I held onto Viktor's arm tightly as we walked into the supermarket. It made me uncomfortable, being in such a public place. I kept a firm hold on the Don and tried to minimize my limping. He walked slower, at my pace and I was grateful.

Viktor had insisted our dire need to restock before we went and investigated Richard Battier's apartment. Brookehills had one large supermarket that apparently sold everything. We needed new clothes, some supplies and maybe I could get something that could help me upgrade my laptop. Who knew?

I did tie down all the buttons on Viktor's jacket to hide the worst of my bruises. It was not a good time to be stuck with a cropped top and leggings. Viktor in simple jeans and a long sleeved shirt didn't even seem fazed about the cold. He was warm, comfortably so and it felt like it was a second away from snowing outside.

"Aren't you cold?" I asked Viktor as he helped me stand on my own, grabbing a large shopping car for us.

"Not so," he answered getting back to me as we now walked down the fruit aisles together.

"That's a very Russian thing to say you know," I told him and adjusted the sunglasses on my nose. I might need some frozen peas and makeup to hide this black eye better if we were going out in public.

"A very Russian thing to say?" Viktor echoed, clearly wanting me to elaborate.

"Isn't Russia extremely cold? This weather might be like any other windy day to you."

"Yes, Russia is cold but not everywhere," he explained. "I stayed in some of the coldest places like Oymyakon though. My dad never settled so neither did we but I moved here when I was 15. I guess I enjoy the cold—"

"Enjoy?"

"— but it seems to not be for everyone," he finished.

"Clearly," I muttered and stopped him when we reached an aisle for snacks. "We should take a few."

"Let's get everything else and then round back," Viktor suggested. "We have a lot to get."

"Some clothes and medical supplies aren't a lot."

"We need some knives, shovels, bleach, gloves, duct tape, trash bags and tarps. To name a few."

My mouth dropped and I glanced at Viktor with the most horrific expression I could under my sunglasses. "What the hell Viktor?!" I hissed. "Those are very sketchy items. It sounds like we're going to murder people!"

"We are," Viktor stated in a deadly tone and bent over my small form so I was almost underneath his bulk. His breath brushed my ear as he whispered. "Everything we do must be covered up Peach. We might be going into a battle and we are not leaving dead bodies behind for the police to follow. We have to keep our business as clean as possible. Understand."

My heart was racing and my head pounded. My vision blurred and shook. "I did not sign up to intentionally kill people Viktor."

"Neither did I but here we are," He stated and pulled back to look into my eyes hidden behind the large round glasses. He shifted his chin to move his hair out of his eyes. "I'm going to tell you this now Peach. By the end of whatever the fuck this is, you are going to have blood on your hands, yeah? Ty ne mozhesh' ubezhat' ot etogo."

I shook my head and I tried to back up but he grabbed my hand and kept me close. My breathing was strained. I couldn't even imagine it. Burying bodies, chopping them up, hiding evidence, I was going to be sick.

"This is so fucked," I groaned out bending to hold my stomach lightly. I tried to take deep breaths and I heard Viktor sigh.

"Maybe this is too much for you right now—"

"No," I protested. "I'm glad you told me. I'd rather find a way to deal with this now that having to do it unexpected."

I wanted to believe Viktor had my best interests at heart. Key word being wanted. This man was an assassin who wanted to kill me just hours ago. The line of trust here was thin but to work together, Viktor and I had to thicken it. Getting my head clear, I was now fully aware of my surroundings and the fact that Viktor's hand was in mine.

It was large, calloused like my own but peeping down at the two limbs there was a stark difference. Bronze skin, tan skin. Feminine, masculine. Shaky, sure. Cold... warm. His hand was very very warm. We were inches apart, I could feel the heat from his, hanging in the air between us, kindling like a fire. It enveloped the air around me. His smell was strong, whatever he used was good.

Wait! Peach get a grip!

I stood up straighter and pulled my hand out of his, pretending to use it to adjust my sunglasses yet the other was more than free. I wanted to flex my hands, shake it out to get the feeling of his skin off mine but it lingered and tingled, promising something as sweet as sin.

"Why don't you get all the... um... stuff and I'll work on snacks and clothes. We meet back here in ten to twenty minutes," I said quickly, trying my best not to sound like I was rambling.

Uncomfortable. Uncomfortable. Uncomfortable. Uncomfortable. Uncomfortable.

His gaze was burning and it was hard to stare right back into his soft baby blues. My heart was racing and my stomach was churning. I was surprised the urge to kneel over and puke hadn't taken over.

"Fine but don't leave the supermarket, yeah? I don't think I can protect us both if you decide to do something impulsive," he stated.

"I don't do impulsive. Don't worry. I'll be here," I assured him. He nodded, taking my word for it and left. I put an arm against the display of snacks beside me and leaned against it for some balance and to catch my breath.

"Excuse me. Hi."

I turned to find a middle aged woman with auburn hair in a soft bob and dull blue eyes. She smiled at me, the few wrinkles at her face pulling to show how genuine it was. She wore a floral shirt under her thick cardigan and brown uggies tucked into washed out skinny jeans. Her whole presence literally screamed 'mom'.

"Hello?" I greeted unsure.

"My name is Gwen. Nice to meet you," she said holding out her hand. I shook it, still confused.

"Nice to meet you too?"

Gwen smiled and held her hands in front of her. "I was just shopping up the aisle and I couldn't help but notice you and your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend," I was quick to correct and that's when I noticed the look of worry increase tenfold on Gwen's face. Shoot. "He's my husband."

Jesus Peach. He's your what?! This could not get worse.

"How long have you two been together?" she asked softly.

"Years," I stated giving a nervous laugh.

"How long has he been violent with you?"

I blinked. Twice. "I—I'm sorry... What?"

