Painfully Ours

Twenty-Five. Prove

*Lore Sokolov*

In Russian:

I greeted the man walking up to me.

"It's been a few years hm?" He asked.

This was Lent. Stupid name I know.

"It has." We shook hands.

"Who's that pretty lady over there I saw you hug earlier?" He turned, looking at Nora.

"None of your business."

"She's American in our place. It's entirely my business."

"Then I just won't tell you." I smiled.

"A sexy little thing. You hitting?" He asked.

I felt my jaw tick and my body warm.

"Once again. None of your business."

"Mind if I try then?" He asked.

"Not at all." I sighed, knowing he'd create a bigger issue if I said no.

I knew number one, she'd say no, but number two, the man she sat next to would guard her with his life I've come to realize.

The same way he would for mama.

For Nora.

I'm unsure if he'd even put his life on the line for Hale or I. But I could tell he cared for her. More than I expected.

I watched as Lent grabbed a drink, ignoring the one she already had.

And winked at me as he walked over to the table.

"What is he doing?" Hale gritted sitting beside me.

"Tryna steal our girl."

He hummed, his face full of disgust.

My dad watched as he approached.

He sat on the other side of Nora.

She rejected the drink, scooting further from him and politely saying no.

"I don't like this." Hale said.

"I know. I was trying to see his backside to make sure he had no gun. Now that we saw..."

"I'm beating that fucker." Hale pushed past me and I smiled.

Lent stood, trying to grab Nora's wrist.

Pa stood, pushing the man back, Nora behind him. Hale then grabbed the back of the man's shirt yanking him to turn before hitting him so hard across the face he fell to the floor with a thump.

No one looked twice.

That's what I liked about being home.

Pa turned, cupping her face to make sure she was alright.

Hale moved him and grabbed her, pulling her into his body.

"That dickwad had that coming." Pa gritted, spitting beside his unconscious body.

"Why would you let him come over here, son? What the hell is wrong with you?" Pa sneered at me.

"I didn't want to make a scene if he had a weapon."

"Your woman comes before that stupid little concern. The hell is wrong with you." He pushed past me.

I looked at Nora.

I pet her hair.

"You alright baby?"

"Yeah." She smoothed her hair back and dress down.

"Apologize to her. She knows what happened, don't do that again cocky fuck." Hale rolled his eyes.

He kissed her softly before walking to meet Pa.

I sat down and patted the seat beside me.

She sat.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I should've not let him come over here."

"You don't understand, Lore. I don't speak Russian. I cannot communicate with the people in here, if something happens I'm fucked. I don't know where I am. I don't know the part of Russia I am even in. I would really prefer not being grabbed by a man I cannot communicate with. I trust you, but Jesus I got a little scared." She said and I nodded.

"I wasn't thinking. You come before anything else. I shouldn't have done that regardless of my intentions. I'll be better for you." I grabbed her hand.

I kissed her knuckles.

"I'll prove it." I kissed the back of her hand.

She smelt delicious.

I turned over her hand, kissing her palm, her wrist.

"I never mean you harm. Ever."

"I know." She said softly.

I kissed up her arm slowly.

She watched, she tasted like sugar.

"I love you." I said and she didn't react.

I got to her shoulder and rested my forehead against her arm.

"I'm sorry."

She kissed my forehead.

"Be careful." She murmured.

I nodded.

I stood, offering her my hand.

She took it, standing.

I kissed her hand once more.

"I've never had a girlfriend." I said.

She looked at me.

"No?"

"Hale had one in high-school. But otherwise, I have no idea what I'm doing."

"You're doing good." She smiled.

"Thank you. But my point of telling you that is, I need to know when I fuck up. This is a good start but if there is anything I do that feels wrong to you, please tell me." I frowned.

"I promise." She pursed her lips and I kissed her.