Page 32 of The Lies Between Lovers

Or a very immature young man.

“Huh.”

“Ah, don’t worry,” her companion for the flight said as he settled back into his seat, even pulling the rucksack up to his lap. “I won’t bother her.”

Then, he grinned her way again.

“Or you,” he added.

That made Vera’s own smile soften. “I’m not really worried about that. First time flying?”

The guy made a semi-dismissive sound, replying, “Not really.”

“First time flying alone?”

That had him nodding, but he was now more interested in digging through his rucksack in search of something than continuing their conversation. She didn’t really mind.

Vera laughed a little, wondering if maybe that was the real cause for his nervous energy that seemed to keep his knees bouncing on the spot while he surveyed the rest of the passengers on the plane. Or, the handful that had been allowed to board. There were still quite a few empty seats, and they had another fifteen minutes of boarding before the flight attendants would begin their safety talk as the plane taxied.

She still hadn’t even called Hannah yet to tell her she was coming. Frankly, she assumed her friend wouldn’t really care about the phone call because she’d be far too excited to see Vera there to do or think about much else. Besides, the surprise visit would give the two a chance to talk ... about everything.

Something they hadn’t been able to do in Paris.

“I’m Kiril, by the way,” the guy beside her said. “Kiril ... Smith.”

She looked to find he’d stuck his hand out, ready for a shake if she wanted. It hadn’t escaped her notice how he paused before offering the surname like he was trying to remember it, never mind that the name was very clearly not Russian despite his thick accent when he spoke to her in English.

How strange ...

Still, she took his hand, and shook it, saying, “I’m Vera.”

“Ochen’ priyatno—pleased to meet you.”

As the final passengers boarded the plane, found their seats, and began settling in while the flight attendants took their respective positions, and the captain of the flight came over the intercom, Vera buckled up.

Still trying to make conversation, she asked the young man, “Do you have family in Italy?”

“Net.” He gave another blinding smile. “Just a job to do.”

“Well, it’s a beautiful place. Take some time to enjoy it, if you can.”

He only shrugged at that.

She would have continued the conversation if not for the beeping of her phone. She’d tucked it under her leg on the seat, planning to listen to a favorite podcast for the flight, but apparently forgot to turn the device on airplane mode. Turning the screen on, she found the reason for the beeping.

A call she opted to ignore.

Papa flashed on the screen, quickly erasing when she ignored the call and then switched the device over to airplane mode.

Honestly, she wasn’t ready for that, either.

Not to talk, or explain.

No doubt, that’s exactly what Demyan would want to do. Her father must have spoken to Alexi by now. He had to know that her path crossed with a dangerous man, one he wouldn’t approve of, and he would undoubtedly want to know why. Or he planned to warn her, in the best-case scenario.

Whatever the reason, she didn’t want to hear it.

Her father lived all the way across the world from her, essentially. And that’s how their lives had played out since she moved to Russia. She allowed him the control he needed from a safe distance for as long as she could before it became suffocating. Of course, she understood that because her father was a powerful man in a precarious position that he needed to keep his family safe; a responsibility he took upon himself to ease his own conscience.