Saved by the Alien Crime Boss (Aliens Among Us #4)

Chapter 9

NINE

It had been a languorous day. A day during which Mina had slept well past her usual wake up time of six o’clock, had eaten lunch without feeling rushed, and had served not one single customer. She’d just turned on ambient rain sounds, curled up with a thick blanket on her cozy, oversized chaise, and read.

It was the day she turned thirty years old.

Yet as much as she’d wanted to lose herself in the fantastical world of her book and get swept away by the passionate, swoon-worthy romance, it kept reminding her of just how alone she was.

Mina had no one to wake up alongside, no one to caress her cheek and kiss her good morning, no one to hold her as she lounged in bed. She had no one to share meals with, no one to talk and laugh with.

She was so damned lonely it hurt.

So when the characters in the story finally professed their love for one another, Mina closed the book and cried. The fact that she had no one to comfort her only made her cry harder.

When her sobs ebbed, she wiped her eyes and looked out the nearby window to watch the big snowflakes fall. The wind’s howl rose over the rain sounds playing on her speaker. The sun had set a couple hours ago, around two-thirty—not that there’d been much sunlight today with the dark storm clouds dominating the sky.

She didn’t even have someone to cuddle and watch the snowstorm with.

Tears again filled her eyes, blurring her vision.

Stop. Just stop. Feeling sorry for yourself isn’t going to change anything.

No, it wouldn’t.

But it was her birthday, and she could cry if she wanted to.

Mina sighed, unraveled herself from her blanket, and scooted off the chaise. There was no way she could bring herself to read anymore. Picking up her phone, she swapped the rain sounds for something more upbeat. Dancing and singing along to the pop music, she made her way to the kitchen and fixed a quick, easy, nostalgic dinner—boxed macaroni and cheese.

She stood bent over the island counter, rocking her body to the beat, as she ate spoonful after spoonful of delicious, creamy, cheesy pasta.

Her music was abruptly interrupted by her ringtone.

Mina looked at her phone and grinned. Setting her spoon down in her bowl, she snatched up her phone, disconnected the Bluetooth, and accepted the call. “Hi Randy!”

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,” Randy sang loudly, exaggerating every word dramatically. “Happy birthday dear Mina… Haaaaaaappy Birrrrrrrthdaaaaaay toooooo youuuuuuuu.”

“Thank you,” Mina said, laughing. She hadn’t realized how long it had been since they’d last spoken until now—a month, at least. It was so good to hear his voice. “You remembered.”

Randy scoffed. “Of course I remembered! I’d never forget. How does it feel now that you’re thirty years old?”

Lonely. Sad. Pitiful.

“The same,” Mina replied, keeping her true feelings out of her voice. “How have you been? Enjoying the sunny desert life?”

“Sure am. I’ve never been so tan in my life. I actually just got back from a Caribbean cruise—with my girlfriend.”

Mina gasped. “What?” That ache in her heart intensified. “Girlfriend? When? How?”

“What do you mean how?” he asked with feigned offense. “I’m a good-looking man who knows how to cook.”

“Oh, you know I didn’t mean it like that. I’ve just never seen you with anyone in all the time I’ve known you. When did this happen?”

“Over the summer. I wanted to tell you sooner, but it felt like it was too soon, I guess. Sorry, Mina.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m so excited for you! So, tell me about her. Tell me how you two met!” She took another bite of her mac and cheese.

Randy chuckled. “I was in Las Vegas for a weekend, and while I was getting a drink from the bar by the hotel pool, I heard a beautiful laugh behind me. I turned around, and there Katy was, wearing this bright pink and white polka dot bikini. The way she smiled at me… I felt like I’d been struck by lightning.

“Of course, I stood there staring at her like a fool. But damn, Mina. She was beautiful. And I told her so, right there, out loud, in front of everyone. Her eyes went so wide. I didn’t care if she was married or not, I just had to tell her.”

Mina smiled as she picked up her bowl and brought it to the sink. “I guess she wasn’t married, considering she’s now your girlfriend.”

“Divorced thirteen years ago,” Randy said. “It was mutual, and they’re both happier for it. Now, she’s all mine. And it just so happens that she lives in Arizona too, only twenty minutes away from me.”

“Well?” She set her bowl down before walking the sofa. “Tell me more about Katy and your cruise!”

Sitting with her legs curled to the side, Mina listened as Randy explained that he and Katy had started off as friends for those first few weeks, but their connection had been so strong that they couldn’t deny it. They’d leapt in headfirst. He excitedly described their first date, and he gushed about meeting Katy’s kids and grandkids.

Pure joy radiated from his every word.

Randy had opened the Thomas Bakery with his wife, Amanda, and the two had run it together for years. But she’d passed away from a stroke in her thirties. There one day, gone the next.

Mina understood that all too well.

From what people said, Randy had struggled terribly in the years following his wife’s death. He’d been alone and devastated, withdrawn, pouring everything of himself into the bakery. By the time Mina had met him, Amanda had been gone for longer than they’d been married, but he still hadn’t moved on.

Mina didn’t doubt that Randy had seen his own grief and loss reflected in her and her mother—and that, knowing such suffering firsthand, he’d done everything he could to ensure they didn’t have to endure it without support. To ensure they didn’t have to feel as alone as he had.

