King of the Underworld (RJ Kane) novel Chapter 7

Chapter Seven
Sephie

Since I didn’t have to work, I decided to turn my television on and mindlessly watch a movie. I was still quite tired from the festivities the night before, but I didn’t want to go back to sleep. I consulted with my giant guardian, and we decided on an action movie. As soon as the action started, Viktor was critiquing the hero’s every move. Actually, Viktor’s commentary on the movie turned out to be more interesting than the movie itself.

Even though I tried hard not to, I eventually fell asleep. When I awoke, I heard hushed voices in my kitchen. I assumed it was Viktor and Andrei, so I didn’t think before I said, “ok, which one of you is making me dinner?”

The talking stopped and there was silence for a moment, so I sat up on the couch and looked into the kitchen. That was definitely not Viktor standing in the kitchen and he was definitely not talking to Andrei.

“Sh*it,” I mumbled to myself as I leapt off the couch and tried to put distance between me and the two new giant Russians in my kitchen. “Who are you? Where did Viktor and Andrei go??”

“Calm down. I’m Ivan and this is Misha. We replaced Viktor and Andrei so they could get rest.”

I looked Ivan and Misha up and down. Misha was slightly taller than Ivan, but both men were just as huge as Viktor and Andrei. Ivan was bald, with a black goatee. He also had tattoos on his neck that I hadn’t noticed the night before. Misha looked younger than the other three. He looked less threatening than the others, too. He had soft green eyes that gave the impression he was always smiling, even when he wasn’t. They were a striking contrast to his black hair.

Misha said, “Ivan was just filling me in on information and then he was going back outside. We’re sorry we woke you,” he said in a rather mild Russian accent.

“No, it’s okay. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Will Viktor and Andrei be back?” I asked. I felt weird missing them, but I suddenly felt a little empty knowing they weren’t in my apartment.

Misha smiled gently, “Yes, Sephie. They’ll be back in the morning. They needed sleep. We’re working in shifts.”

“So, they’re really not on meth,” I said scratching the back of my neck and stretching my arms over my head.

Ivan turned to me with the most intense gaze I think I’d ever seen. “WHAT?!?” he said as he started toward me. Misha grabbed his arm to prevent him from moving closer to me as I took a few more steps backward and ended up against the wall.

Misha stepped in front of Ivan, to both physically and visually block him from me. “Ivan, it’s a joke. She was making a joke. Viktor told me she makes jokes, especially when she’s nervous. No one is on meth, especially not Viktor.”

“I feel vulnerably diagnosed, but he’s right. I was joking. I said Viktor was on meth because he couldn’t have slept much before coming to my apartment before my neighbor left for work this morning.”

Ivan took a deep breath. His body somewhat relaxed but his gaze was still burning holes in my soul. He turned his back to me and left my apartment.

I stayed against the wall for a few more seconds, just to make sure he didn’t come back.

“Is he always such a jovial guy?”

Misha rubbed his face with his hands as he inhaled deeply. “Ivan didn’t mean any harm. Ivan has very strong feelings about drug use.”

“Noted.”

Instead of making small talk with my new guardians, I gave up and just went to my bedroom. I was still tired, even after my nap. I figured extra sleep wasn’t going to k ill me.

I checked my phone. Three messages from Max, asking where I was, then giving me sh*it for not coming to work, and then genuinely asking if I was ok. I thought of Max like an older brother. He always gave me a hard time, but he also always made sure I was okay.

I’m fine, Maximus. My throat is still really sore, so the thought of having to speak all night long was too much for me.

Max: Pics or it didn’t happen, gingersnap.

I snapped a quick selfie of my now very colorful neck and sent it to him.