*Sephie*
After Stephen helped me connect everything the day of the attack, I was mostly quiet for the rest of the evening. Adrik kept me close, either in his lap or with his hands on me. It helped me stay calm. I really hadn’t thought much about the attack after it happened. The concussion and resulting headaches took precedence over everything else. I didn’t have much time to process it before the ball and everything that happened there.
I didn’t want anyone to know how badly I had wanted to kill the guy that hit me in that moment. Maybe that’s why I didn’t think about it or talk about it very much. I was worried they were going to look at me differently. I still hadn’t remembered that I killed my uncle that night in the basement until the night of the ball when I was on the plane. I was struggling with my own feelings.
Once Adrik and I were alone, he looked at me thoughtfully. His fingers playing with the curls around my face. He loved to push them back from my face, only to have them return shortly after. He was fascinated by my hair having a mind of its own. I loved it. It would make me laugh that he thought he could tame my hair. I’d been trying for years now. It was a losing battle.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know you were struggling so much with the attack on you and Misha. I let you down, solnishko.”
I smiled at him, looking into his deep blue eyes that were filled with regret. “You didn’t know. How can I be mad at you for not knowing something I didn’t tell you? That doesn’t make sense.”
“Why didn’t you tell anybody?”
I sighed. “I didn’t want anyone to know that I really wanted to kill that guy that day and that I would have if Misha hadn’t pulled me off him. I was worried that you all would look at me differently if you found out.” I had looked down at the floor, not wanting to see his eyes right away when I admitted that. I felt his hand under my chin, lifting my gaze to look at him.
“Sephie, you know who we are, right? Of all the people in the world to understand that feeling, the six of us can understand that feeling. We don’t think less of you because of that. It makes you more of a badass than you already are.” He smiled at me, his blue eyes had that knowing look that he got every time I needed to search them. I looked for what I was always afraid of finding, but never did. He waited patiently, still fighting the losing battle with my curls, amusing himself at their persistence. He pressed his lips to mine. “It’s also sexy as fuck,” he said, smiling against my lips.
I couldn’t help but laugh at him. I climbed back into his lap, wanting to be close to him again. He willingly opened his arms for me, wrapping me in his embrace. I loved the feeling of safety I had whenever I was in his arms. With him, it didn’t feel like he was keeping the darkness away. It was more like he commanded the darkness. It was there, but it was bent to his will, allowing me to stay safe anytime I was surrounded by it. I could feel his warmth stay with me anytime I felt the cold void try to take over.
“I love you, Adrik. Always and forever.” My fingers were running over his neck and down his chest where his shirt was open. I felt his breath hitch as he held me tighter.
“I love you, solnishko. I will always be here for you. No matter what happens.”
*Two Weeks Later*
We were in Adrik’s office. He was working on things at his desk, while I had found a book to read on the couch. The guys were busy on various tasks, so it was just the two of us. I would catch him looking at me every so often. Each time, it would make me smile and I could almost see his heart skip a beat.
Armando walked into the office with Giana. “Ah, Sephie, I was hoping you would be here too.” I stood up to greet his open arms.
“Hi Mando, how are you today? How are you, Giana? Settling in a little better?” I asked.
Armando said, “that’s what I was hoping to talk to you about. I was hoping maybe you two could go for a girl’s day or something? Get her out of the building for a while, maybe?”
I thought for a minute, glancing toward Adrik, who looked slightly amused. He already knew that I had no idea what a girl’s day meant. I suddenly had an idea, though.
“Of course, we can. I just need to find one of the guys.” Adrik cleared his throat. I looked toward him.
“At least two, preferably three,” he said, a stern look on his face that told me there was no use arguing with him on this. I simply nodded my head. He picked up his phone, spoke in Russian, then hung up. “They’ll be here shortly.” He stood up, walking toward me. He pulled his wallet from his pants, handing me his credit card. “Use this on whatever you like.”
“Don’t tell me that. I’ll come back with a pony. Don’t tempt me,” I said, laughing.
He laughed, kissing my forehead. “We’ll find a place for it. Don’t worry.” But then he looked at me with the same stern look on his face. “I want you to spend money on clothes, if you need them.” He leaned down, his lips to my ear, “you should think about getting a few skirts. Easier access.” He winked at me, leaving me completely flustered.
Ivan, Misha, and Andrei showed up a few minutes later, ready to escort us to wherever we wished to go that day. When we were on the elevator, I hit the button for the 5th floor. I looked at Giana, grinning. “I’m going to be honest here, I generally fail miserably at the whole being a normal girl routine. I’m going to need help on what to do here, but I have just the right secret weapon for this.”
The guys all started laughing, knowing exactly what I was talking about.
“Giana, what are your feelings on Bingo?” Misha asked her, his wide smile across his face. Her cheeks flushed slightly when he smiled at her. She looked flustered for a moment, but eventually admitted that she didn’t know what Bingo was.
I surprised all three of them by telling them, in Russian, to be nice. Ms. Jackson had been secretly teaching me Russian and I’d been picking it up along the way, anytime they spoke it in front of me. I was nowhere near fluent in it, but I could pick up and say small phrases. Their eyes went wide. Ivan grinned at me, “you never cease to amaze us, princess.”
We knocked on Ms. Jackson’s door. I hadn’t told her we were coming, but I had a feeling she would be up for an adventure, especially with these three in tow.
“Oh my! Is it my birthday already? It feels like my birthday,” she said when she opened the door. Even Giana laughed at her response.
“Ms. Jackson, would you be interested in a girl’s day out with us? I admittedly have no idea what that means and I’m really hoping you do, so please say yes,” I said, laughing.
“Oh, child, you don’t have to ask me twice. Let me get my purse.” She walked into her apartment. We heard her say loudly, “can we swing by Edith’s place this time?”
The guys just laughed. “Wherever you like, Ms. Jackson,” Ivan said. “It’s time we test her pacemaker.”