“If you’d have been there without coming to find me, I’d have been pissed,” Claudia said, pulling him into a room. She shut the door behind them; daffodil-yellow walls surrounded him, white carpet, a wooden four-poster bed decked out with a teal comforter and too many pillows to count. This had to be Claudia’s room.
The corner of his mouth turned up. “So this is your childhood bedroom? I have to say, doll—today’s risks were worth seeing this.”
She laughed, sitting on the bed, pulling him beside her. “I might agree. But just tell me one thing—when will you know what happens to you?”
He covered her hands with his, gnawing at the inside of his lip. “If I don’t get a call within the hour, I’d be surprised.”
“Then let’s make this the best hour we’ve ever had.”
Claudia climbed into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. He squeezed his arms tight around her, letting his eyes drift shut, remembering all the beautiful arcs and sighs of her, the tight muscles of her body, the sweet scent that blanketed him like a drug. One week apart and this reunion felt visceral, like every cell in his body had suffered for the lack of her.
Minutes later—how many, he wasn’t sure—his phone vibrated in his pocket. Claudia straightened, her eyes worried on him. He fished it out and the familiar Unknown caller greeted him. With her still in his arms, he answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Boris.” The lightly-accented voice sounded distant, like coming from around the world. “Would you care to explain what happened today?”
His thighs tensed and he debated whether or not to excuse himself. Maybe Claudia shouldn’t overhear this. “Yes.”
Claudia clutched at him and he pressed his forehead to hers. At the very least, the skin-to-skin contact would calm him. Allow him to confront whatever the next wave of surprises might be.
“I went to the target location as planned,” he said in a low voice, pinching his eyes shut. “But I had Pavlichenko in my scope. Not the King. I’m responsible for his death.” Better to admit it now than to face backlash after lying about it. “I wanted to protect the King, and the Princess.”
Silence stretched for an eternity on the other end of the phone. “And do you have any idea why he was targeting the King?”
Boris’s eyebrows crashed together. “He told me it was because the King was a traitor to the Russian Federation”
There was another stretch of silence, followed by a cough. “That was never the case.”
“What?”
“Pavlichenko had gone rogue some time ago.” A slight sigh followed. “We weren’t able to assess the full extent of his misalignment with official state policy until recently. But it seems you’ve inadvertently taken care of our problem.”
Boris’s mouth dried up. “Are you serious?”
“A fortunate mistake for you, it seems.”
He locked eyes with Claudia. The surprise in her eyes told him she was catching some of the hopefulness too. “And what about the King? Will he be safe?”
“He is no threat. His claims are of no concern to the Kremlin. We have no need to remove him. Better he remain a convenient opposition voice to rally the people around than become an international incident. We can turn the page on this, but this will be the only time.”
Boris jerked his head into a nod, even though the other end couldn’t see. “Of course. I understand.”
“We’ll reach out soon for an assignment. Until then, enjoy your visit to Washington.”
The line went dead and Claudia’s face was drawn with excitement before he even had a chance to say anything.
“Doll, we’re gonna be just fine.”
Claudia squealed and attacked him with a hug. They fell back on the bed together laughing, and soon they were drowning in kisses.
One for every hour they’d spent apart, and one for every hour that was yet to come in each other’s arms.
Chapter Nineteen
ONE MONTH LATER
Claudia draw a long breath, wiping at the sweat on her brow. She’d specifically purchased a small backpack for their trip, but even a tiny tote would weigh on her during this long haul through the Croatian countryside.
In fact, the only way it might have been slightly more bearable is if she’d been completely without possessions, like the first time she made the trip.
“You okay?” Boris grinned down at her, reaching over to lift the bottom of her backpack. He did it occasionally—a sweet way to ease her burden temporarily.
“Yeah. I’ll survive.” She tugged at her tank top, fanning it against her body. The breeze that met her drenched skin was warm, and not as refreshing as she craved. “I survived it once before.”
She and Boris had returned to Croatia a week and a half prior as a way to properly end her unfinished backpacking trip, pre-kidnapping. A way to heal the wounds of their traumatic adventure. And also, it served as a romantic getaway of sorts for the two of them. Where they could travel freely without fear of being pursued or hounded. No sex cruises—no ominous Pavlichenko. Just the open road, their backpacks, and plenty of frisky fun.
Some days, it felt like a honeymoon. Which was absurd, since they still weren’t legally married. Even though they acted the part in every way.
