Where the Snow Falls (Seasons of Betrayal #2)(22)

When the soft taps became more persistent, Violet decided she didn’t have much of a choice but to answer the door. It wasn’t like the stupid thing would protect her if someone really wanted to get in.

Checking through the frosted glass slates of the window, Violet found Maya waiting. She’d shoved her hands into the pockets of her thick winter jacket, and her head was tipped down as if trying to keep the chill away from her face.

Violet didn’t hesitate to pull the door open for the girl. “Hey, Maya.”

A wide smile answered her greeting. “Morning.”

“Since when do you knock?”

“Kolya might have mentioned that it’s rude to just walk in on people,” Maya said.

“Might have?”

“Yeah, but what the f*ck does he know. He doesn’t like anyone, so …”

Violet laughed and waved Maya in, closing the door behind her once she was safely out of the cold.

“What are you doing here?” Violet asked. “Kaz is … out somewhere.”

Again, Violet held back from adding.

She knew Kaz was handling things that needed to be handled, but she couldn’t help the impending feeling of dread that often bled its way into her system when he wasn’t around.

“I didn’t come to see Kaz,” Maya replied.

“Oh?”

“No, I came to see if you wanted to do something—with me, of course.” Maya gave another one of her brilliant, pixie-like smiles. “You don’t even leave this house, and that has to be pretty boring. Why don’t I show you some of the city today?”

Violet hesitated, considering the offer. She didn’t want to refuse. She liked Maya and had from the second she met her. The Russian woman was hard not to like, as far as that went. She just wasn’t sure if she should leave the townhouse.

Kaz had been clear; Violet wasn’t supposed to leave the townhouse without him. He’d let her know that morning he would be back before noon and that everything was perfectly fine, so she wasn’t to worry.

Easier said than done.

But she was bored—out of her damn mind, actually.

Maya’s offer sounded like it would cure the cabin fever that always settled in whenever Kaz had to leave for something or another.

“I probably shouldn’t,” Violet said. “Laying low and all that.”

“Why not? Nothing’s happened. There is no problem. It’s just a drive to see the city; it’s not like you’re going to be splashing your face in front of cameras or something. You’re not as well known here in Chicago as you are in New York.”

Violet laughed softly. “You’re really good at this.”

“Good at what?”

“Convincing people to do what you want.”

Maya shrugged, innocence lighting up her features. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure. Still, Kaz would probably have a fit.”

“Kolya was heading over his way when I left. He said he would let him know, but he figured there was no reason why not. And if my husband is good with it, then Kaz most likely will be, too.”

“Why is that?”

“You have met Kolya, yes?” Maya asked, all innocence gone. “He finds very little good in anything.”

Violet conceded the point. From what little she had learned about Kolya Boykov, what his wife said made a lot of sense. “Not a long drive, okay? Kaz is coming back by noon.”

Maya rocked on her heels, joyful in a blink. “Yes, we can do that. Noon, it is. Let’s go.”





Chicago lived up to its name. The city was large, windy, and cold.

But … it wasn’t all that different from New York.

“Here,” Maya said, holding out a to-go cup of tea for Violet to take.

The cup warmed her hands as she leaned against Maya’s car. Just across the street was the parking lot for one of the city’s parks. With a thick layer of crisp, white snow covering as far as Violet’s eye could see, the city almost looked … peaceful.

Even with the people bustling around, the noise coloring up the cold air, and the unfamiliar streets staring back at her, it was one of the most peaceful sights she had ever seen.

Maya smiled around the rim of her cup. “So what do you think?”

“I like Chicago,” Violet admitted.

Well, she liked it more now. She hadn’t been here before, and for the time she had been in the city, she had spent it hidden away in a townhouse with Kaz.

Not that she was complaining because she wasn’t.

But she was grateful to see more of the city.

“If you overlook the school system and the crime rate, it’s not half bad,” Maya said teasingly.

“That’s a little … hypocritical coming from a Boykov, isn’t it?” Violet grinned to let Maya know she was only joking.

“Hey, I just married a Boykov. I, myself, have no hand in his business.”

Violet pursed her lips, humming, “Mmmhmm.”

“I do love Chicago, though. Have you considered it at all?”

“Considered what?”

“Staying. With Kaz, I mean.”

Violet stilled on the spot, her hot tea burning her tongue when she tipped the cup a little too high. She hadn’t exactly given much thought to staying in Chicago. Kaz hadn’t mentioned it, but she couldn’t help but wonder if it might be one of his many plans.