Chapter 13
CARA
“Okay, so what about this this?” I tap on the book in front of me, at the picture of one of the beautiful teacups that came from China hundreds of years ago.
“I like the blue one the best,” Nina replies firmly, as she tilts her head to the side to get a better look at the page.
“I like that one too,” Max agrees, and the two of them smile at each other. I have to press my lips together to keep from giggling at just how damn alike the two of them are, because it feels like I uncover a new side to this every single day.
It’s been nearly three weeks since I first arrived at the mansion, and even amongst all the confusion and complication that has arisen from me being here, I’m so glad these two have had the chance to meet each other.
They don’t know anything about being siblings, of course, and it’s not something Alexei and I’ve discussed, so I doubt anything is going to come on it, but still. ..
It’s not like Alexei and I’ve talked much at all, as a matter of fact, since I came by to see him in his office after there was that awful attack on his warehouse.
I’ve heard whisperings about it amongst the staff, and figured out that’s what had drawn him away from me that night we had sex again.
When I had gone to check on him in his office, he had been quick to dismiss me.
No doubt he has better things to do than let his mind linger on that night we shared together, though I’m not sure I can say the same for myself.
Because I’ve been thinking about it. A lot.
A whole hell of a lot more than I would care to admit, as a matter of fact.
I don’t want to let my mind wander there, but how could it not, when it feels like he is the only thing on my mind?
When I’m not taking care of the kids, I feel this magnetic pull inside of me, tugging me in the direction of wherever he is, almost impossible to resist.
But I’ve managed at least till now, though I don’t know how much longer that resolve is going to last for. I don’t want to disturb him, not with the way he brushed me off before, and I’ve promised myself that I’m not going to go looking for him until he comes looking for me.
I’m not that desperate woman who will follow a man around just to get answers on what is going on in our relationship. I respect myself way more than that.
At least, I hope I do.
I glance to the window as they leaf through the kid’s art book together, admiring the historical pieces like they are at a gallery.
It’s such a beautiful, sunny day outside, and I want nothing more than to take the kids out to enjoy the gardens.
They’re beautiful, but there are always guards on every door to make sure we can’t spent too long out of our quarters, and there’s not much I can do about that.
I mean, I haven’t really tried, not with how many more men there seem to be in this house. Is Alexei worried about an attack on the house? I guess his business is one thing, but there’s no telling for sure that whoever did this will keep their distance for long...
But that doesn’t mean that I should just keep these kids under lock and key the entire time, does it?
They need to get out there into the world, experience the reality of everything that lays beyond the confines of this building.
Max especially… I mean, he’s spent his whole life in here, I can’t imagine he’s exactly come to learn the wonders of nature when he can’t even get out of his house.
I rise to my feet before I can stop myself, and both of them look up at me, surprised.
“Come on, grab that book,” I tell them. “We’re going into the garden for the afternoon.”
The two of them stare at me for a moment, and then Max slowly shakes his head.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he warns me. “Daddy said—”
“He told me it’s fine,” I lie, surprised at how certain the words sound coming out of my mouth.
I mean, what harm will it do? Just stepping outside.
A few yards away from the mansion, nobody will even be able to see us.
And even if they can, there are so many guards around that it seems impossible to imagine they’ll be able to do anything to us if they can.
Nina’s face lights up, and she grabs the book and holds it to her chest, looking over at Max expectantly.
“Come on!” she tells me. “Let’s go outside!”
He seems emboldened by her enthusiasm, and he follows behind her and me as we head towards the back door, the one that leads to the immaculate lawn beyond. Just as I expected, there are two guards there, and they both step out to stop me before I can slip outside.
“What is it?” I ask, tossing my hair over my shoulder, mustering all the confidence I can in the face of this.
“You need to stay inside,” the man tells me bluntly.
I sigh, shaking my head. “Alexei didn’t tell you? He thought it would be a good idea for the kids to get some fresh air and sunshine. You know, keep them from being locked up in the house all day...”
The guards exchange glances, clearly not trusting a word that is coming out of my mouth right now. I feign annoyance and look over my shoulder.
“Look, why don’t you go and ask him?” I suggest. “I just want to enjoy the sunshine while we still have the chance.”
The guards look back at each other, and one nods.
“I’ll go,” he replies. “You stay here, keep an eye on them, don’t let them any further out than the fountain, okay?”
The other man nods, and I reach out my hands for Nina and Max and lead them into the garden.
As soon as the sunshine hits my skin, I know that it’s worth it, even if it ends up pissing off Alexei.
I get the feeling he’s not going to take too kindly to this, but when he sees how much fun the kids and I are having, I’m sure he’ll feel differently.