Once Boris had been cleared by the CIA, they’d fallen into a quick routine at her father’s townhouse in D.C. Even though Boris had insisted on not overstaying his welcome, Claudia encouraged him to stay—which meant their relationship went into overdrive. Missing each other gave way to making up for lost time, which gave way to tenderness, which gave way to giddiness and glee.
Boris agreed to stay indefinitely. Her father didn’t mind the addition of a son-in-law, and before the two did any planning for the proper stateside wedding, she insisted on the trip abroad. Her dad accused her of ‘doing it all backwards’ and was hesitant at first, as any father would be in seeing his daughter go from Innocent to Married in the span of a press conference. But by the time their departure date rolled around, her dad had been as sad to see him go as he was her. Boris was good with parents—another surprising facet of the man she’d fallen for.
Never expected my hit-man boyfriend to woo my dad. She grinned, taking in the familiar Croatian countryside again. Up ahead, Filitov’s former cottage was a charred mark on the earth. Newly-erected wood beams formed a shell of a structure, right where the old cottage had been. They waved as they neared, several workers turning to face them.
Filitov set down a hammer and approached them, wiping a rag over his forehead.
“So you’re back to help, I see.” He grinned as Boris approached and the two men embraced tightly.
“Wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Boris said, clapping him on the back. Claudia gave him a quick hug, and he waved them over to the construction site.
“We have a lot of work to get through. But with how hot it’s been, you probably won’t mind sleeping under the stars, will you?” Filitov winked at the two of them.
“I brought my human blanket with me,” Claudia quipped, nodding toward Boris. “So no problems here.”
Boris cinched an arm around her waist. “So if I’m the blanket, does that make you the pillow?”
Leaning into him, she lowered her voice. “I’ll be whatever you want me to be, babe.”
He arched a brow and Filitov cleared his throats. “Worse lovebirds than the first time around. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Put your stuff over there to the side and let’s get to work.”
Boris took their bags over to a safe area away from the buzzing and sawing and Filitov assigned them tasks. Claudia’s job included all of the light tasks—moving scrap wood, assisting in lining up planks, and eyeballing things from afar. Some of the tasks she was pretty sure Boris invented just so he could include her, but she liked it anyway—purposefulness on their trip was far more welcome than aimless drifting.
Besides, this little corner of Croatia felt so familiar to her now. Almost like a home, especiall
y now that they were helping Filitov rebuild his own.
They worked through the early evening, pausing only for water and sandwiches, which Filitov provided. By the time the sky turned a rich goldenrod threatening crimson, Filitov relieved the work crew and the three of them sat back on the grass in satisfied silence. The product of a hard day’s work.
“With you two on the crew, we’ll finish sooner,” Filitov said, reaching into a cooler for some beers. He cracked open three, offering two of them to her and Boris.
“We can stay up to a week,” Boris said. “After that, we should push off. Got some other places to visit on the trip, before we head back to the States.”
Filitov sipped thoughtfully at his beer. “You staying over there now?”
Claudia tilted her head, watching as he answered. They’d danced around this topic many times, without ever outright addressing it. “Yeah, I think I am.” He glanced at Claudia, a smile cresting his face. “Doesn’t mean I won’t be traveling for work, still. But looks like that’ll be my home base.”
“My father and I live in D.C.,” Claudia offered. “I was looking for my own place before I started the backpacking trip. And, well, that got put on hold temporarily, as we all know.”
Boris nudged her. “What sort of place you lookin’ for?”
She grinned at him. Talking about this sort of stuff felt right—way right. In a way she hadn’t imagined could be possible for meeting someone so recently. But it had just been like that with Boris, despite all the twists and turns. Something about him sated her on a fundamental level. Differences of lifestyle be damned.
“Something simple,” she said. “Not too big. Maybe even just a studio for now. Until I get my own career off the ground.” She took a pull at her beer, rolling her feet back and forth on the grass. “I was going to resume the hunt when we got back from this trip. Maybe you can help me.”
His boyish smile told her everything she needed to know. Of course he’d be involved. They might have spent a month suspended in dreamy bliss, post-reunion, but if this month under her father’s roof was any indicator, they were meant to be together for the long haul.
If they could survive the sex cruise, tight quarters in extended travel and living with her father; they could withstand anything.
Filitov snorted. “So when’s the wedding?”
Claudia laughed. “We’re figuring that out, actually.”
