Page 111 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

"Fine," I say after a long moment. "But Luca and I are going with you."

Her eyes flash with anger. "I don't need babysitters."

"You have people trying to kill you. You absolutely need babysitters." I cross my arms over my chest, making it clear this isn't negotiable. "We go with you, or you don't go at all."

"That's not fair."

"Life isn't fair, Kiera. You should know that by now." I turn toward the door, not wanting to deal with her anger right now. Not when my body is still humming with want and my control is hanging by a thread. "Be ready at six."

I leave before she can argue further, closing the door behind me with more force than necessary.

Luca is waiting in the hallway, his expression carefully neutral. "That went well."

"Shut up."

He follows me back toward my office, his footsteps quiet on the marble floors. "You know she's going to fight you every step of the way."

"I know."

"And you're still going through with the wedding."

"Yes." I don't elaborate or explain that I can't let her go now, that the thought of her leaving makes something dark and possessive rise up in me. That I want her in a way I've never wanted anything before.

Luca doesn't push. He just nods and leaves me to my thoughts.

The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur of phone calls and paperwork, but my mind keeps drifting back to Kiera and the way she looked in that towel. And then there was the exhaustion in her eyes and the challenge in her voice.

At six o'clock, I'm waiting in the foyer when she comes down the stairs. She's wearing dark jeans and a soft blue sweater that brings out the color of her eyes. Her hair is dry now, styled in that tousled way that makes me want to run my fingers through it. She's put on makeup, just enough to hide the shadows under her eyes.

She looks beautiful. And miserable.

"Ready?" I ask.

"As I'll ever be." She doesn't look at me as she walks past, heading for the door.

Luca is already waiting by the SUV, the engine running. He opens the back door for Kiera, and she slides in without a word. I take the seat beside her while Luca gets behind the wheel.

The drive to Kaleb's house takes twenty minutes. Kiera stares out the window the entire time, her body angled away from me. The silence is heavy and oppressive. I want to say something, to bridge the gap that's opened between us, but I don't know what words would make a difference.

Kaleb's house is a modest two-story in a quiet neighborhood. Warm light glows from the windows, and I can see movement inside. A normal home. A normal life. Everything Kiera had before I crashed into her world.

We park on the street, and Luca does a quick scan of the area before nodding. "Clear."

Kiera is out of the SUV before I can say anything, hurrying up the walkway to the front door. It opens before she reaches it, and Kaleb appears, his face lighting up when he sees her.

"Kiera!" He pulls her into a hug, and I see her body relax for the first time all day. "I'm so glad you could make it."

"Thanks for inviting me." She pulls back, smiling. Then her expression becomes more guarded as she glances back at me and Luca. "I hope you don't mind that I brought… company."

Kaleb's gaze moves to us, and I see the wariness in his eyes. But he's too polite to say anything. "Of course not. Come in, all of you."

The house is warm and welcoming inside. Comfortable furniture, family photos on the walls, and the smell of something delicious cooking in the kitchen. Mark appears from the dining room, wiping his hands on a dish towel.

"Dinner's almost ready," he says, smiling at Kiera. Then he sees me and Luca, and his smile becomes more strained. "Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Luca and I take seats in the living room while Kiera follows her brother and Mark into the kitchen. I can hear their voices, the easy conversation of family. Luca sits quietly beside me, his eyes constantly moving, assessing potential threats even in this domestic setting.

When dinner is ready, we all gather around the dining room table. The meal is simple but well-prepared—roasted chicken, vegetables, and fresh bread. Mark and Kaleb are gracious hosts, keeping the conversation flowing despite the obvious tension.