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Vicky was already waiting for him in the foyer. His girl looked a bit lost, with a suitcase next to her and a bag in her hands. From the corner of his eye, he saw Yuri on the left, watching over her.
He sensed the twins behind him before Vicky’s eyes went over to them. He knew she had met several people in the past days, but wasn’t sure how she was taking it all. Days had passed, and he still didn’t know how to talk to her. What subjects did they have to discuss? He didn’t know the first thing about her. But he would. As soon as he’d stashed Elena away and the Pakhan’s visit was over, he was going to get to know her.
He grabbed her suitcase. “Let’s go.”
Vicky didn’t move. “What about my mom?”
“I’ll take care of your mom.”
She crossed her arms and gave him a look. “Take care of her?”
There was a slight tremble in her voice. For a second there, he hated himself for scaring his own kid. He knew what she wanted to hear, but it wasn’t gonna happen. There was no way he was going to forgive her mother. Elena was going to pay.
“Yeah, take care of her.”
“I’m not leaving without seeing her. So you better find her before you ship me off somewhere.”
Stubborn to the bone. She was a real Skarsgard. He tensed when he was reminded she didn’t carry his name. Another thing Elena had stolen from him.
“You’re leaving the city tomorrow.” When she started to protest, he pointed a finger at her. “This ain’t a democracy. It’s my job to keep you safe, whether you want it or not. Don’t worry about your mother. She’ll be fine.”
“I’m not a kid, you know. It’s a bit late to tell me what to do, don’t you think?”
He gave her a look that would have any sane man back off, then run. Hard.
She raised her chin. “I’m not going back to Switzerland without having seen my mom.”
Clearly, his look had no effect on her. Though he was glad she didn’t fear him, he was annoyed as well. Her seeing her mom? Not happening. Not before he’d made some arrangements and come to an understanding with Elena. He couldn’t have Vicky see her mother in that wine cellar.
“You’ll talk to her within twenty-four hours,” he promised. And that was all he was prepared to do.
Elena wasn’t leaving her prison. Ever.
They were just about to leave when Vasili showed his face. Sokolov’s right-hand man was stockily built, with a buzz cut. His greedy eyes immediately went to Vicky. Viking barely kept himself in check. He reminded himself that the old leech didn’t know she was his daughter. And other than wives and daughters, women were free-for-all in his world.
“And who might you be, babushka?”
Viking placed himself firmly before his girl. “The reason I’ll bash a hammer into your skull if you ever look at her again.”
Vasili raised his brows, a scowl marring his face. “Sokolov won’t be pleased to hear you brought your plaything here while being engaged to Annika.”
A finger pricked in his back. “Annika?” Vicky whispered behind him.
This so wasn’t the time.
“I’m sure he’ll deal,” Viking growled. Like Sokolov didn’t know it was the way of their world. An arranged marriage meant nothing, other than securing business ties between the two Bratvas.
Without losing more time, he grabbed Vicky’s hand and pulled her outside.
The ride over to the twins’ place was done in silence. They lived at the edge of town in a two-story building that was surrounded by woods. With Damon’s penchant for privacy, it was the perfect place for them. When the big brownstone came into view, Viking was reminded why he’d chosen this place. The house sat nudged against dense woods that had more woods on the other side. It was a fortress, with enough land to fit in a few football fields. He should probably look into something like it for himself.
“So, who is this Annika?”
Hell if he knew. He’d never met the woman. “No one.”
“She is someone, if you’re engaged to her.”
He stepped out of the car and grabbed her suitcase out of the trunk. When he looked up, Vicky was standing next to him, a mulish expression on her face.
