Stefan slid from the car, his gaze darting all around as he silently searched for threats before he pulled my door open.
I fluttered my eyelashes, my annoyance brewing inside me as my feet hit the ground. “Well?”
Without a word, he tightened his fingers around my arm, leading me toward the house Kyle had taken me to earlier.
We cut into the neighboring yard, keeping to the shadows before we cut toward the back of the house. My sister appeared on the balcony, and my heart dropped.
How had Nadia gotten into this house? My jaw tightened as Stefan cupped his hands, preparing to boost me higher.
I stepped into his hand, and he pushed me up toward the railing where my sister grabbed my hand, tugging me upward.
With her help, I climbed over the railing. “What is going on?”
“I neutralized the threat.” Nadia shrugged nonchalantly.
“What does that mean? What did you do?”
“I got you back into this house. Your doctor came searching for you. Don’t worry, I didn’t let on that you weren’t…you.”
My jaw tightened, my nostrils flaring again. My sister and I had swapped plenty of times, but Nadia and I weren’t the same people. Most of the time no one knew, but we’d had no preparation for this one. What if she’d said something that would have made Kyle suspicious?
Had Nadia just played along, or had she completely undermined me? She’d never understood how delicate situations like this could be—how a single word, a single misstep, could crumble something I desperately wanted to hold onto.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Fine. Just try to keep a low profile until it’s time to go home. It won’t be long, so enjoy the time you have here.”
She swung a leg over the railing. “Oh, and I can see the appeal. Your doctor’s cute. But don’t get too enamored,moya sestra, it can’t work.”
I bit my tongue, wanting to retort. I was sick of people telling me what to do, how to live my life, and what was acceptable. When I’d kissed Kyle earlier, I’d enjoyed the freedom and the feelings it had stirred inside me.
Had Nadia destroyed that for me?
“Don’t get too close, Natashka,” she said before she dropped from the balcony, landing with cat-like grace.
With a wave, she and Stefan disappeared into the night, leaving me alone.
I stood for a moment, listening to the waves crashing against the beach below before I returned into the bedroom and changed my clothes. As I stared out at the rolling sea, my mind returned to Kyle.
He’d been looking for me. The news both warmed my heart and frightened me. Had Nadia made certain whatever connection we felt was diminished?
I pressed my lips together, rising. I had to find Kyle and determine how much damage my sister had done.
With the door cracked, I peered into the hall. He’d told me where his bedroom was earlier. I slipped from mine, making my way to the next hall and down to the door at the end.
No one answered when I knocked. Was he already asleep? I hesitated for a moment before I twisted the knob and opened the door, peering inside. Empty.
With a sigh, I pulled the door closed and shuffled down the hall. Before I made it to the end, Kyle appeared, rounding the corner as he ran his hand through his hair, his features defeated.
“Kyle!” I called, my stomach twisting as I assessed his reaction.
“Nattie,” he answered, seeming surprised. “Hey.”
“Hi,” I said as we closed the distance between us. “I was looking for you.”
“Is everything okay?”
I bobbed my head. “Yes, I just…thanks for coming to find me.”
