Page 64 of Daddy's Reluctant Queen

“Stasio has been silent,” says Ignat. “And Boris hasn’t had any visits. However, I heard the Italians are suddenly very interested in trade.”

“Hmm,” Titus says. “We don’t usually sell to them. That’s an interesting move.”

Titus’s voice is low and pensive. I imagine him sitting at the edge of the long table in there, rubbing the hair on his chin as he thinks this through. “Keep at our regular sources,” he says.

“Do you want me to tell them not to sell to Cyrus and Cyril?”

“Tell them thatifthey sell to them, then they need to let us know what they got from them. And if they don’t and we find out, retribution will come their way once we’re done with them. Otherwise, I don’t want to get anyone else involved in this if I can help it. This is family business.”

“Yes, sir.”

“In the meantime, continue to watch our properties. The guard here is sufficient, I think, but I want to put people on our more valuable storehouses. I don’t want them resorting to stealing from our coffers.”

“Yes, sir,” they all say in unison. I hear movement and I get up, sliding to the side as the doors open. The Bratva all walk out andtoward the door in the other direction, basically ignoring me. When they’re gone, I walk into the room.

Titus is in the middle of a conversation with Ignat. He stops as soon as he sees me, mild anger crossing his eyes. He looks to Ignat and dismisses him.

Once he’s gone, he says, “I told you about eavesdropping, Sofia.”

“So, it’s a civil war, then,” I say. “That’s what’s happening? Is this about what happened with Adam?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“It’s definitely my business if I’m in danger, Titus, don’t you think?” He glares at me, but I ball my fists and dig my nails in my palms to chase off the chills he gives me. “Please don’t shut me out of this. I want to help.”

His eyebrows arch. “Excuse me?”

“Let me help you, Titus. I’m capable. You know that. I can be of use to you. I don’t want to just sit up in my tower while war comes knocking on the front door. Please.”

He sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose. “Sofia, I cannot let you fight for me. That would be insane.”

“I’m not going to stand by and let somebody kill me or Luka or… or you.” I swallow hard and stand up a little straighter. “I want to fight. Let me.”

He regards me for a long moment with those gold and amber eyes and for just a moment, I think maybe he might grant me my wish to fight. Instead, he stands up and walks over to me. He stops when he’s a few inches away. My eyes drift to his hands, longing for him to touch me again.

“I’m not going to let you fight any of my battles,” he says to me. “Not now. Not ever. It’s not your place.”

“My place is with—” I stop myself, nearly biting off my tongue. I try again. “I deserve to be able to defend myself.”

“I expect you to,” he says. “Listen, I don’t think this whole thing is going to go very far. I don’t expect to see any bloodshed. I think it will resolve before then. But just in case, I want you to stay safe. Do you understand me?”

I nod in response. He says, “I also expect you to defend Luka. Keep him safe at all costs. Promise me you’ll do that for me.”

“Of course,” I say almost automatically. “Titus, I just don’t… What I mean to say…”

“Stop,” he says, his voice like a low rumble against my chest. “Right now, I have to worry about keeping my Bratva together. Please don’t complicate this any more than it needs to be.”

I just stare at him, wondering what in the world he means by that. Then it clicks. Us, whatever we are. That’s not something that we can address. At least not until whatever happened is solved. Hell, from what I can tell, it’s all intertwined.

I take a deep breath. “Okay,” I say to him. “I’ll do what you ask.”

“Thank you, Sofia.” He looks me over, his eyes tracing the features of my face. I want to touch him, kiss him…

“Now, if that’s all,” he says as he turns away from me, “I have work to do.”

I nod. “Right.”

I step out of the room and walk away. I start to go to my room, but then I find myself changing direction and heading for Luka’s room.