Hidden Monsters (Volkov Bratva #4)(58)

“Need to make sure I’m clean, Doc.” When he still didn’t move, Luka clapped his hands together. “Anytime today.”

He moved, reaching in a back lower cabinet for a medical kit. Luka held out an arm as he got close. Once he realized that Luka wasn’t a threat to him, he went to work, though he did seem to be extra careful with his work, making sure to point out how every piece of equipment he used was freshly opened right in front of him.

His blood drawn, and his arm wrapped up, Luka reached into his back pocket, pulling out the wad of cash, setting it on the edge of the desk.

“I’d appreciate it if you kept this between us.”

Whether he heard what Luka said, the doctor’s eyes focused on the money. “Of course.”

“Contact me when you get the results.”

Luka went to let himself out, but came up short when the same girl was waiting for him by the door. When he got close, she held out a sucker wrapped in clear plastic.

“When I go to the doctor, I always get one of these. This’ll make you feel better, too.”

Smiling, Luka accepted the gift, pulling the wrapper off and sticking it in his mouth. It tasted like pure sugar and artificial flavoring, but she beamed and he ate it anyway.





26

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Give Me Everything





After working so hard on Luka’s place, an urge struck Alex to do something about her own. Ever since she had moved in, she’d pretty much left it the way Mishca had decorated it, only moving in her own things, but now she wanted something more.

She made a plan for checking out swatches for the walls, thinking over a new color scheme for the bedroom, and while she did this, she rooted through the hallway closet where she had placed most of the junk she didn’t know what to do with and found a rather large box she hadn’t remembered placing there. It was obvious it was hers since she’d scrawled her name across the top in her own handwriting.

Pulling it free, she swiped her hand along the top, brushing away some of the dust. It was amazing how much had accumulated in the short time it had been in there. She removed the top, a bittersweet love filling her as she stared down at the contents.

An old pair of pointe shoes was at the bottom, surrounded by other paraphernalia of her life back in Paris. She had forgotten how much she had enjoyed it there until this moment when she no longer had it. Pictures, snapshots of a time when the most she ever had to worry about was showing up to practice on time.

That life had been simpler, yes, but even then, she wasn’t completely fulfilled. She had still craved something more than what she had.

The doorbell’s sudden chime made Alex frown. She double-checked her phone, making sure she didn’t have any missed calls before she dropped the shoebox on the floor and headed for the door.

Her confusion only grew when she looked through the peephole to see who was on the other side.

“Luka?”

“Alex?” he asked in the same way she had, moving around her to enter the apartment.

Sighing, she pushed the door closed, looking back at him. “Sure, by all means, come on in.”

He scanned the living room, lingering on the boxes that she’d left on the floor, her stuff spilling out of them. Whatever he thought of what she was doing, he didn’t say anything.

Dropping down into one of the three chairs, he shrugged out of his jacket, immediately picking up one of the boxes that littered her floor and peeked inside.

She snatched it away from him, but he had already seen what was inside.

“You taking up ballet again?”

“No,” she said carefully, reclaiming her spot on the floor. “I was just cleaning out my apartment.”

“Thank God. It looked like a f*cking crime scene the last time I was here.”

Rolling her eyes, she looked back up at him. “Is there a reason why you’re here now?”

He gave her that charming half-smile. “Would you believe me if I told you that I missed you?”

Yeah. She was definitely charmed, even if she didn’t want to be. “Maybe.”

“Good. Now back to the dancing thing. Could be good for you, no? Start back doing something you love again.”

“How would you know?” she asked looking up at him, her fingers tightening around the one pointe shoe she was still holding. “What if I enjoyed it then, but I wouldn’t now? I’m not the same girl I was back then.”

Shifting to the edge of the chair he was sitting on, he beckoned her closer, and when she was within reach, he placed his hand on the center of her chest, his skin warm against her own. And while his close proximity had made her hyperaware of his presence, his touch made her heart hammer. She didn’t doubt he could feel it.

“You feel the same to me.”

“You know what I mean, Luka.” She shook her head. “It’s been so long since I’ve danced…”

“I’m not saying you’re not rusty—probably need some work—but you can do it. I believe in you.”

She wondered if he knew what those words meant to her?

On a whim, she decided to tell him about Amerie and their conversation. She wanted to believe that she told him just so she could have someone tell her she shouldn’t do it, that she would need more time. But Luka wasn’t that person.