She knew he’d always wanted a family. It had been apparent in the way he’d helped Mina and Hannah during their time of need—especially when he found out what Hannah had been doing to earn extra income. It had been in the way he’d spent time with them, taught them, cared for them. The way he’d made them feel like they were still important even though their world had crumbled beneath their feet, made them feel loved. He’d treated them like the daughter and granddaughter he’d never had.

Selling the bakery had been his way of finally finding closure, of finally allowing himself to move on from his first love, who’d been gone for nearly three decades by the time The Thomas Bakery became The Bookish Bean.

Now, he was living his best life and making the most out of every minute, and Mina was thrilled for him.

“What about you, Mina?” Randy asked. “How are you doing?”

“I’m…good,” she said carefully. “The café’s doing great, and it’s been keeping me busy.”

“I’m not worried about the café. I’m worried about you.”

Mina let out a little chuckle. “Oh, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m fiiiine.”

Randy sighed. “I know how it is there. Know how they are.”

She closed her eyes and held her phone just a little tighter.

“The offer still stands, Mina. You could sell the building and move down here. You’ll always have a place with me.” He softened his voice. “You need to let them go.”

But Mina wasn’t thinking about her parents; she was thinking of Viktor. Had Randy brought this up a week ago, she might’ve been tempted. She knew it wasn’t healthy to hold onto this place simply because it was where her parents were buried and where her memories of them had been made.

Yet…she still wasn’t ready to let go. And now…

Now there was Viktor.

“I…met someone,” Mina said, opening her eyes.

“What?” Randy asked, the word coming quickly in his shock. “Who?”

“Do you remember the mystery man I told you about who moved into that cabin out on the lake? The one everyone in town was gossiping about?”

“Well, who is he then? Can’t be much of a mystery now.”

Except Viktor was a mystery. Mina knew his name, knew that his accent was foreign, and that he’d had shady dealings in the past, but nothing more. She had no idea where he was born, what he’d been like as a child, his favorite color, or what his hobbies were. She didn’t even know what he did for a living.

“His name is Viktor. And when I say I met him,” Mina said, “I really do mean that I just met him.”

“Mina…”

“But he’s…he’s been good to me, Randy. He’s not like the others. He stands up for me, and he’s helped give me the confidence to stand up for myself.”

She recalled the pride that had been in Viktor’s eyes after she’d confronted Daniel Stevens. Even now, it made something in her belly flutter. But even more powerful was the pride she felt in herself.

Mina stood up from the sofa. “You know how you said it felt like you were struck by lightning the moment you saw Katy?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s what it felt like for me with Viktor. My whole world just lit up. We just…need more time to get to know each other.”

If he lets me know him at all.

“Just be careful, Mina,” Randy said. “I don’t want to see you hurt. You have a big heart, but there are too many people who’d take advantage of that without a second thought.”

“Viktor won’t.”

“Good. Because if I have to haul my sun-bronzed ass back to that frozen?—”

“Oh gross! You did not just say that about your ass.”

Randy laughed.

They talked for a little while longer before finally saying their goodbyes and hanging up.

Mina smiled down at the phone. “I miss you, old man.”

But she was so happy for him.

After washing her bowl and setting it in the drying rack, Mina showered, taking her time to relish the hot water. When she was done, she pulled on some cozy pajamas to prepare for a night of cake, champagne, and a movie.

She opened the fridge and took out the expensive bottle of champagne she’d saved for the occasion. Mina didn’t drink often, but you only turned thirty once! She also grabbed the cake she’d baked for herself yesterday, placing the box on the counter. When she opened the lid, the rich, enticing fragrance of chocolate and raspberries filled her nose and made her mouth water.

Retrieving a lighter and a single candle from the counter drawer, she stuck the latter in the center of the cake and lit it.

Mina stared at the flame.

A lone flame on a lone candle, jabbed into the top of a cake she was about to eat alone.

She was stricken by another horrible wave of isolation. Here she was, thirty years old, and she had no one to celebrate with. No friends, no family. No one.

The conversation she’d had with Viktor as he’d driven her home the other morning came back to her.

Where I’m from, people don’t ask so many questions.

Sounds like a very lonely, very unhappy place.

Probably.

In all his time in Sullford, no one had bothered to get to know him. No one had braved even approaching him. Most people kept their distance and speculated about him from afar.

Except for her.

Mina didn’t know what Viktor had left behind, but from what she’d gathered, he’d been just as lonely then as he was now.

She turned her head and looked out the window. Despite the light reflecting on the inside of the glass, she could see the snow falling out there.

Viktor was probably by himself in his cabin right now. Was he watching the snow? Was he sitting in front of a crackling fire, reading the book she gave him?

Was he… Was he thinking of Mina?

A sudden yearning to see him flooded her.

Go to him.

Mina shook her head. “No, I shouldn’t.”

Go to him.

“The roads are horrible. It’d be stupid to drive in this storm.”

Go to him.

She bit down on her bottom lip as she looked back at the cake.

Make a wish.

What did she want?

You’re a thirty-year-old virgin, Mina. You know what you want.

Wax dripped down the candle to pool on the chocolate frosting. She closed her eyes.

She felt the phantom press of Viktor’s lips upon hers, recalled the possessiveness of his mouth, his taste. He’d claimed her, consumed her. He’d branded her with his fiery, passionate kiss.

Mina curled her fingers around the edge of the table as desire sparked within her core.

I want him.

Opening her eyes, she drew in a deep breath and blew out the candle.

She wouldn’t spend another birthday alone.