Chapter 9 #2
I was going to add a caustic reply that Chloe had existed for years and not once had he tried to see her. But I knew he always kept tabs on her when he could.
Fine.
I tucked my phone away and joined the women.
“You didn’t have to come with me,” I told Chloe.
She’d barely touched breakfast and her skin had an unhealthy color, not the radiant creaminess of last night.
But I had enough brain cells to recall the words of caution in the first-time dad books.
Be supportive of your partner; the lack of sleep could trigger an out-of-character personality.
The thing was, I didn’t have enough knowledge of Chloe to know what her real personality was.
“It’s easier to pack up the things we need if I come with you instead of giving you a list.”
“Or we could just shop online.”
She laughed lightly. “I need my clothes. And Sebastian’s. But he grows so fast, we might need new ones soon.”
Crime scene tape was plastered across the door, but I received confirmation from Dom that we could go in.
Chloe’s bodyguards were fine, but they were no longer her security—I was.
I doubted Kirill would allow another faction to be inside the compound anyway, so Chloe had to get on board fast, realizing that the bratva was providing her protection.
One of the building’s maintenance crew was found dead, and it was his key card that was used to access the ventilation system.
Chloe went into the bedroom to pack Sebastian’s clothes while I disassembled the playpen. Sebastian was looking for his favorite toy this morning—Mr. Octopus—which we missed packing last night. It was sitting in the middle of the mat. I knew that much at least.
Movement at the door had me spinning around with my gun drawn.
Marena Rodriguez.
She shrieked.
Of all the fucking people to walk in here.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
Chloe rushed out, split a look between Marena and me, specifically at the gun by my side, before saying, “I asked her to come.”
“I sure hope Sebastian isn’t with you, Mr. Petrov.”
“For fuck’s sake.” I stalked toward her. “I’m her bodyguard. I’m my son’s bodyguard. Do you even know what the fuck happened here?”
“Kolya!” Chloe gasped. “I’m sorry, Marena.”
Chloe should have told me, but we hadn’t established the rules of me being her protector. Besides, she was sleep-deprived. See, I could be an understanding partner.
Chloe ushered the other woman into one of the rooms. The attack yesterday obviously affected her psyche and she needed counseling.
She’d been in there with Marena for about half an hour, and I’d already moved the items to the threshold of the apartment for my men to pick up when Kirill texted me several news links.
A few were tabloids, but at least three were legitimate financial media sites.
The financial news: Former serial killer suspect seen with illegitimate King heiress and a baby.
Tabloid headline: Illegitimate King heiress and Bratva Butcher have a baby.
Fuck.
I called Kirill.
“What the fuck?”
“You and Chloe weren’t exactly discreet last night,” Kirill said dryly. “That photo is from the hospital.”
I should have known better. I’d been an assassin. But after my exposure last year as the suspected Mistress Strangler, my face had been splashed all over the news. Hell, I even continued to receive fan mail.
Proof that we lived in a fucked-up world.
“Just a warning,” Kirill added. “The compound is getting swamped by reporters.” I heard an alert that came on his phone. “Fuck.”
“What?”
“Sending you the link.”
King stock plummets.
“Goddammit,” I muttered. My thoughts immediately went to Chloe. There was no hiding this.
“Maksim texted me he heard from a reliable source that the King board is calling an emergency meeting.”
“Chloe and I are leaving now.” I would instruct the men to pack up the crib. I hoped Chloe finished packing the necessities.
“I’ll make sure there are enough guards at the house.”
“Thanks.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I stalked into the room where Chloe was holed up with Marena. I heard their murmurings, but I didn’t wait. I knocked, and opened the door. Both turned to me with irritated expressions.
But upon seeing my face, Chloe’s eyes glazed over in fear, which I hated. I shouldn’t have barged in here, but it was rubbing me the wrong way that Marena was keeping her secrets and not me. Not that I had any right to them.
“Sebastian is fine,” I said. “But we need to leave now. Have you packed your clothes and Sebastian’s? I’ll have the guys pick up the crib and the pen. The rest we can purchase.”
Chloe rose slowly from the bed, holding my gaze. “What’s going on?”
“What happened last night hit the news. You and I are headlines.”
Chloe gasped and checked her phone.
I entered the room and touched her arm.
“I didn’t receive any messages from Theo,” Chloe said.
“He’s probably handling the fallout,” Marena said.
I glared at Marena for her choice of words. And she was a therapist?
“But,” she added, “remember what we talked about, Chloe. None of this is your fault. You wanted to disappear quietly, and Theo wouldn’t let you.”
Chloe was looking more dazed than she had been earlier. I grasped her shoulders and glanced at the open bag on the bed. “Are you done packing?”
She nodded mutely.
“And you should leave,” I told Marena.
“I think you’re forgetting who I am, Mr. Petrov. I don’t answer to you. I actually answer to Mr. King since he’s Sebastian’s legal guardian.”
“You’re going to pull this legal bullshit right now? Chloe and Sebastian are at the bottom of King’s priorities. You think he’ll have time to listen to you as you paint me as the villain here?”
“You just did,” she said with a trace of triumph. “Because once again you’re making Chloe feel like second best to her brother, but I can assure you it’s not true. Although I don’t expect a man like you to understand the responsibilities of a CEO.”
Was it too early in the day to throttle a woman?
“Did King put you up to this?” I gritted.
“Kolya.” Chloe’s small voice affected me more than if she’d yelled at me.
Marena had the advantage in this psychological warfare, so I had better leave the room before she twisted my words, because I couldn’t guarantee there wouldn’t be bloodshed.
“I’ll call the guys.” I forced my feet to leave the room.