Page 68 of Daddy's Reluctant Queen

“Yes, sir.” He starts to leave and Sofia speaks up.

“Wait, Titus, let me take him somewhere. I can protect him.”

“No,” I say.

“Titus—”

“I saidno,” I growl at her. “You’ll stay here with me. You understand?”

Her mouth twists with anger. “You know he’d be safe with me, Titus. You know I’d do everything to keep him safe.”

“So will Ignat. This isn’t a democracy, Sofia.”

“Okay, so you still don’t trust me?” she says, her voice rising in anger. “Still? You let me walk all over your fucking house?—”

I grab her by the arm and yank her to me, staring down into her face. “I said no, dammit.No. I don’t want you near any of this.”

She lifts her chin and says, “Then let me go with Ignat.”

“Absolutely the fuck not.”

“I want to help?—”

“Youbarelylisten to me as it is. I won’t have my best man running after two children.”

Her eyes widen slightly as if I’d slapped her and she gapes at me in momentary surprise. I push her away. “Go inside.”

She stumbles back as her mouth closes and her jaw sets. I’m half expecting a retort, but she doesn’t say a word. She just stalks inside.

The air is thick with tension around me as I seethe with anger. Damn her.

I take a breath in an effort to calm myself, then I turn to Ignat. “He has a go bag in his closet,” I tell him. “It’s a blue backpack. He knows where it is. Make sure you take it with you.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Call me from an untraceable line when you get to wherever you’re going. Let me know you’ve made it.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ignat leaves without a word and I start pacing.

Sofia’s pissed at me. Let her be. At least both she and Luka will be safe.

23

SOFIA

Titus has been in a shitty mood for the past week. Then again, I haven’t exactly been a bowl of sunshine myself.

This entire situation has us both on edge and it’s to the point where I’d rather not even see him at all if I can help it. Despite the change on my imprisonment status, I’ve been staying in my room for the most part.

Except in the mornings. I’ve been taking full advantage of his pool. Somebody should. I don’t think I’ve seen him swim in it once since I’ve been here.

It’s getting hot in the afternoon, so I’ve been staying inside these last couple of days, reading books from the little shelf that he’s had put in here. The books are all so random that I realize he didn’t have me in mind at all. Then again, it’s not like he cared to know anything about me when I first arrived here.

Still, I’ve managed to make it halfway throughWuthering Heights. A book that I feel like he’s probably read. There’s something about Heathcliff that reminds me of Titus. Maybe it’s his need to make everyone around him suffer.

I stop at that thought, my finger still pressed to the page, my thoughts traveling elsewhere. I am suffering. I’m suffering worse than I ever have living here. One of the things he said to me when we last had sex wasDon’t you dare come or I’ll make it worse for you.I wonder if this is what he meant. I’d much rather be trussed up and hung naked from the ceiling like a lamb going to slaughter than this. It’s better than being ignored.