But I didn’t miss how she almost seemed to relax, even for just a millisecond. Then she blinked, as if she were aware of Misha and his apology. It meant that she cared.
Having a young boy bursting into her room would be a startling surprise, and she didn’t need any shock or surprise. Yet, she heard him.
“I’m sorry he surprised you, Kalina,” I said, speaking to her directly. “But you won’t need to worry about any more interruptions like that soon. While there are many people coming and going in this house, we realize that more peace and quiet might be best for you now.”
“I wasn’t yelling or being obnoxious,” Misha muttered.
“Regardless.” I gave him a look before facing the silent woman again who observed both of us. “I’ll be taking you to a safe location where you can recover and rest without interruptions like this.”
“Jeez. You’re acting like I’ve been popping in here more than once,” Misha grumbled.
I could discuss this with Misha later. Right now, I was stuck on her. On Kalina as she blinked faster. Her eyes grew bigger. She shrank back a step. Faster and faster, she panted.
Fuck, she was panicking. She’d looked calmer with Misha surprising her, but now, she was nearly hyperventilating after I extended that offer of more peace.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Misha said. He, too, noticed how she panicked. Using the soothing but firm voice he did when he talked to Andre or the babies, he didn’t sound mean. “It’s okay, ma’am. He’s good at keeping people safe.”
Talk about a knife to the heart.
I hadn’t been all that great at keeping his mother safe.
“A safe location,” I promised. “Where no one will bother you.”
Backing up another step, Kalina slightly shook her head. She was trembling now, staring at me like I was a monster.
“He’s not a bad guy,” Misha said. “You can trust me.”
Fuck.
She doesn’t trust anyone, Son.
He was either oblivious or naïve, though. Patting my back as he passed me, he approached Kalina slowly. Holding up his hands, he smiled. “He’s good at protecting me. He protects me.” He glanced back at me with that familiar hero worship in his eyes. “He protects our family. And if you’re with us now, he’ll protect you.”
She took a shuddering breath, then stepped toward him.
It wasn’t a big move, but I saw it.
I tracked it.
She saw Misha as safe. As neutral ground.
“If you want, I could come with you!” He smiled easily, glancing back at me too quickly before I could tell him no.
What? No.
“You could be alone. I like to read a lot, so I won’t be loud. I can come with you if that would help. I like getting away on vacations and I have a break from lessons.” Now he watched me with a pleading smile. “Come on, please?”
I opened my mouth, ready to tell him thiswasn’ta vacation.
But then she did it again.
One more step toward my son.
Another line on her brow, as if she were puzzling through the risk of wanting Misha as backup or support.
I wasn’t planning on bringing my son, but now, I opened my eyes to how he might be the biggest help of all. She wasn’t half as scared of him as she was me.
“Please?” Misha asked again.
