Chapter 56
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Drago
I don’t sleep. I can’t. Not when all I can see is the disappointment on her face when I told her I’d be gone before she wakes up.
Dragging the paintbrush over the final corner of the canvas, I remind myself of the promise I made. I’ll make this right. And that means letting her see the truth of me.
Even the parts she might never forgive.
For now, I will start smaller. I give her another piece of myself.
I head down from my office and quietly open Lily’s door. I don’t step inside. I just stand there, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest as she sleeps, peaceful and unaware of the storm circling her life.
I place the artwork at the end of the bed. The letter goes beside it, and the final present is neatly in her wardrobe.
Then I leave the same way I came in. Silent. Invisible. Like I was never there.
Lev is waiting at the bottom of the stairs. I should feel guilty for breaking his trust in me to look after his daughter. I thought I would. I don’t. Not really.
I should talk to him, too. Fuck. Both of them deserve the truth, yet I can’t bring myself to do it.
Because her trust in me is far more important than anything else in the world.
Even my friendship with Lev.
“Early for you, Lev.”
He hands me a coffee. “You think I’m missing out on the fun?” he asks with a smirk.
“You’re lucky I’ve already got someone to watch Lily today,” I remind him.
His job is simple. Stay alive. Keep his daughter safe. Not chase danger with me like he’s still thirty.
As always, he ignores common sense. “I can’t be cooped up in here, Drago. I’m useful in the field, I haven’t lost it just yet.”
I scoff. “Fine. Just remember, here, you follow my orders, not the other way round.”
He salutes me, amusement flashing across his face. I shake my head despite myself.
“Go get in the fucking car, Lev. Before I change my mind.”
“Yes, boss. Got it, boss.”
By the time my trunk is loaded with enough weaponry to start a war, Charlotte pulls into the drive.
She doesn’t hesitate. She steps into my space and pulls me into a hug. “Drago, are you okay?” she asks, pulling back.
“Yeah. Just not slept.”
Her eyes narrow instantly. “Hmm. We can talk when you get back. I’m just taking Lily to work, right? Then staying in the house until she’s back?”
I nod. “Yes. Close protection. We should be home this evening. I will need Declan for another job.”
“Should?” Her brow lifts.
“Will. I just have to kill a guy. Leave the message. Then we’re home.”
“Hmm. That’s why you’re taking a small army?”
I chuckle, gripping her shoulder. “I won’t let anything happen to Declan, Charlotte.”
I feel her worry without her having to say a word. She loves him fiercely. Loves their babies just as hard. And I know Declan would crawl through fire to get back to them.
“Or you, Drago.”
“You’d survive without me,” I tell her.
But the fact that I do have people, outside of all of this, that do love me. That will build me back up.
She shakes her head. “It would break mine and Isabella’s hearts.”
“I’m not going anywhere. You know it takes a lot to put me down. And I’ll get some time in with Isabella next week. I miss her.”
That earns a smile from her. But inside, that pain in my chest returns. Because it just reminds me of the life I almost had hold of with Lily. That crazy idea that I could be a dad. That I’d actually make a good one.
“Now… Lily. It’s more than just Lev’s daughter, isn’t it?” she asks quietly, biting her lip.
If anyone sees straight through me, it’s her. “Yes. Look after her, please.”
That’s all I trust myself to say before I get in the car.
As I pull away, I glance at Lev. “Lily’s meeting her mom today.”
“Yeah,” he mutters. “My girl’s heart is too forgiving.”
My jaw tightens.
I don’t want her forgiveness because she thinks she owes it to me. I want to earn it. I want to be worthy of her good heart. And I want to be the man who protects it, no matter what it costs me. I just hope the plans I put in place to do just that work.