Russian Roulette (Russkaya Mafiya) by Sapphire Knight

just said? It sounded so alluring; I love when you speak Russian to me.” I peer up into his eyes and our lips align but he’s much taller than me, so they don’t touch.
    “I called you my little beauty: mallenkee Krasaaveetsa.” I beam at him because he is turning out to be pretty perfect.
    “Oh, before I forget again, thank you for the flower this morning, it is beautiful!” I squeeze him to me as I say this.
    “You’re welcome, little pet. I think someone dropped it in the hall this morning so I thought you might enjoy it.” He dips his head toward mine and places his lips on mine before I can respond. Tate takes his time and kisses me slowly, softly and deeply. I feel like I’m tasting him for the first time, like he is showing me a piece of himself. I wrap my hands around his firm waist and pull him closer to me. He has my face cradled in between his hands as he controls our kiss.
    When he pulls back, I suck on his bottom lip and make him groan. Tate presses a chaste kiss to my forehead and gives me a little smack on the ass as he starts to walk to his SUV.
    “Night, girls, keep an eye on my Krasaaveetsa for me!” he chortles loudly as he walks around the large vehicle.
    Tate hops in the driver’s side and pulls out of the parking lot. As they start to drive away, Nikoli leans out of his window and wolf whistles at us. I chuckle at his silliness. We all wave and head inside.

SEVEN
    EMILY
    The girls are talking quickly and excitedly aboutthe day when we get to the apartment. I open the door and choke out a loud gasp as it hits me. Blinking frantically, I take in the entire area.
    Every surface in the apartment is covered in white rose petals. The smell. The smell hits me and I lean over, resting my hands on my thighs as I gag. I knew my life was too good to be true today. The apartment smells strongly of the monsters body spray I used to love him wearing.
    I feel a tear burn as it runs down my cheek but I’m unable to speak, it’s like I blank out. I glare over at London and see she’s gone ashy and has tears streaming down her face. She knows what this is, she knows what this means. London knew. She had to. This means he is here. This means he has found me.
    I whisper brokenly to London, “You knew.”
    Avery looks really confused but comes up and hugs me. “What’s going on, girl, what’s with the flowers and why are you guys so upset?” She looks confused. She may be my friend, but this is no one’s business. She needs to go home where it’s safe for her.
    “It’s nothing, Avery.” I try to avoid her question, sucking in some of my emotions that are dying to break free and allow me to freak out.
    London shrieks, heatedly, “Bullshit! It’s not nothing! It’s everything! You can’t keep dealing with this alone. You can’t keep hiding from this. Tell her or I will, people need to know.”
    I glare at London as she yells this in my face; she knows this is my fucking secret. No one needs to know what I went through, what I continue to go through. He doesn’t deserve to be talked about or cried over.
    I look at Avery and nod my head. Fine, they want to hear some of the details of how fucked up I let my life get, fine.
    “Fuck it, whatever. But don’t you dare fucking cry about it. He doesn’t deserve the tears; he doesn’t even deserve my words.” I mumble out, defeated.
    I walk to my bedroom and get my pistol. I’ll be damned if he does that to me again. I want Tate, so I have to fight this time.
    Muttering angrily as I enter the room again, “I’m not telling her everything. I can’t deal with talking about it all. I’ll tell you a few highlights about the monster, Avery. First off, this is the monster’s work, we don’t say his name; he doesn’t get that privilege.”
    I look from London’s grief-stricken face to Avery’s curious but cautious one and begin.
    EMILY
    Two years ago…
    I still can’t get over the fact that I’m pregnant. I’m going to be a mommy! I can’t