This house was a prison. A simple, sturdy built prison on the edge of the world. And she was locked in with the walking sex hound, Billy Duke, the whale that Viktoriya had become and newly added, a quiet wall of muscle that happened to share his name with Valentina’s ex-boyfriend. The Sima farmhouse was terrible. The floors squeaked. The walls were thin. The water heater wouldn’t even last the whole shower. This was totally not her penthouse back home in New York. She missed New York, and Billy Duke was barely easing her homesickness.
Eli and Viktoriya being together wasn’t helping. As hurtful as it was to see Viktoriya play nurse to Eli after his shooting, it was far worse now. She could hear them at night. After Billy had reached his carnal climax, rolled off of her, and fell asleep in her bed, the house got quiet. Viktoriya’s parents, Valentina’s father’s cousin, always found bed first. He was always up with the sun, and went down with it too. Viktoriya had been the last to bed, especially in the past few weeks. She used to be up crying. Now she could her laughing, talking with Eli, as they planned their future together.
“Have you considered any names yet?” She heard Eli ask. She couldn’t see through the wall to know for sure, but Valentina imagined Eli rubbing Viktoriya’s big belly. Valentina still considered that Viktoriya might be lying about the pregnancy, that she really was just fat, and trying to play to Eli’s sympathies so that he didn’t leave her. That little paper marriage couldn’t be that binding.
“No, I thought that maybe we should know if it’s a boy or a girl first.” Viktoriya said softly. What a lie. Viktoriya did nothing softly. She was only ever harsh words and cold looks with Valentina. Especially once Billy joined them. It was hard to picture her cousin gently stroking Eli’s cheek, or running her fingers through his chest hair. She didn’t want to picture it anyway. That should be her in there.
That should have been Valentina, wrapped in Eli’s arms. That should have been Valentina touching his cheek, his arm, his chest. That should have been Valentina wearing his ring, covered in more diamonds than stars in the sky, and worth more than this entire property. That should have been Valentina pregnant with his child.
If it were her, she’d already have everything planned. Valentina would name the little boy something elegant, but strong. Like Elijah himself. He’s so close with his brother, perhaps name the boy after Levi. Surely Levi would be his godfather. With just two weeks to go, she’d already have her hospital bags packed, a little outfit or two picked out of little Levi Coates II, her delivery suite booked, her delivery day set, her labor classes completed and her delivery coach on call. She’d want her father there, of course. Eli and Murroh would be ever ready to rush her to the hospital. Murroh would probably even be staying in the penthouse with them, just to be close at hand. If it were Valentina, everything would be perfect.
“I think we should name the baby after Yuri Utkin. At least… in some way.” Eli suggested. Valentina rolled her eyes. Even after two comas, three bullets and several surgeries, he was still caught up with this fantasy of rescuing Mikhail Sima and Yuri Utkin.
“But what if we have a girl?” Viktoriya retorted. She wasn’t making fun of him either. She was as foolish as Eli, entertaining the idea of being great heroes.
“Georgina, Georgiana, Georgette?” Eli offered. Did he not realize that he would be naming his daughter after the man that nearly killed him?
“Ilya, are you sure? Won’t it remind you of him?” Viktoriya was at least that smart.
“No, nothing will remind me of him. Not even the scars on my face. If my child is named Georgiana, or George, there are so many things I will see when I look at them. Love, pride, amazement, hope, and light. I’ll see you. I’ll see me. Maybe I’ll think of Yuri, but I will never think of him.” Eli’s bold speech must have stirred something in Viktoriya. She was quiet. Valentina barely heard the sounds, squeaks, creaks, shuffling, then muffled moan. It had stirred something in her. They were kissing.
YOU ARE READING
Looking For The Light (Book 2)
ParanormalElijah's life has been thrown for a loop. His girlfriend left him, he's leaving his home behind, and setting off into the unknown. Doubting his mission and himself, the young telepath struggles with many of the great questions of life.