“It started in D.C., during her press conference,” Boris explained, scratching at the back of his neck. “It was part of the cover when they tried to arrest me, after I hit Pavlichenko. They thought I was a guy she’d ID’d as a potential threat.”
“Well, you are a potential trouble,” Claudia cracked.
Boris laughed. “Sure. So they handcuffed me and brought me over to her. And what do you know, she thanks the guard for finding her fiancé.” He shook his head, taking another swig of his beer. “Never been married so fast in my life.”
Filitov hooted with laughter. Claudia flushed, turning to him. “How else was I supposed to get you out of their custody?”
Boris grinned. “No other way. You did what you had to do—what we would have done anyway.”
She lifted a brow, narrowing her eyes at him. “So you don’t regret being fake-eloped to me?”
“I wouldn’t change it for the world.” He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her lips. She liked it when he razzed her, and the more time they spent together, the better he got at it. “And soon we’ll be real eloped.”
“Ah, yeah?” Filitov took another pull at his beer, eyes sparkling. “Who’s gonna do that for you?”
Claudia shrugged, leaning against Boris. “We have to figure that out once we’re back, I guess.”
“Or you could do it here,” Filitov said, smiling mysteriously.
Boris scoffed. “Where? There’s not exactly a chapel around.”
“Right here.” Filitov gestured in front of them. “Boris, my boy, I am an ordained minister. Before the KGB closed down the churches.”
Claudia laughed, eyes lighting up. “Really? You’re a minister?”
“As sure as the day is long. And if you want, I can really get you eloped here in Croatia. So now it won’t be a cover story.”
Boris straightened, looking down at Claudia with surprise in his eyes. But there was excitement there—the same thing she felt swirling around inside her. The answer was already on her lips but Boris beat her to it.
“Let’s do it,” he said, never ripping his gaze from hers.
She nodded, turning to look at Filitov. “Yes, let’s. That would be so perfect.”
“We can do it over there,” Boris said, pointing to the old chestnut tree on the hill. Exactly the place where they’d first made love under the stars. She swallowed a knot of emotion and looked up at him, tears pricing her eyes.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered.
“Well let’s do it. Before it gets too dark.” Filitov pushed himself up, wiping his palms on his pants. “You two wanna get cleaned up anything?”
“I’m going to change,” she said, hopping to her feet. She’d brought along a wispy sun dress, the only thing remotely appropriate for such an event. And now that she had a phone again, they could document the ceremony—at least with a picture or two. Capture the stunning sweep of the countryside, the husky hues of the setting sun. The exact place on the face of the Earth where her entire life had shifted permanently, without her even realizing it then.
Claudia rummaged through her backpack, tugging out the white and black sundress. Boris pulled out his own clothing choice—dark khaki shorts, a black button-up—and the two changed behind the small shed that had been untouched by the fire. When they rounded the corner to find Filitov waiting, Boris captured her face in his hands, stealing a fiery kiss.
“This is amazing,” he breathed. “It’s so unexpected, but it’s just right.”
“I know.” She gripped at his hands cupping her face, searching his face. “It just feels right. We couldn’t be doing this in a more perfect place.”
He kissed her again but Filitov’s voice cut through. “Come on now. You’re not supposed to kiss until I say.”
Claudia giggled and they followed Filitov, hand in hand, through the thick grasses. When they reached the hill and stood under the sweet shade of the chestnut tree, Filitov nodded, as though approving the location. “Does everyone agree?”
“One hundred percent,” Claudia said, beaming up at Boris.
“Couldn’t be more perfect.” Boris straightened, taking her hands in his. He grinned from ear to ear, and seeing the joy on his face was a gift she hadn’t expected. It made the evening more fated; made this wild turn of events even more fitting.
“All right, you lovers.” Filitov cleared his throat, clasping his hands behind his back. A gentle breeze rippled through, lifting the hem of her dress slightly, carrying scents of flowers and hot air. She sighed happily, tilting her head to look up at Boris, to absorb everything about this moment.
“Here we go. I’d like to begin this ceremony with a poem, something that I’ve always held close to my heart. It’s been awhile, but I could recite this thing in my sleep.” Filitov’s eyes fluttered shut.
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green b
e the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
Tears welled in Claudia’s eyes. She’d never heard Filitov speak so reverently. Heaviness pooled around them, like the respectful pause after a church reading. Boris’s grip tightened around her hands and she beamed at him.
“Would either of you like to share vows or promises?” Filitov looked between them.
Going Once, Taken Twice: A Dark Romance Page 17
