Red Reaper - Soldiers of Fortune [book one]

Chapter SIXTY THREE

Konstantin Ivanov

I groan through the torturous tenderness in my chest which throbs wildly as I shrug into my black tux-jacket, fixing the collar and cuffs neatly I to place.. My body is far from recovered, each and every breath I take is still short and my muscles always ache.. But I refuse to acknowledge the pain, not today.. Not when there is so much to be thankful for..

Agony and all, goddamn, it's good to be alive..

"You are nervouz, Brat?" Luka chimes curiously from his perch on the back of the sofa where he toys with his phone, residing over his groomsmens duties of keeping my glass full of vodka..

"Nyet.. I have no reazon for thiz.. I marry angel today.." I grin back at him and he smirks at me from beneath a mop of shaggy black hair..

"That iz why you should be nervous, brother.. She will realize you are d'yavol and leave you to burn at 'ze alter.." He laughs as he makes a suggestive hand gesture and he mimics the sound of an explosion.. "Can 'ze Reaper even set foot on Holy ground without catching fire?"

I scoff.. "Mudak.. Fuck up you mouth.."

Turning to inspect my reflection in the mirror I let out a slow breath and the young man jumps to his feet, eagerly passing me the black tie that hangs in the back of a nearby chair.. "Spasibo, Comrade.."

He glances at me with a desperate look of concern in his eye, as I knot the fabric tight around my neck.. The awkward manner that overcomes him has him chewing the inside of his cheek so I take pause to consider his odd mood.. "Luka?"

"Koba, I must tell to you something.." He averts his cobolt blue eyes away and immediately I am struck by the strangeness of his actions.. "It iz something you are perhapz not able to forgive.. If you would prefer to have Stori take my place today.. I would understand.."

Intrigued, I lean against the back of a chair to fix him with my attention, waiting for him to continue.. "Why for would I do thiz?"

He sucks a nervous breath between his teeth with a hiss.. "You took me in when I had nowhere to go, I waz nothing, juzt a starving child on 'ze street.. I could not go home and you-- you gave me a new life, a family.. A purpose.. But I never did tell you why I lived like thiz.. For 'ze longezt time you were my only friend- I waz afraid- I did not believe you would understand.."

"Enough mystery.." Frowning, I wave a hand urging him to hurry his explanation along.. "What iz you are saying, Luka?"

"I did not choose to leave my home, Kostya.. I waz forced to leave moya mamushka with a monster.. My father, he did not want me because I-- I am--" Luka's icy gaze dips from mine again in shame, hesitancy cracking his nervous pitch.. "I am gay.."

An unpleasant taste turns sour in the back of my mouth.. His information is unexpected and the implications for him are immense.. "Gay?"

Suddenly so many things begin to make sense to me.. This is why Luka never saw the same woman more than once, because he does not enjoy their company.. This is why he buries himself in work over leisure, so nobody will notice his true nature..