Where the Snow Falls (Seasons of Betrayal #2)(51)

“No, it really isn’t.”

Violet tried not to sigh and failed. “Kaz, be serious.”

“I am. The longer we wait, the higher the chances become that something might happen. I want you protected, and this is one of the best ways I can do that for you.”

“And you want to,” she said teasingly.

Kaz kissed the top of her head. “And there’s that, yes. Do you really want to wait, krasivaya?”

Violet smiled. “Two weeks—maybe three.”

“Maybe three,” he agreed quietly.

“It’s not like we have a lot to do, right?”

Kaz didn’t respond.

Violet supposed his silence was enough of an answer.

Who exactly would they invite?

Who would stand for them?

Who would celebrate?

Silently, Kaz’s hand slipped up from her side to tangle in her hair. He kissed the top of her head again, keeping her close as he murmured, “As long as you are happy, then nothing else is important, Violet.”

“And what about you? Shouldn’t you be happy, too?”

Kaz laughed. “You should already know the answer to that.”

Violet did.

She made him happy.

And that was enough.

Kaz let go of Violet’s hair only to place a hand at the small of her back as they rounded the steps of the restaurant.

“A friend owns this?” she asked.

“An old friend.”

“It looks nice.”

“Do not give Alfie too many compliments; he’s the kind of man who lets them go to his head,” Kaz muttered.

Violet only rolled her eyes in response, but it was hard to tell if Kaz was joking with his serious tone.

Inside, the restaurant bustled with movement and chatter. The modern design of the outside reflected on the interior as well. At the entrance, a woman stood behind a black podium. A Bluetooth earpiece buzzed on the podium, but the woman didn’t bother to pick it up and put it in her ear as she looked up at Violet and Kaz’s approach.

“Mr. Markovic,” the woman greeted, smiling widely. “Alfie didn’t mention you’d be coming in today.”

Kaz passed Violet a look. “No business today. Is there a table open?”

“I can open one for you, of course.”

Violet couldn’t help the tiniest flare of jealousy that started somewhere in her stomach and quickly jumped up her throat at the way the woman so casually and sweetly chatted away with Kaz as she flipped through pages on her tablet.

Never once did she look at Violet.

Violet must have not been hiding her displeasure very well because Kaz snatched her hand in his own, his thumb sweeping over the oval engagement ring a second before he lifted her hand to press a kiss to her knuckles.

“Stop,” he murmured against her skin.

Violet acted like he hadn’t said a thing but smiled all the same when the woman’s gaze snapped between the ring on Violet’s finger and Kaz, whose attention was gone from the conversation altogether.

“If you don’t mind being closer to the kitchen—”

“Violet?”

That voice …

Violet didn’t want to cause a scene in an unfamiliar place, never mind one that Kaz clearly frequented for more reasons than just the food. So instead of ignoring the person calling her name, or spinning fast on her heel to face them, she turned slowly, offering a smile as she did.

“Nicole,” Violet said.

Nicole Carracci looked like a block of beautifully carved ice as her cold, blue gaze took Violet in, and then moved to Kaz, before dropping down to their connected hands.

“I was told you were in Chicago,” Nicole said coolly.

Kaz stiffened at Violet’s side. He had to know who the woman was, or at least, he should remember her from that night at the club all those months ago.

Still, he stayed quiet.

“I was,” Violet settled on saying.

“But here you are now,” Nicole replied, gaze narrowing. “I’m sure your brother and father would appreciate seeing you, given you just … up and left without a word.”

Violet didn't bat a lash at the silent accusation in Nicole’s tone and words. “Oh, don’t worry. They’re not stupid men—they knew.”

Kaz’s tension softened a bit, but he’d moved just a couple of inches closer to Violet. She appreciated he was letting her handle the situation, but she wasn’t sure how much longer that would last.

“It’s too bad, though,” Nicole said.

“What is?”

Her former friend held up a hand, showing off a gold band encrusted with diamonds and an engagement ring to match.

Violet’s throat dried as she struggled for a response.

She hadn’t been gone that damn long for Nicole to get married.

Then again, she’d barely paid attention to her family or their going-ons and only put forth the bare minimum of effort and care when she was forced to before Kaz was released.

“You missed the wedding—Carmine would have loved to have you there,” Nicole said, passing Kaz a disdainful glare.

That time, Violet did react in a way she normally wouldn't.

By scoffing.

Loud and hard.

“Right. I’m sure my brother minded that I missed his special day,” Violet said.