I remembered some of what we shared at the lake, “Your brother?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
Dammit. I saw the hurt in his eyes at the lake and even now that wound was still raw. “I’m sorry, Mr. Stephens.”
He winced and his brows pinched but it was gone quickly, and I wondered what it was about.
“I can’t,” I began and put two fingers to his lips to stop whatever threat or promise of safety came next. “I can’t leave Jacob. Since you are who you are, you already know why.”
“You can’t stay either,” Jacob replied, his tone both angry and worried. “Am I safe here?”
“Unlikely,” Maxim answered honestly.
“I’m not leaving my brother,” I insisted.
A knock sounded on the door as it opened and both men quickly pulled out their guns and aimed at the suspected intruder. Kelsie appeared with shocked brown eyes, her hands were occupied with a pizza box on her palm and a paper bag dangling from her fingers. She looked at Maxim and then Roman, a slow smile spread across her face. “You must be my best friend’s baby daddy.”
Leave it to Kelsie to diffuse the situation with her outrageous question.
Chapter Fourteen
Igor
April sat beside me in the back seat of my car and silently fumed. Her arms were folded tight across her chest, and her ankles were crossed. She made herself as small as possible but the fire that emanated from her could ignite the whole vehicle. She was upset that she had to leave her brother even though her friend Kelsie offered him her spare room in addition to regular updates on his condition.
“Your plan is to remain silent until you give birth?”
Her response was a lot of side eye in my direction before she turned away completely and fixed her gaze on the city as it whizzed by outside.
The inside of the car was oppressively silent as Maxim navigated through the streets until we arrived at my home, a large brick Georgian style mansion with an extended tree-lined driveway.
April snorted and shook her head as the mansion came into view, clearly unimpressed. “Of course.”
I hid my smile, amused by the fact that she was impressed—at least not visibly so—by my home or my wealth. She saw me as a means to an end which was kind of refreshing. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”
“My cell, you mean?”
I was working hard to keep my patience because I understood her reluctance but dammit this was about safety, hers and my baby’s. “Look April, I know you don’t want to behere. I’m not sorry for bringing you here to keep you alive but Iamsorry that our agreement has upended your life this way.” I made a vow then and there that I would find a way to make it up to her.
“Right. Where will I be staying?” She shook off all the emotion and gave me a blank stare.
I nodded once and motioned for her to follow me. “This is your room for as long as you’re here.” I opened the door and stepped inside. “You have a private bathroom through this door here with everything you need. If something is missing just ask and I’ll make sure you have it.” I looked back and her expression was still blank as she eyed the king-size bed with blue bedding, the armoire and chest of drawers. “This door leads to a sitting room, feel free to do with it whatever you like.”
April’s silence was unnerving, but I matched it as I closed the door and turned to face her. She stared back, those green eyes dug deep into my soul for long moments.
Even though we weren’t as close as we’d been that day at the lake, I already knew there were flecks of forest green and gold swimming in her gaze. Her lips, as pink and as plump as I remember, drew my stare and just like that I was back there at the lake with her, laughing and baring my soul. I remember how she tasted, the way she moaned into my mouth and pressed her curves against me.Fuck, I don’t need to remember.
April took a step back and crossed her arms but this time it wasn’t anger or it wasn’tjustanger, it was also protective. “My life is in danger. Why? What do you do to afford this mansion and employees, Mr. Stephens?”
Oh, shit.I inhaled deeply and let it out slowly because I’d completely forgotten about Roman Stephens. She was theonly one who called me that and now, just when her anger was starting to subside, it would erupt. “About that,” I began and sighed once again. “My name is Igor Romanov.”
“Igor Romanov,” she repeated the words, but she wasn’t just testing the sound on her tongue, she spat it out. “Your name isn’t Roman Stephens. You lied to me even about your name and now my life is in danger. Because of you, Igor Romanov.”
I gave a sharp nod. “Yes.”
Her nostrils flared and she sucked in a deep breath and then she propelled herself forward, shoving my chest with her full strength. Once. Twice. Three times she pushed me, and she wasn’t done yet. “Fucking liar!”
“April, listen. I did it for your own protection.”
