I need to remember who this girl is related to and not let my guard slip.
Just because she’s sweet and smiling doesn’t mean I can let go of everything that happened in the past.
But as I watch her talking to Kiko, her vibrant, innocent energy makes me question things.
Did she even know what her brother was doing?
Did she know…but she was brainwashed by him?
I want to trust her.
I wish I knew how.
Chapter 20 - Benedikt
The week has been going fantastically. Yesterday, Kaz took Maria out for a snowboarding lesson. She came back powdered by snow and grinning like a madwoman; she was so hyped up.
Joe took her out for dinner the other night, and I want to drive her in to explore the little village this morning.
Every time we leave the villa, someone accompanies her because even though we’re out here, away from everything, there’s still a risk that someone might have followed.
I refuse to take chances when it comes to Maria.
Over the past few days, we’ve all had reports of our operations getting attacked in the city, and I have no doubt in my mind that it’s Misha up to no good.
After how the meeting went with Misha, I have a lot more suspicions about the guy, and it makes my heart break for Maria. We haven’t told her anything, and I have no idea how she’s going to take it when she finds out her brother might not be the man she thinks he is.
We’re all sitting around the breakfast table, chatting and enjoying a cozy morning inside.
“Do you want to join me in exploring the village after breakfast?” I ask, setting down my empty coffee cup and looking across the table at Maria. She’s wearing a cute sweater with a cat on the front.
“I’d love to. I’ve been dying to go and see what’s there,” she says, her eyes growing wide.
“There really isn’t much there at all. A book shop, an antique shop… a clothing shop, that sort of thing. And a grocery store,” Artur explains.
“Art, you don’t know a lot about girls if you think a book shop and an antique shop aren’t enough reason to go somewhere,” she giggles, teasing him.
He smirks, which is something he’s been doing a lot more lately. It’s the closest to a smile I think he can get for the time being, but it’s nice to see him letting down some of his walls.
I guess Joe was right about forcing him to meet up with Misha. I thought it was a bad idea to take Artur. I tried to go in his place, but it turned out it was good.
After breakfast, I tug the car door open for Maria and hold her hand as she ducks inside. She grins at me. “Such a gentleman, Big Bear,” she says, her eyes twinkling. She teases me a lot, and I adore it. Over the past few days, we’ve gotten a lot closer. And the more time I spend with her, the more I want to protect her from everything going on around her.
It wasn’t fair that she got dragged into this, but secretly, selfishly, I’m thrilled it was her. She’s an incredibly special person, and I believe I’m lucky that the universe somehow threw us together in this strange situation.
“There’s an ice rink nearby,” I say as we drive past a sign.
“Oh, I’m terrible at ice skating. But I bet you’d have a good laugh watching me fall on my butt the whole afternoon.” Her eyes glimmer when she looks at me.
The expression on her face brings a big burst of laughter from me.
“Actually, I would love to watch you fall on your butt, as long as I can be there to lift you back up again,” I agree.
“Alright, then maybe I’ll give it another try after exploring the village,” she says.
I park outside a coffee shop, glowing warm light onto the street from the fireplace burning inside. “Don’t get out, wait for me to come around,” I tell her as I shut the car off.
“I’m perfectly capable of climbing out of a car on my own, Bear,” she muses.
