Midnight Sanctuary (Bugrov Bratva #2)(37)

“Get the table by the window so I can see you at all times.”

I turn to him with pursed lips. “Are you serious?”

“Do I look serious?”

“Uri—”

“If you don’t, I’ll walk right in there and make you switch.”

Gritting my teeth, I nod. “Fine. Asshole.”

He gives me a satisfied smile. “By the way… you look pretty.”

As irritated as I am, I do appreciate the compliment. I haven’t been feeling my best lately. It’s hard to feel sexy when you’ve got a growing belly that only promises to get larger with time. Which is why I’ve taken pains to look good today in a long black pencil skirt, ankle boots, and a billowy white blouse that does a great job of hiding my stomach.

“I’ll be right here. If you see anyone suspicious, call me immediately.”

I sigh. “Sure you don’t want to just come in with me?”

“No.”

Rolling my eyes, I get out of the car and step into Seed. The moment I walk in, I’m doused with the scent of patchouli oil and lavender.

“Alyssa!”

I steer to my left and catch sight of Elle, who’s standing at one of the corner booths, waving wildly at me. We rush towards one another and embrace tightly.

“Oh my God. It’s so good to see you.”

I can see the window out of the corner of my eye. The sleek, navy-blue Rolls Royce is parked just outside, with Uri’s silhouette prominent through the glass. “Elle, you have no idea. I’ve missed you so much.”

She pulls back but keeps both hands on my shoulders as her eyes scan me up and down in the least subtle way possible. “You look good.”

I smile. “Thanks.”

“No, I mean, you look really good. Like a woman thriving.”

I raise my eyebrows. “What were you expecting exactly?”

“I don’t know. A woman who looked like she’d been held captive for the past few months. Emphasis on ‘captive.’ Actually emphasis on ‘months,’ too!”

“Breathe,” I say firmly, trying not to glance towards the window. “I’m fine.”

She nods. “You have to fill me in. I need to know everything.”

Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of.

“And I’m gonna tell you everything.” Well, sort of. As far as I’m concerned, there are little white lies and necessary omissions that are totally justifiable. Even to best friends. “Should we sit first?”

“Sure thing. I got us a booth.”

“Um, actually… would it be alright if we sat by the window?”

Elle shrugs. “If you want. I don’t care where we sit.”

She grabs her bag out of the corner booth and walks it over to one of the window tables. As she’s sliding into her seat she notices the Rolls Royce. “Damn—now, that’s a car. Liam would go nuts if he saw it.”

“Yeah, it’s a nice car,” I mumble distractedly.

Uri is a little too visible from the driver’s seat and he just so happens to choose this moment to glance window-side.

“Whoa.” Elle’s eyes almost bulge out of her skull. “Forget the car. The man behind the wheel is the real eye candy. He’s gorgeous!”

Blech. It’s not like I can get away with keeping quiet now. “Um, yeah. That’s… Uri.”

“Who?” she asks without taking her eyes off Uri.

I frown. “For a best friend who claims to have missed the hell out of me, you’re certainly having a hard time keeping your attention on me. Also, you just got married. What are you doing ogling other men fresh off your honeymoon?”

Elle finally peels her eyes away from Uri—rather reluctantly, I might add. “Hey, I’m not planning on sampling the goods or anything. Just window shopping, that's all.”

“Mhmm,” I smirk.

“What did you say before?”

I swallow. “The guy in the fancy car, the one you were just eyefucking shamelessly—he’s Uri. The guy I’ve, um, been with all this time.”

“WHAT?!”

“Quiet!” I hiss, hiding behind my menu as most of the restaurant turns in our direction. “Will you keep it down?”

“That is the man who abducted you and held you hostage this whole damn time?”

“First of all, that’s not exactly what happened. And second of all, shh!”

She turns back towards the window to take a second peek at Uri. Clearly aware that he’s under inspection, he raises his hand and gives Elle a small nod. It’s infuriatingly cool.

Elle gives him an unsteady wiggle of her fingers in return. “Well, he’s got style, I’ll give him that. Question: is he planning on coming in and joining us at some point?”

“No. Hell no. He wanted to give us some privacy while we catch up.”

“Thoughtful,” she remarks. “But why doesn’t he just drive away then? Go do something while we have lunch?”

“He just wants to make sure that I’m… safe.”

Elle’s frown disappears suddenly as her eyes go wide. “Wait. Is that why you wanted to sit by the window? So that he could see you at all times?”

Okay. This is going badly.