Read Online Sergei, Volume 2 by Roxie Rivera - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Roxie Rivera
Tags: romantic suspense
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"Tell Yuri we're ready to go. London's calling."
His stomach twisted as he realized that she was changing—and not for the better. The idea that there might not be a happy ending for the couple whose lives had seemed fated to cross left him feeling hollow and raw. He had never wanted to hold and kiss Bianca more.
Never , he swore silently as he returned to Yuri and Ivan. I will never make Bianca feel like that. I will never let her doubt her importance to me.
He noticed the curious looks the women exchanged as they realized Nikolai wasn't coming with them on this leg of the journey. Yuri muttered under his breath as they made their way to the jet waiting on the tarmac. Sergei didn't hear all of it, but what he did catch assured him that Nikolai would be getting an earful from his friend once he finally made his way to London.
Ten lingered on the tarmac until he saw Vivian disappear into the plane. Sergei had to give credit where it was due. He might be rough around the edges, but Ten was taking good care of Vivian. If it hadn't been for the travel restrictions that were part of his release, Ten probably would have gone with them.
When they settled into their plush seats aboard one of Yuri's private jets, Sergei reached for Bianca's hand and interlaced their fingers. He couldn't see Vivian from their position in the cabin, and he wondered if he should let Bianca go sit with her. As if reading his mind, Bianca squeezed his hand and shook her head. "She wants to be alone."
"Not for the entire flight," he murmured.
"No," she agreed. "We'll take care of her. Don't worry."
"I can't help it. It was my job to worry about her. I can't simply turn that off."
She lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of his. "That's because you're a good man."
Holding her gaze, he said, "Bianca, if I ever make you feel—"
"You'll know it," she promised with a wicked gleam in her eye.
Glad they were on the same page, he chuckled softly and leaned back against the surprisingly roomy seat. The last time he had flown across the Atlantic, he had been stuffed into a coach seat. Thankfully he had been able to grab a spot in an exit row, but even that extra bit of leg room had barely made the flight tolerable. Tonight would be different.
Bianca's quip about living like the one-percent proved true. After take-off, an incredible meal was served. Flight attendants catered to their every need. The bathrooms were three or four times the size of the ones found on commercial flights. Once dinner was finished, he settled into a section of the plane modeled after a media room to watch a baseball game with Yuri and Ivan.
His gaze skipped toward the front of the aircraft every now and then to check on Bianca and Vivian. The women were sitting together playing poker. By the size of the stacks of chips in front of her, Lena was winning every round. Vivian seemed to be in second place and Bianca wasn't far behind in third. Poor Erin had a tiny stack of chips left.
On his way to grab a bottle of water, Ivan seemed to notice the sad state of Erin's game. Taking pity on her, he crouched down beside her and slid an arm around her waist, hauling her closer so he could study her cards. He nuzzled her neck and whispered strategy in her ear.
Or maybe not strategy , Sergei thought with some amusement as Erin's ears and neck flushed a scarlet shade. Later that evening, when they reclined in their seats under warm blankets and caught some much needed sleep, he pretended not to notice when Erin first left her seat to use the restroom and then Ivan a few minutes later. He didn't blame Ivan one bite for wanting to cross that one off his bucket list. When the couple returned a long time later, he smirked knowingly and burrowed down deeper under his blanket.
They landed early the next morning to a surprisingly sunny and beautiful London day. Yuri had taken care of all the transportation arrangements. After clearing customs, they were whisked away from the airport
His stomach twisted as he realized that she was changing—and not for the better. The idea that there might not be a happy ending for the couple whose lives had seemed fated to cross left him feeling hollow and raw. He had never wanted to hold and kiss Bianca more.
Never , he swore silently as he returned to Yuri and Ivan. I will never make Bianca feel like that. I will never let her doubt her importance to me.
He noticed the curious looks the women exchanged as they realized Nikolai wasn't coming with them on this leg of the journey. Yuri muttered under his breath as they made their way to the jet waiting on the tarmac. Sergei didn't hear all of it, but what he did catch assured him that Nikolai would be getting an earful from his friend once he finally made his way to London.
Ten lingered on the tarmac until he saw Vivian disappear into the plane. Sergei had to give credit where it was due. He might be rough around the edges, but Ten was taking good care of Vivian. If it hadn't been for the travel restrictions that were part of his release, Ten probably would have gone with them.
When they settled into their plush seats aboard one of Yuri's private jets, Sergei reached for Bianca's hand and interlaced their fingers. He couldn't see Vivian from their position in the cabin, and he wondered if he should let Bianca go sit with her. As if reading his mind, Bianca squeezed his hand and shook her head. "She wants to be alone."
"Not for the entire flight," he murmured.
"No," she agreed. "We'll take care of her. Don't worry."
"I can't help it. It was my job to worry about her. I can't simply turn that off."
She lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of his. "That's because you're a good man."
Holding her gaze, he said, "Bianca, if I ever make you feel—"
"You'll know it," she promised with a wicked gleam in her eye.
Glad they were on the same page, he chuckled softly and leaned back against the surprisingly roomy seat. The last time he had flown across the Atlantic, he had been stuffed into a coach seat. Thankfully he had been able to grab a spot in an exit row, but even that extra bit of leg room had barely made the flight tolerable. Tonight would be different.
Bianca's quip about living like the one-percent proved true. After take-off, an incredible meal was served. Flight attendants catered to their every need. The bathrooms were three or four times the size of the ones found on commercial flights. Once dinner was finished, he settled into a section of the plane modeled after a media room to watch a baseball game with Yuri and Ivan.
His gaze skipped toward the front of the aircraft every now and then to check on Bianca and Vivian. The women were sitting together playing poker. By the size of the stacks of chips in front of her, Lena was winning every round. Vivian seemed to be in second place and Bianca wasn't far behind in third. Poor Erin had a tiny stack of chips left.
On his way to grab a bottle of water, Ivan seemed to notice the sad state of Erin's game. Taking pity on her, he crouched down beside her and slid an arm around her waist, hauling her closer so he could study her cards. He nuzzled her neck and whispered strategy in her ear.
Or maybe not strategy , Sergei thought with some amusement as Erin's ears and neck flushed a scarlet shade. Later that evening, when they reclined in their seats under warm blankets and caught some much needed sleep, he pretended not to notice when Erin first left her seat to use the restroom and then Ivan a few minutes later. He didn't blame Ivan one bite for wanting to cross that one off his bucket list. When the couple returned a long time later, he smirked knowingly and burrowed down deeper under his blanket.
They landed early the next morning to a surprisingly sunny and beautiful London day. Yuri had taken care of all the transportation arrangements. After clearing customs, they were whisked away from the airport
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