"I noticed your limp and the black eye under your sunglasses. Are you ok?" Gwen pressed and my mouth dropped open. Shoot. How exactly can I get out of this?

"I'm fine Gwen. Really. He would never hurt me. Ever. Like seriously," I rambled.

"Then how'd you get the black eye?" she asked.

"That's a great question." It really was and I had no answer for it. "I uh... I got mugged."

"You got mugged?" Gwen was unconvinced.

"Yeah. My husband he's been trying to take care of me. That's why we moved. I'm from Las Pavita. He thought getting a house here would be safer."

"Oh," Gwen mumbled and her guard dropped. I laughed nervously with her. "That makes so much sense. Sorry for bothering you. I have been in the same situation before and I saw the way he was holding you and I just assumed..."

"Oh no, it's all good. Girls have to stick up for each other right?" I joked and then made an excuse to leave, not making much progress with my hobble. I did find the clothes department and there wasn't much. I grabbed another trolley and moved.

Coats, obviously. Scarves, I didn't get because I had the image of being strangled by one. Sweats because I hadn't asked Viktor for his size. Graphic tees, the biggest I could find so they fit Viktor. I didn't mind a baggy tee. Tank tops for both of us. I didn't bother with shoes. The hardest part was finding undergarments. I got for myself easily, obviously. Then I texted Viktor's number, telling him to pick out his own. I took my phone off when I noticed he was typing.

For snacks, I got what would last more and could be the least bit filling. I also got a lot of frozen peas for my body. By the time Viktor and I met again, he was dragging a full trolley and a basket. I glanced at the spades and the folded tarps inside. My stomach folded in on itself.

"Just don't think about it too much," he insisted and I nodded, trying to do as he said. Easier said than done though.

We checked out.

"What are you doing with all this stuff," The young male cashier asked us.

"Remodeling," I answered, going with the story I told Gwen. "We just moved here and I like gardening so I'm going to see what I can make of the disaster that is my backyard."

The cashier chuckled. "Yeah Brookehills doesn't have the best soil. Our parties are off the roof though."

"I heard. You guys really know how to have a good time."

"Yeah. You should join in on the fun. There's this club not far from here, Essence. Check it out sometime. It's a great place to just drink and dance."

"We'll think on it," I answered with a polite smile. Viktor wasn't paying much attention having pulled his phone out as he checked what was going into the bags.

"I'm always there if you ever swing by," he flirted, a confident smile on his face and promise in his gaze. "I can give you my number if you want to know more."

I opened my mouth to decline, obviously but Viktor beat me to it. His hand went around my waist and he pulled me more in his direction. "She's taken."

The cashier laughed. "It's just a joke man. Plus, she can speak for herself, can't she?"

"I can," I voiced before Viktor could. "I'm taken."

"I don't see a ring on your finger," the guy said under his breath, just being a dick really.

Viktor and I ignored him and took the stuff back to the car. We started loading it in, Viktor doing almost all the work thanks to my bad leg. The stitches were still fresh so it would be a hustle to get them popped now. Viktor would have to do them and my body shuddered thinking of another needle in my flesh.

"Peach?" Viktor called out, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Hmm?" I answered tilting my head at him as he came to stand before me.

"Someone's watching us at your 3 o'clock. She's been on our tail since we were inside the supermarket," he said lowly.

I turned my head leisurely to the side to find Gwen staring at us from her car, pretending that she was just putting some things in her front seat.

"Damn," I sighed. "I talked to her. She thought you were abusing me or something."

When I talked, my voice was low because I didn't want to anger Viktor but it didn't work.

"What?!" He hissed.

"Yeah," I shrugged. "I played it off and said you were my husband after denying you were my boyfriend and telling her the same story I told the cashier. We'd just moved in."

Viktor turned his head to the sky and raked a hand through his messy blonde hair. "You don't have a ring on your finger. Neither do I."

Oh. Right.

"She's not going to do anything though," I assured him. He rolled his eyes.

"She's going to follow us and call the police," Viktor told me.

"How do you know that?" I asked crossing my arms.

"Check the sticker on her windshield. It has a local police badge on it. It's clearance for parking I'm presuming. She's the only car on that side and there's a reserved sign to her right. My guess, she knows someone or is in some sort of relationship with the police department. She's going to call this in."

Oh.

"I... I..." I had nothing to say. Damn. Was everyone I talked to going to be some sort of challenge?

"You're not at home Peach," Viktor started and my head bowed and eyes dropped to my feet. "You are on foreign land and there are people trying to kill you. You're smart but you need to be more observant, yeah. The life of sunshine and rainbows is gone. Now, everyone around you could be an enemy."

His words were stern but soft. I couldn't hate him for correcting me. "Do you understand Peach?"

I nodded and kicked my feet. "Yeah I got it."

He lifted my face up my holding my chin and there was a hardness to his baby blues as he gazed down at me. "Good but next time you look me in the eye as I'm talking. Note that down as well."

We stayed like that for a beat, his hand on my chin, our bodies close but not so at the same time. The space between us still was enough to have my body almost tingling with recognition. I'd fully felt his warmth, hell we practically cuddled not long ago. Thinking of my soon to be murderer with any other emotions but fear must be a little messed up. I didn't think there was a word for being slightly attracted to a dangerous and murderous Don.

Then again, I was a female and he was a very... very promising male. It was simply biology. Females tended to look for the strongest and most able male when searching for a mate. My body told me yes, yes, yes and my mind was telling me this was a big mistake and it would make a lot of stuff harder. I went with my head because it hadn't steered me wrong yet. When Viktor stepped back, I felt like I could breathe. I adjusted my sunglasses.

"Get in. We'll have to lose her somehow," Viktor grumbled and went round to start the car.

We lost Gwen at some traffic lights and went to Richard Battier's hotel.