In the back of my mind lurked the fact that this couldn’t last. My idea of getting her out of my uncle’s house was based on giving her privacy, peace, and quiet to get her to snap out of that quiet shell.
I hadn’t brought her out here to take advantage of her or get her to cling to me.
We just clicked. It just happened between us.
Magically.
Addictively.
Yet, it felt so right to be with her and support her. What started out as a way of distracting her with a kiss became something so much more.
That was why when Ivan called to check in and give me an update about the Riveras looking for her, I couldn’t help but think that reality was crashing back in, threatening this idyllic peace.
This isn’t a vacation.
I had to remember that.
We weren’t going to live in this cabin forever, indefinitely. Raisa would want to see her cousin. Kalina would need to heal further and figure out what she wanted in terms of her future, whether it was to stay with our family or to start her life somewhere else, out of her brother’s control.
I disliked the idea of her taking off. I was getting too attached, hung up on this bliss of her being with me, of her continuing to make Misha smile and laugh as they played. Of us seeing how much further we could explore with each other intimately with this seamless affection we had both found with each other.
Thinking about going back to Luka’s mansion bothered me. I would do my duty, whatever that was supposed to entail. Protecting Kalina would always be my mission, but I wasn’t so stubborn and closed-minded to realize that some factors of this arrangement were likely to change.
I only hated for anything to changenow.
“I can’t tell if they’re looking for her because they really wanted her out of any proposed transaction that Erik set up,” Ivan said, “or if they’ve gotten word that she’s under our protection and they want to fuck with us.”
I rolled my eyes. “When wouldn’t they want to fuck with us?” Those assholes always coveted what we had, and when they didn’t, they wanted to cause trouble for the hell of it.
The Riveras had always been our enemies. Even though we killed the leader, Marco, in the past, his son was definitely taking over what remained of their organization. Those Italians would hate us until they all died out, and likewise, we would view them as our adversary to fight.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it, though,” Ivan said.
I couldn’t help but huff a wry laugh.
He raised his brows, looking surprised on the screen of my phone with this video call. “What was that for?”
I smirked. “You telling me not to worry when I am.”
“No…” It was his turn to scoff. “Hold on. Are you and Kalina?—”
“I’m not saying anything,” I stated firmly. But it didn’t look like I needed to. He had already caught on to how possessive I was about this woman.
“You know, it’s not the smartest idea to start up something with her when?—”
“It wasn’t an idea. Stupid or smart, it just happened.”
“So you two are…” He smiled, laughing once more but with incredulous mirth. “What does Misha think about this, uh, development?”
“He doesn’t know about that part of this development,” I admitted wryly. I let out a big sigh, almost grateful that Ivan was putting me on the spot like this. It forced me to confront that my son was growing just as attached to Kalina as I was. Because if she decided to take off and not want to stay with us, if she valued her independence more than fitting in with us in what was starting to feel like a little family, he would be heartbroken.
“He adores her. I didn’t want to bring him at first, but in hindsight, I realize how instrumental he was in getting her out of her shell. They’ve been getting along really well together. It’s good for both of them.”
“That’s good,” he replied.
“Yes. But it will only be good for as long as she wants to be with us.” I shook my head, hating how negative and doubtful I already sounded about this new and excited feeling of having a partner in my life again.
“Never mind.” I cleared my throat, glad that Kalina was outside with Misha and not able to overhear this conversation. I’d hatefor her to think I was trying to exert control over her life. “We need to focus on what’s happening right now. Are you sure that the Riveras are not getting any closer to finding out where she is?”
