. He stepped closer, and I saw his guardians tense. They weren't supposed to interfere unless I posed a threat to their charge. I doubted they'd step in if he was the one doing the threatening, though. "And you'll soon learn, little girl, that I don't partake in those sorts of services.
We stared each other down for a moment. If he expected me to apologize for my assumption, he'd be waiting for a long time. I didn't care if I offended him. Too many men preyed on the women of this town. He should have been more careful with his words if he didn't want people to think he was just another asshole looking for a thrill.
When it was clear that we were at an impasse and I wasn't backing down, he flipped the switch to his earlier charm. It was creepy how he could do that.
"What I meant to say is that I may be interested in your services as one of my personal guardians." He made it sound like that should have been obvious, even though it took me by complete surprise.
"A guardian?" I eyed the two other men beside him. Mazur wasn't a Royal name, and typically only royals were allotted two guardians. This man not only had two guardians, but he was also looking for a third? "If you've heard the rumors and know who I am, you should know that I'm not a guardian. So the question is, why are you here, and what do you want with me."
"You aren't a sanctioned guardian. That doesn't mean that you aren't capable. In fact, if you've trained with Olena's son, then I can only assume that you are highly skilled." A small sly grin crossed his face. "You know, I once considered hiring Dimitri for the position."
Dimitri never told me that. I couldn't imagine him working for a man like the pseudo-mobster in front of me. Granted, that didn't mean much. The Moroi were free to request specific guardians, and the guardian in question often didn't have a say in the matter. If this man demanded Dimitri as his guardian, there may not have been much that Dimitri could have done to prevent the placement.
I won't lie; the temptation to serve as a guardian, even in the non-traditional sense, was enticing. Olena and the others were kind, and I was incredibly grateful for what they were doing for me, but sometimes I still felt like a burden to them. If I accepted this man's offer, I could go back to doing what I had always planned. Or, close to it, at least.
But that still didn't dispel the unease about this man. I decided to go with my gut. "Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'm going to have to pass. I'm not interested in whatever you're selling."
His brow lifted, and a small show of surprise crossed his features. He obviously wasn't used to people saying no to him, but I wasn't going to be strong-armed into accepting his 'gracious' job offer. "I see you live up to your brash reputation. Delightful. You seem like a smart girl, Rose. I would hate for you to succumb to a place like this."
Even though I had lived here less than a week, the urge to defend Dimitri's family and their hometown was strong. "What do you mean a place like–'"
"Rose! There you are!" Paul bounded up the road, pulling his hat a little lower to beat the chill. He stopped when he saw the man I was with, his childlike laughter instantly dropping to something more serious. Respectful, even. It was clear that he was concerned, but he wasn't about to cause trouble. Once again, I was reminded of Dimitri. However, this child was not his uncle, and if Mazur posed a threat at all, then I didn't want him anywhere near Paul.
"I'm fine, Paul. This man was just asking me a question." I turned back towards Abe. No, Ibraham; this man was not my friend. "I'm sorry I can't stay and chat. As you can see, they're waiting for me back at home."
Paul grabbed one of the bags from my arms, looking ready to get out of the situation as soon as he possibly could. It was clear that he wasn't going to leave me behind, though.
Mazur gave me one last smile before pulling something out of his pocket. "Take my card. Think about my offer. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call. I'm sure Pavel here would also be happy to answer any questions you might have about the position. I'll only be in town for a few more days, but I'd be happy to drop by before my business takes me elsewhere."
When I didn't immediately take the card, he slipped it into one of the grocery sacks.
"That won't be necessary. Thanks anyway." I gave him a tight smile and a quick nod before offering the same to his muscle. They returned the gesture, and I considered that the end of things. "Let's go, Paul. I'm going to lose my fingers if I don't get inside soon."
"Where are your gloves?" he replied in a slightly chastising tone, a bit of his earlier jovial nature returning.
I turned, directing Paul towards the house and purposefully ignoring Mazur when he called out one last time.
"It was nice to finally meet you, Rosemarie. I'll see you again soon."
If I had a free hand, I might have flipped him off. As it was, I just let his words roll off my back and tried to put the weird interaction to the back of my mind. I had no intention of working for this mysterious mobster, so there was no reason to even think about him anymore. I'd just toss the card and forget about him.
It wasn't until we were almost home that I realized something that made my heart stop.
He called me Rosemarie.
Author's Note
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. A bit of a longer chapter for you guys after the break, not to mention quite a few fun surprises! Abe has made his long-awaited entrance!
I'll keep the Question of the Week easy today: What are your new year resolutions?
My big one is to make sure I'm writing a little each day. Fellow fic author Scotty1994 and I are actually working together on this one! So far, I've managed about 10k words across a couple of stories, including this one and the third installment of Deep Inside. btw, if you haven't done so already, go check out the new update. It was meant to be a one-shot, but I've continued the story by popular demand. Be sure to read the content warning in the summary though, because it may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Thank you for reading, commenting, and sharing. I'll see you all next week!