Red Reaper - Soldiers of Fortune [book one]

Chapter TWENTY THREE

Lucky O'Cléirigh

"Oh Konstantin! The dancing! Ooh and their beautiful feathers! It was all so elegant-- Oh and the music! I have never heard Tchaikovsky played so magnificently as the orchestra did!" I gush my praises of the show as we climb from his sports car at our second location of the evening.. Ahead looms a very Russian looking restaurant called 'The Red Tea Room', where everything is regal and opulent, the walls and furniture are all decorated in the richest of reds and glinting gold..

Stepping inside is like being transported to Europe in an instant, the scent in the air is one of sweet tea and rosewater, with a hint of tobacco smoke.. Strangely comforting and familiar.. I have grown to love the smell of cigarettes, the woody burnt tones wind through my head to make me feel warm..

"Ah, you are-- how I say-- a lover of 'ze classical muzyka?" He takes my hand to lead me over towards the reception desk.. "I did see you play 'ze arfa.."

"Arfa? Oh, do you mean you saw my harp?" I beam brightly, mystified by our surroundings as he leans patiently against the empty counter.. "I learned when I was a little girl and the great composers were always my favorites.. But I don't play so much anymore.."

"You are a v'woman ov' so much talent, Luchenskaya.. Perhapz you will play for me sometime?" He gazes down at me in genuine interest, extending an inky finger out to wind around one of my curls around his knuckle..

I smile at the sweet familiarity of his gesture while my cheeks heat at his sincerely sweet compliment.. "Anytime.. I'd love to.."

There is nothing that gives me a rush like his praise.. I've always sought external validation, but from Konstantin that approval is satiating in ways I've never known.. It fills and humbles me, what's more, it instils in me a confidence I never had before.. It is almost as though he makes me the best version of myself..

A young host wearing a red blazer and a stern, stoic expression welcomes as he rushes forward to greet us.. He rattles off speedily spoken Russian to The Bear beside me and it is all too quick for me to translate..

Konstantin nods and replies with a sharp manner and obvious authority before the young waiter bows his head in respect and begins to lead us through the restaurant to a secluded table in the back, right next to the window.. There, we take our seats to find a spectacular view of twinkling lights and their reflections as we sit, overlooking The Darkwater River..

"Mmm! I'm starving!" I moan in delight as I pick up the ruby-red leather bound menu to inspect it, realising I can't actually read a word because everything is written in a fancy script like Cyrillic.. "What's good here?"

"You will try 'ze caviar and blini.." Konstantin smirks his sly grin at me as he orders for both of us and utters something quietly to the waiter who nods and dashes off only to return moments later with a familiar fancy bottle of vodka..

Konstantin's favourite..

"O'course we're drinking that.. I should have suspected as much!" I laugh and The Russian chuckles, a deep and sensual rumble..