But it’s too fragile. Too easily broken.
“I just want us to get along. Hatred won’t make either of us happy,” I end up saying.
His jaw tenses. “You still think I hate you?”
“I think you hate my family, and with good reason. I mean—Elana still won’t come home, right?”
“Elana does what Elana wants. Her being here or not being here— that’s not on you.”
“But when you look at me, you see the mess they made.”
“No. I see you,” he answers quickly.
The door to the office flies open and Tommy barrels inside, pointing his gun at Kaz. He shoots and a blue bullet flies through the air, striking Kaz in the chest.
“Sorry, I tried to catch him.” Melody runs in next.
Kaz tears his gaze from mine and looks down at Tommy. Instantly his fierceness softens.
“Unprovoked attack, huh?” He looks to me so I can translate for him, and when I do Tommy nods with a huge grin on his face.
“I’ll take him back upstairs,” I offer, but Kaz shakes his head.
“Nah. Dinner’s probably ready by now, anyway. Let’s eat.” He spells out the last of his statement and Tommy nods excitedly.
“Mrs. Popova made spaghetti and meatballs at his request,” Melody explains, gripping Tommy’s shoulders. “I’ll get him cleaned up and we’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
“I’m sorry if he’s getting in the way at all.”
Kaz frowns. “He’s not in the way. Neither of you are.”
It hits me in the chest, the words he doesn’t say but I can almost feel.
As messed up as we are, as this situation is, this is the closest to a real family I’ve ever had.
But if I can’t keep Tommy safe from my uncle and cousin, none of this matters.
“What are you thinking about? You have this look in your eye like you’re plotting someone’s death.” Kaz grabs my hand, threading our fingers together.
“No. Not death.” I let him lead me out of the office.
“Sienna.” He stops, yanks me to face him. “Promise me you aren’t going to try to do anything without talking to me first. You are not going to go rogue on me.”
I laugh. “Go rogue?”
“Remember you’re still my wife. And I’m telling you to let me handle what comes next. Understand?”
Full boss mode re-activated.
When I don’t respond right away, he heaves a sigh and grabs me by the back of my neck and pulls me into him. Pressing his forehead against mine, he inhales deeply, like he’s trying to keep control of himself.
Which is good, because he smells so good, I’m not sure I can keep myself under control.
“I said, do you understand me?” His voice dips.
And along with it, my ovaries.
Holy hell, the man knows how to make my body respond to him. It’s not at all fair, this psychological warfare, but the pleasant hum of my body makes it hard to be too upset about it.
