She arched one brow.
I see how it is.
Going to try the silent treatment?
Go ahead.
Suit yourself.
In fact, she was only making my life easier, choosing this sullen muteness as a way to protest being forced here.
Hey, you don’t want to be here and I would rather have you gone again. Make it easier for us. Hate me and stay out of my way.
I shrugged, rocking back on my heels once. “Martin.” I didn’t break eye contact with this bratty daughter of mine, looking at me like I was the devil. Summoning the butler, who often served as my personal assistant, I let out a long breath. “Show her to her room.”
“That’s it?” Anya snapped haughtily. “I’m a prisoner here?”
Andre huffed and shook his head slowly. “Keep acting like a spoiled brat and you?—”
I held my hand up, the only gesture necessary to silence him. After I shot him a look to shut up, he grimaced and looked to the side.
“Martin will see to it that you have whatever you need.”
“What I need is to be as far away from you as fucking possible, you criminal asshole,” Anya spat.
“Don’t entertain yourself with the delusion that I’ll have time for your attitude.” Turning quickly, I nodded at Martin, who was already there and ready to do as I instructed.
That was enough for an introduction and welcome. If I went another sixteen years before I had to face her again, I was sure it would be mutually fine between both of us.
Andre fell into step with me, shaking his head as we went in the direction of my office. “That went well.”
“That is over,” I said. “Now…”
“On to business.”
I nodded. “On to business.”
Hours later, after I ate in my office much later than dinner would’ve been served, I was mildly curious whether Anya had gone down to eat or if she was holing herself in her room. I’d ask Martin tomorrow. He would handle her in my stead. Any one employed here would do my bidding and supervise my recalcitrant daughter.
They would because I expected loyalty in the organization. Just like they all looked up to me as their leader and boss to provide for them, ensure our wealth and power, and keep them all safe.
That was why, when I stood in my room late that night, admiring the nightscape of the city that never slept, I wasn’t alarmed when I spotted men sneaking through the property and trespassing. Masked and armed, two men crossed over the roof of the building adjacent to mine. It was used more for storage and offices than residences, but it looked like someone had decided to use it as a bridge to reach me.
Or Anya.
Staying in the shadows and spying on the men creeping toward the end of the building where her suite was, I texted for Sergei to come up and help me handle this. Asking Andre to provide security for his sister seemed like a touchy thought. Sergei wasn’t as vested in any familial drama. Between my nephews,Sergei was my tougher one, the killer, the soldier and leader who wouldn’t ever flinch or hesitate to assist me.
He arrived quickly, watching out the windows as I did.
“They’re trying to rappel to her windows?” he guessed, already brought up to speed about where Anya was residing.
I nodded. “Looks like spies might have followed her here from Moscow.”
He shrugged, checking his gun. “Or maybe her arrival here has piqued the interest of the enemies.”
“What, you think Niko Popov gives a shit about her being here?” I glanced at him in the darkness.
“I doubt Roberto Giovanni would care,” he replied.
