Keep(Romanian Mob Chronicles 1)(21)

“What honor? I get to dress up and make nice with a bunch of madmen,” I said.

“You get to sit at the side of one of the most powerful men in the country. Do you know how many would kill for that seat?” she asked solemnly.

“They are welcome to it,” I said. I’d been in a seat like it before, a showpiece, a measure of my owner’s taste and worth, no different than a car or a house or a fancy piece of jewelry. I didn’t want to ever be in it again, not even for him.

“They may be, but you said it yourself: we don’t get to make that choice.” Her expression shifted. “Now we have to get ready. We only have a few hours.”



Fawn

“This is way too tight, Natasha,” I said, looking at myself in the mirror and frowning at the sight of the material pulled tight across my breasts and behind.

“You’re completely covered. Classy but desirable. Vasile will be pleased,” she said, smiling like a proud mama.

I thinned my lips at her statement. At the moment, I couldn’t care less what would please him and it seemed he felt the same, but I kept my thoughts to myself. “In the technical sense, you’re right. But the long sleeves and a high neck don’t change the fact this dress is so tight you can practically see my heartbeat,” I said.

She laughed, staring at our reflections in the mirror. “You will be on the arm of Vasile Petran. No one will look above your ankles or below your chin,” she said.

And she patted me on the shoulder. I grabbed her hand, wanting to thank her for her kindness, for making this whole thing much less awful than I knew it could have been.

“I’m glad you’re going to be there.”

She shrugged. “It might be fun. Someone’s always amusing at these things, and Sorin might not be too obnoxious,” she said nonchalantly, but I didn’t miss the tightness around her mouth.

“Does he know?” I asked.

She turned her eyes toward me, a faint little smile playing at her lips. “Know what?”

“That you love him?”

She lifted the corner of her mouth again. “You think I’m in love with Vasile, that I’m jealous because you took my spot,” she said.

I shook my head. “I know you are not in love with him. But Sorin, does he know?”

Her smile dropped, and for just an instant, I saw beyond her shiny facade, saw to the woman underneath, one who felt invisible to the man she loved.

“No, but it doesn’t matter. I know what I mean to him, and he’s always been honest with me.”

“But you should—”

“Do what? Put my foot down? Tell him I won’t let him use me? Make him commit?”

I stood silent, knowing that she was right. Sorin, Vasile, none of the men would do anything unless they wanted to. “You can’t make him, but you don’t have to…”

“But I want to, Fawn. I love him. And if sex is all he has to offer, I’ll take it,” she said, a tear slipping from her eye.

“Maybe one day he’ll come to his senses,” I offered, patting her thin hand.

“You’ve met Sorin, yes?” she replied, managing to shape her mouth into a smile.

I nodded.

“Then you know why I’m not counting on that,” she said.





Thirteen





Vasile



* * *



I had only just dressed, and already I wanted to rip the suit and tie from my body. I hated this, playing dress up like children. We all knew what we were, and I never understood the need to pretend to be something else.

But I’d agreed to this, and I’d get through it. Oleg opened the limo door, and Fawn entered, folding herself into the seat with ease and grace.

My heart began to pound as I watched her, sheathed by the tight dress that both covered and revealed, making the valleys and curves of her body apparent to anyone. I had half a mind to send her back, but I wanted her with me, needed to prove this point once and for all.

“Did you pick that?” I asked flatly.

She chuckled. “Not ever. This is Natasha’s work.”

“I’ll have to talk with her.”

“She was only trying to help like you asked,” she said, but then she went quiet and stared out the window, watching as the city passed.

“I’m surprised she and Sorin aren’t with us,” she said after a while.

“He prefers his own transportation,” I said.

I continued to watch her, her hands twisted, her face set in a placid expression I now knew concealed a deep well of insight. And though she tried to hide it, I also saw fear.

“You’ve been to this type of meeting before?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yes. Don’t worry. I know how this goes. I won’t embarrass you.”