Page 67 of Dark Christmas

We pull out onto the street, and Sasha leans forward between the seats like he’s settling in for a casual road trip, not a potentially dangerous escort mission.

"So," he starts, "Melor tells me you’ve got yourself a kitten now. What’s his name? "

"Duke."

Sasha chuckles. "Ah, a regal name. Fitting for Melor’s place. I can already picture him lounging on one of those fancy couches like he owns the joint."

Melor glances at Sasha in the rearview mirror. “You’re not far off.”

"Smart cat," Sasha replies, his grin widening. “And I bet you’re already wrapped around his little paw, huh?” He nudges Melor’s seat playfully.

I can’t help but laugh at the thought of Melor being bossed around by a kitten. "Wouldn’t quite say that. But he’s a nice addition.”

Sasha shakes his head as he leans back in his seat. "Never thought I’d see the day. Melor, feared ex-Bratva badass, taking orders from a kitten."

Melor doesn’t say a word, but I catch the tiniest smirk on his face.

As we drive, Sasha leans forward again, all casual and chatty. "You know," he says, grinning, "this VIP hospital visit is a total first for me. Usually, when Melor and I are heading somewhere, it’s... let’s just say, not about babies and kittens."

Melor raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t say a word, eyes fixed on the road.

I snicker, and Sasha winks at me. "I gotta say, Amelia, it’s kinda wild seeing my old buddy here doing something normal. When he first told me about you, I knew I had to meet the woman who’s managed to make him less... well, less Melor. Do you know how rare that is?"

I glance at Melor, noticing how tightly he’s gripping the steering wheel. I can tell he’s not entirely comfortable with the conversation.

"Seriously, though," Sasha continues, smirking. "This guy’s always been a solo act. Didn’t think anyone could get through that concrete wall of his. But then you come along, and boom—now he’s got a kitten, and he’s playing house. You must be something special."

I feel my face heat up. "I don’t know about that."

"Oh, don’t even start,” Sasha retorts, totally teasing. “I’ve known this guy for ages, and he doesn’t keep people around for no reason. If he’s holding onto you, it’s because you knocked him flat on his ass.”

Melor finally chimes in, voice low and serious. "She’s done more than that."

Sasha bursts out laughing. "See? That’s what I’m talking about! He’s a goner, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier."

I glance at Melor, half-expecting him to brush it off, but he doesn’t. For a guy who’s always kept his guard up, this is different in a good way.

Sasha slaps Melor’s shoulder, clearly loving this. "Took you long enough, man. You deserve a good woman."

“And I’ve got one,” Melor replies. Sasha leans back, eyes twinkling with that mischievous grin of his. "You know, I’ve got a story for you, Amelia. Picture this: Melor and me, back in the day, trying to be all serious and intimidating, right? But we were young and stupid. One night, we were supposed to meet this dude. And Melor here, tough guy that he is, decides to lead us through a shortcut."

I raise an eyebrow, already intrigued. "A shortcut?"

"Yep. Through someone’s backyard. What hedidn’tknow was that the yard belonged to an old lady with a massive Doberman."

I can’t help but laugh at the mental image. "Oh no."

"Oh yes," Sasha continues, laughing. "The dog, Satan—and yes, that was its actual name—comes barreling out of nowhere. The always cool, calm, and collected Melor freaks out and starts scaling the fence like he’s in the Olympics, leaving me behind to deal with the dog. Luckily, I had some beef jerky in my pocket, and I had to bribe it with that to stop it from eating me."

I glance over at Melor, who’s shaking his head, clearly annoyed but also slightly amused. "It wasn’tthatbad."

"Not that bad?" Sasha scoffs. "I still have nightmares about that dog. And you just stood there, laughing from the other side of the fence once you were safe."

I burst out laughing. "I can’t picture Melor running from a dog."

Sasha glances at me again, curiosity all over his face. "So, tell me more about this bakery of yours. Claire's your bestie, right? You two run the place together?"

I nod, smiling. "Yeah, it's called Sweet Talk. We make cupcakes, cookies, all the usual pastries but with a twist."