In the Beginning (Volkov Bratva #1)(5)

“Ha!”

The door for apartment 33B was open, soft rock music carrying out into the hall. Lauren peered in, knocking as she caught sight of the girl sitting by the window.

Amber was twenty-two and a junior at NYU, studying Art. She had warm brown skin, and a mass of curly hair that was dyed brown with blonde highlights.

She smiled back at them, placing her paintbrushes in a tin of water as she brushed her hands off on paint stained jeans, stepping away from the easel. Tall and willowy, Amber had the look of an artist, dressed in a pair of boyfriend jeans and a white tank top, an artist’s smock tied around her waist.

With a click of the remote, she turned the music off and approached them.

“Nice to finally meet you, Lauren.” She had a light voice that had a slow drawl to it, not like the ones you heard in the South, but like the ones you heard on a beach in California. Her eyes were hazel, but a darker ring of brown encircled them. She gave a warm smile to Susan and Ross. “I’m Amber Lacey.”

They each shook her hand, introducing themselves as they stepped further into the apartment, looking around.

“This is it.” She said with a soft laugh, thrusting her arms out in a wide arc. “It’s not huge, but it’s bigger than most places in the city.”

The walls were stark white, but the different eclectic pieces of art hanging around broke up the uniformity. How many of those, Lauren wondered, had Amber painted herself?

There were books and art supplies scattered everywhere, some sitting in piles near the fireplace, others on bookcases, and even in random piles on the floor.

Lauren liked it already.

There was an L-shaped couch, large enough to fit six or more people comfortably set to face a giant flat screen that was mounted above the hearth.

Dark hardwood floors were throughout the entirety of the place. In the kitchen were stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Ross, used to being a fix-it man, checked the water pressure and made sure everything was working in proper order, even going to work after Amber stated that a light switch in the kitchen wasn’t working properly.

“I’ll show you your room.”

Lauren and Susan followed Amber down a short hallway, where she briefly pointed out the bathroom that was just across the hall from her room.

This room was also white, but the East wall was made entirely of exposed brick that Lauren absolutely loved. It was about the same size as her room back home, which was a detail that she hadn’t been expecting, but was ultimately pleased with.

Back in the living room, the decision had been made. They hammered out the rest of the details, Susan handing over a check for the first four months rent, much to Amber’s surprise.

“We’ll let you two talk and get settled,” Susan said as she and Ross were going out the door. “We’ll come by tomorrow when the truck arrives with your stuff to help you get settled in.”

“Thanks, mom.”

Susan smiled, drawing her into a hug that brought tears to Lauren’s eyes. “I guess it’s time for me to let you go.”

Lauren touched the hand that Susan had on her face, seeing the fear and acceptance in her eyes. “You’re always just a phone call away. Ross too.”

Ross smiled with a nod, taking his turn with a giant bear hug.

“Go on,” Susan said. “Hang out and enjoy yourself. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Once they were gone, Lauren had a momentary surge of panic, knowing that everything was about to change, leaving the nest some would say, but as she breathed in theWell, air of her new home, she was ready and excited.

“I was thinking,” Amber started when they were alone. “I was going to get your key made. How about we go sight seeing? I can show you around, that way you’ll at least know how to get to school before Monday.”

“Sounds good.”

***

New York was huge. This was a known fact, but to Lauren who lived in a city that was just fifty miles in either direction, she felt like she was in another world entirely.

They had taken a cab to the inner city, Amber pointing out different shops and cafes as they went. They weren’t far from campus as Lauren had suspected, but she didn’t realize that they were as close as they were.

Outside the cab, Lauren felt like a real tourist as she gawked at the sheer size of everything. Businesses were practically on top of each other, beautifully made signs trying to entice people inside. They followed the crowds, and Lauren breathed in the cool, crisp air.

…Okay, maybe not crisp.

Lauren could practically taste the exhaust in the air, along with the different smells that carried from the many restaurants that lined the sidewalk.

Across the street, as she watched, a man flagged down a taxi, the cab coming to a rolling stop next to him, but another man rudely pushed him aside while yelling into his bluetooth.

Welcome to New York, Lauren thought dryly.

They found a place to get Lauren’s key done, which took no time at all, and since she hadn’t eaten since early that morning, they decided to stop at a pub Amber raved about.

As they found a table, a clearly drunken man whistled at them. “Well, hellooo there, beautiful ladies.”

He was slurring his words and it couldn’t be no later than—Lauren glanced down at her phone to check the time—ten minutes after five.

“Chocolate and vanilla, just how I like it.”