Page 16 of King of Shadows

“I’ll be at your apartment tonight,” I call after her.

She turns around. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

And I keep it. That evening, I’m at her apartment. And this time, I stay until morning. After that, it becomes a pattern.

I drop her off at work. I go back to my place and handle business. I check in with my men. I deal with Vadim’s latest moves. I spend hours doing everything I need to do to make sure I’m one step closer to taking the position that’s meant to be mine. Then, by evening, I’m back with Chloe.

Sometimes we go out for dinner. Sometimes we stay in her apartment. We talk. We laugh. We lose ourselves in each other. And every morning, I wake up beside her. And somewhere along the way, something changes.

At first, I think it’s desire. Then I think it’s obsession. But eventually, I realize it’s something far more dangerous. Something I have never felt before.

Love. I’m falling in love with Chloe.

Chapter 5

Chloe

There is a certain feeling that comes over you when life is going so well that you almost feel like you’re floating. That’s how I feel these days. Happy. Light. Like everything is finally falling into place.

My life hasn’t had this kind of sunshine in it before Kazimir came along. It feels like I spent my entire life living in shades of gray, black and white, never expecting anything different. Then he came along, and suddenly, there is color everywhere.

I wake up looking forward to the day. I eat my breakfast with relish. Even the most ordinary things feel different now. It’s almost like I’m a new person. Except I’m not. I’m still Chloe. The same woman who has always been here. The only difference is that Kazimir is now part of my life.

And as wonderful as that feels, sometimes it scares me. Because I’ve never had anything permanent. I never knew my parents. They didn’t want me, and I grew up in an orphanage before being moved through several foster homes.

The only constant person I’ve ever had is Bea. We met in college, and somehow, she became my family. She’s the only real friend I’ve ever had. I’ve never been good at letting people in. Maybe because somewhere deep down, I’ve always expected them to leave.

And now there’s Kazimir. For the first time, I have someone who comes back. Someone who calls. Someone who checks on me. Someone who knows what I like and remembers the little things. And that’s terrifying. Because what if he wakes up tomorrow and decides he doesn’t want this anymore?

What if he leaves? What if I lose him the same way I’ve lost everyone else? What if, after finally letting myself believe that I can have something good, it all comes crashing down? Sometimes those thoughts creep in when I’m lying beside him at night. I hate that they do. Because life with Kazimir has been fucking fantastic.

We’ve been together for a little over two months now, and every day somehow feels better than the last. He takes me on dates. He spends time with me. He listens to me talk about the most insignificant things as though they’re important. And the chemistry between us? Mind-blowing doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Last night by the time I get home from work, Kazimir is already waiting for me in my apartment, he has a spare key now. And has dinner waiting. And then I discover he’s run me a bath. After a twelve-hour shift, I nearly cry when I see it.

He helps me get settled, takes care of me in that quiet, attentive way of his, and then we eat dinner together in front of some terrible television show, while I tell him about my day.

By the end of the night, I’m so relaxed I can barely keep my eyes open. The last thing I remember is his arms lifting me and carrying me to the bedroom.

There is something about Kazimir that I still don’t understand. I know what he tells me. I know he owns a small chain of laundromats, and apparently that’s the business that keeps him busy most of the time. But sometimes, there’s this feeling I get from him. A vibe. Like there’s something underneath everything he has told me. Something darker. Something dangerous that he isn’t telling me.

Because how do I explain a regular businessman being chased by men pretending to be police officers? How do I explain him breaking into my apartment with a knife wound? I know he’s involved in something dangerous. I just don’t ask. Maybe that’s cowardly. Maybe I’m being stupid.

But a part of me doesn’t want to know. Because what if I find out the truth and it changes everything? What if whatever he’s hiding is something I can’t accept? What if it brings all of this to an end? I don’t want it to end. Call me pathetic. I know. But I like what we have.

So whenever that nagging question creeps into my mind, I push it away. I focus on the good instead. The way he looks at me. The way he takes care of me. The way he makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world when we’re together. And then sometimes another thought creeps in. What if I’m more invested than he is? What if I’m falling too deeply while he’s only enjoying whatever this is?

The thought scares me because I’m falling deeply in love with Kazimir, and he isn’t making it any easier with the way he treats me.

“Hey lover girl” Bea’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

I look up to see her walking into the nurses’ office with a huge bouquet in her arms. She holds it out to me. “Another flower delivery for you.”

I smile immediately. Kazimir sends me flowers at least once a week. I take the bouquet from Bea and inhale deeply. Lilies. My favorite.

“He really has you spoiled,” Bea says. “You have a hot boyfriend who sends you flowers, listens to you, and practically worships the ground you walk on. How does it feel to be God’s favorite?”