At the end of the day, he’s a parent as much as I am, and he just wants to see his son happy, feeling free, enjoying an adventure.
“Okay, what about here?” I ask, as I point down to a spot underneath a shady tree where we can sit without getting burned. Max and Nina plant themselves down in the grass together, and Nina spreads the book out before her, looking down at it with a smile as she begins to admire the work again.
I lean against the trunk of the tree and just watch them as they sit together.
And, for just a moment, everything feels normal.
Maybe not quite as it did before, not quite as settled as I once was, but it’s a damn sight closer than I’ve been in a hell of a long time.
I stretch my limbs out, settling in, and take in the sight of the two of them.
Just two kids, becoming friends, getting to know one another. What could be better?
And then, I hear a voice from behind me—a voice that makes me snap upright.
“Cara!”
It’s him. Alexei. I had thought I might have more than a couple of minutes before he came storming out to join us, but it looks as though I’m not going to get so lucky. Both the kids look up to, but I lift a hand to them, letting them know to keep reading while I deal with whatever this is.
“Hey!” I call back to him, lifting a hand to shield my face from the sun. He’s already closing the distance towards me, and I can tell from the look on his face that he’s furious.
“What the hell are you doing out here?” he hisses as soon as he is close enough to talk to me.
“I wanted to bring the children outside for some sunshine,” I reply, gesturing behind me to where the two of them are sitting. “Not that you’d have a problem with that, right?”
“You need to get yourself and them back inside. Right now.” His tone is harsh, sharp, and it slices straight through me.
I jerk my head back in surprise. “You can’t talk to me like that—”
“You have no idea what we’re dealing with here!” he fires back. “If anyone sees them—”
“What are they going to be able to do even if they do see them?” I point out, nodding towards the guards who are watching our every move. “Nobody could get close to them.”
“Because people don’t know Max even exists,” he snaps. “Or that I have a daughter living here too. And as long as I can keep them inside, there’s no reason for them to.”
My head jerks back in shock. I knew that he kept Max under lock and key, and that he had become entirely too protective of Nina and I in the process, but I hadn’t expected that, of all things.
“Nobody knows about him?” I whisper back in shock. The weight of what I’ve just done begins to settle in on top of me as I try to make sense of it. Jesus Christ. What the fuck have I just done? Bringing them out here, someone could have—
“Someone could be watching this place right now, even if they can’t get inside,” he tells me. “And if they see him in the garden…”
I rush back over to Max and Nina, standing behind them in an attempt to shield them from view of anyone who might be lurking around.
“Come on,” I hustle them, trying to keep my voice as light as I can so they don’t panic. “We should go back inside now. It’s going to rain soon.”
“But I thought you said—”
“Nina, let’s just go back inside,” I insist, and I look back up at Alexei.
Max is already doing as he is told, no doubt all too aware of what might happen if he defies his father.
I suddenly feel stupid for letting things go as far as this, for thinking that I knew better.
I need to remember that, no matter what, this world is his, not mine, and the sooner I can wrap my head around it, the better.
The kids follow me inside, and Alexei strides in behind me, shooting a look to the guards on the door.
I feel a twist of guilt, knowing that I’ve managed to land them in trouble too, but I hardly have time to linger on that before Alexei rounds on me once more.
As soon as the kids are out of sight, back down to their quarters, his eyes narrow.
“You lied to the guards about what I said to you.”
“I didn’t know it was that serious,” I protest. “It’s been two weeks since all of that happened, I—”
“Which means they’re even more likely to strike now than they were before,” he snarls. “And if they did, if they go after Max…” His voice cracks slightly and he drags his gaze away from mine, his jaw tense.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I–I’m going to go back to my quarters now. We won’t come out again. Not unless you tell us it’s okay...”
And that, for the time being, at least, seems to be enough to satisfy him.
He lets out a grunt, indicating that I’m dismissed.
I turn and rush off down the corridor before he can change his mind again.
I don’t want to risk finding out what happens if he gets even angrier with me, or if he decides that I might be working against him again.
I need to do something to fix this.
I pause outside the door before I go in to check on the children.
I don’t want them to see me scared, especially not after they saw their dad talking to me.
No matter what kind of man he might be outside of his work, I can see that there is another side to him, a softer side to him, that comes out when he is around Max, and I want nothing more than for Nina to be able to experience it, too.
Drawing in a deep breath, I warm my face with a smile and step inside. “So, who wants something to eat?”
I continue to smile as they come hurrying to meet me, and I lean down to give Nina a hug, squeezing her closer and tighter than I feel like I ever have before.
And, as I hold her there, I send up a small prayer to whoever might be listening—that I haven’t just managed to put my daughter in more danger than I can protect her from.