Kirill’s gaze flicks up again, holding mine like he knows exactly where my mind just went, then he shifts his attention to Lev.
“Sloane will drop you off at school today, Lev.” His voice is gentler now.
Lev looks up, and when his gaze lands on me, something bright sparks in him.
It sparks in me too.
My mind goes straight to Milo. To the first time the boys meet. Will they get along? Will Lev trust him the way he trusts me? Will they grow into the kind of brothers who always have each other’s backs, the way siblings are supposed to?
God, what am I doing?
My life is a wreck, and I keep building a make-believe future. I need to stop. My focus needs to be on getting Milo out of my sister’s grasp, and out from under Eli too.
“Papa has to go to work now.” Kirill rises and kisses the top of Lev’s head. “I will see you after school.”
Lev stays intent on his plate, carefully cutting his pancake into neat triangles while Kirill straightens and reaches for his keys.
He hesitates as he looks at me, like he’s on the verge of doing something he wants more than he should. Instead, he only stands there towering over me, his cologne curling around me in a slow wave that warms my skin. My fingers tighten in my lap, a low ache throbbing through my body as his gaze drops and settles on my mouth, heat spreading through me under the weight of it.
Then, almost like he catches himself, he leans in and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I will see you later, solnishko.”
Emotion burns behind my eyes. I don’t understand how a man who’s supposed to be dangerous can make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
After breakfast, I get Lev buckled into the back of my new SUV and drive him to school. Half an hour later, we pull into the lot, and I park wherever I can find a spot. I help him out, then take his hand in mine as we walk toward the entrance.
Kids and parents move around us in little clusters while teachers stand near the doors, greeting students as they come in.
When we reach the front steps, I squeeze his hand and bend to his level. “Have a good day, okay? I’ll see you after school.”
He gives me a hug, and my arms go around him, holding on for a few more seconds.
“Come on, Lev,” the teacher says as he pulls away, glancing back over his shoulder.
Giving him one more wave, I watch him go inside before I return to my car just as a text comes in, and my heart instantly sinks.
Eli
Are you in?
I want to lie. Tell him his plan failed. But that won’t help. Eli won’t let this go, and he’ll find out if I lie. And if he thinks I’m playing him, he’ll get angrier.
Sloane
Yes.
Eli
Did he ask you to move in?
My fingers hover, wishing he was truly dead. Maybe that makes me evil, but I don’t care.
Sloane
Yes.
Eli
I told you this would work. I want this done quickly. Three days. Get what I need.
