“You’re sure?”
I look into her eyes and consider for a moment telling her the truth. Telling her that I don’t know whether I can truly promise her and the children safety, because it feels like everything might fall apart at any moment. That my enemies have never felt closer than before, and now I’ve even more to lose, a daughter and a woman who I don’t even understand the depths of my feeling for yet.
“Yes.”
She rubs her foot against the back of her calf, and I find my gaze drawn down to her body once more.
“You should go to bed,” I tell her firmly. As tempting as it is to keep her here and work out some of the tensions of the day, I know I’m better off focusing on the matter at hand here, dealing with whatever repercussions might come from this attack on the warehouse. If she sticks around any longer, I’m going to down the rest of that drink and lock that door to make sure we won’t be disturbed.
But I need to focus on what matters here more than anything.
She parts her lips, as if to protest, but then she thinks better of it. She nods, and pads off down the hallway, and I find my gaze tracking her as she goes. In the silence that follows her, I wonder if I would have been better off never hiring her here at all...
Or if the people who seem to want my head would have found out about her and Nina, one way or another. They’re better under my roof than anywhere else.
Even if I know Cara is going to offer one hell of a distraction in the face of everything I need to focus on right now.
13
CARA
“Okay, so what about this this?”I tap on the book in front of me, at the picture of one of the beautiful teacups that came from China hundreds of years ago.
“I like the blue one the best,” Nina replies firmly, as she tilts her head to the side to get a better look at the page.
“I like that one too,” Max agrees, and the two of them smile at each other. I have to press my lips together to keep from giggling at just how damn alike the two of them are, because it feels like I uncover a new side to this every single day.
It’s been nearly three weeks since I first arrived at the mansion, and even amongst all the confusion and complication that has arisen from me being here, I’m so glad these two have had the chance to meet each other. They don’t know anything about being siblings, of course, and it’s not something Alexei and I’ve discussed, so I doubt anything is going to come on it, but still...
It’s not like Alexei and I’ve talked much at all, as a matter of fact, since I came by to see him in his office after there was that awful attack on his warehouse.
I’ve heard whisperings about it amongst the staff, and figured out that’s what had drawn him away from me that night we had sex again. When I had gone to check on him in his office, he had been quick to dismiss me. No doubt he has better things to do than let his mind linger on that night we shared together, though I’m not sure I can say the same for myself.
Because I’ve been thinking about it. A lot. A whole hell of a lot more than I would care to admit, as a matter of fact. I don’t want to let my mind wander there, but how could it not, when it feels like he is the only thing on my mind? When I’m not taking care of the kids, I feel this magnetic pull inside of me, tugging me in the direction of wherever he is, almost impossible to resist.
But I’ve managed at least till now, though I don’t know how much longer that resolve is going to last for. I don’t want to disturb him, not with the way he brushed me off before, and I’ve promised myself that I’m not going to go looking for him until he comes looking for me.
I’m not that desperate woman who will follow a man around just to get answers on what is going on in our relationship. I respect myself way more than that.
At least, I hope I do.
I glance to the window as they leaf through the kid’s art book together, admiring the historical pieces like they are at a gallery. It’s such a beautiful, sunny day outside, and I want nothing more than to take the kids out to enjoy the gardens. They’re beautiful, but there are always guards on every door to make sure we can’t spent too long out of our quarters, and there’s not much I can do about that.
I mean, I haven’t really tried, not with how many more men there seem to be in this house. Is Alexei worried about an attack on the house? I guess his business is one thing, but there’s no telling for sure that whoever did this will keep their distance for long...
But that doesn’t mean that I should just keep these kids under lock and key the entire time, does it? They need to get out there into the world, experience the reality of everything that lays beyond the confines of this building. Max especially… I mean, he’s spent his whole life in here, I can’t imagine he’s exactly come to learn the wonders of nature when he can’t even get out of his house.
I rise to my feet before I can stop myself, and both of them look up at me, surprised.
“Come on, grab that book,” I tell them. “We’re going into the garden for the afternoon.”
The two of them stare at me for a moment, and then Max slowly shakes his head.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he warns me. “Daddy said?—”
“He told me it’s fine,” I lie, surprised at how certain the words sound coming out of my mouth. I mean, what harm will it do? Just stepping outside. A few yards away from the mansion, nobody will even be able to see us. And even if they can, there are so many guards around that it seems impossible to imagine they’ll be able to do anything to us if they can.
Nina’s face lights up, and she grabs the book and holds it to her chest, looking over at Max expectantly.
