Chapter 5 - Bardil #2
To her annoyance, I sit down next to her, getting into her space on the sofa. She grumbles and pulls her legs closer to her body, shifting away from me.
"I was thinking of making pizza for dinner," I tell her.
"So?"
"So, do you like pizza?"
She peeks at me over the top of the book. "Make whatever you like. I'll make my own food," she replies, eyes narrowed.
"I'm making for both of us, little rabbit, stop being so damn difficult!"
"Yes," she scoffs.
"Yes? Yes, what?" I blurt out, throwing my hands in the air. Dammit, this girl infuriates me.
"Yes to pizza, obviously," she sasses calmly.
I stand up from the sofa, shaking my head. Why am I smiling again, though?
Having fun with her attitude again.
One thing is for sure, I can't be bored with her around.
I'm chuckling as I walk away, amused by how much I'm actually enjoying having her living with me. Sure, I don't trust her for shit. That'll never change. But things could be worse, considering she's an Abashin.
***
Later that evening, standing in the kitchen with bowls of pizza toppings spread around the counter, I secretly wish that Nikita would come and make pizza with me. But she's in her room. The biggest room in the cabin.
On the counter, my phone rings. Using the dishcloth that's slung over my shoulder, I wipe my hands clean before answering a number I don't recognize.
"Yes?" I say gruffly, unsure who to expect. No one phones me. Not ever. I made it this way to stay hidden and keep a low profile.
"Bardil?" I recognize his voice immediately.
"Simon?" I ask, shocked.
Simon sided with Marlen when my older brother stabbed me in the back and allied with our enemies. Simon hangs out with the Abashins and the Shevs. Why is he calling me now?
"Dude, it's been a while. Hey!" he laughs.
It's so damn good to hear his voice.
Excitement spills through me, dopamine curving my cheeks into a smile.
"It's been a bit of time, yes," I grin.
"How are you? How have you been? It's weird not having you around," he says. "No one steals my beers from the fridge anymore," he teases.
My heart warms.
Simon. My brother. My family.
"I've been good. Just keeping my head down, you know. After… After everything."
"Yeah, yeah. I've been busy too. Working on the businesses. They're growing over the last few months," he tells me.
"It's good you're busy. What else have you been up to besides work?" Damn, it's seriously good to catch up with my brother.
"Ugh, you know. This and that. Where are you hanging out these days?"
My heart constricts. The question could be as innocent as asking me how I am.
But it's not. Is it…
He slipped the question in so casually that I might easily have answered without thinking. But I am thinking.
I'm sharp and focused. And now he's revealed the real reason he's calling.
"Here and there," I answer, no longer smiling. A trickle of sadness creeps into my chest.
Simon laughs. "Here and there. You're so vague. Let's say I wanted to grab a beer with you this week… Where would here and there be?"
Now he's pushing. A little too curious. A little too obvious.
My heart aches, but I guess I should have expected this exact call. Not from Marlen. Simon was the best candidate. He was never confrontational with me. He never publicly outed me like Marlen did. They thought I might've fallen for his sneaky attempt to find my location.
But clearly they're fishing.
They know Nikita is missing, and I'm suspect numero uno. I'm not offended about being the prime suspect. I am offended because, after all this time, the only reason my brother called me was to manipulate me. Not because he missed me. Not because he cared about how I'm doing.
I swallow away my pain and my pride and clear my throat, forcing a laugh.
"You'd have to get on a plane and fly over half the day if you wanted to meet me for a beer," I laugh again. "I'm out of the county. I figured after everything that happened, an overseas holiday would clear my head and give me a chance to find myself again," I lie.
"Oh, wow, yeah, that makes sense. So you're… You're getting over things? Uh, I mean, you're working past it?" he asks, surprised.
This is good. I've made it sound like I have no grudges. And like any grudges I did have, I'm trying to let it go. I'm trying to be a better person. It's better than him knowing I'm wallowing in anger and vengeance.
"Yeah, man. Life is too short. People make mistakes. You can't focus on it and let it consume you. But listen, when I get back, I'd love to get that beer with you. I'll give you a call. It will be great to see you," I say.
"You too, Bardil. Have a good evening."
I end the call.
For a long time, I stare at my phone lying face up on the kitchen counter.
Shit. That conversation brought up an expected surge of emotions. I honestly thought he was calling to say hi. How stupid of me.
Sighing heavily, I push the phone away.
I wish I hadn't answered the call. It completely killed my mood. My brother… A spy for the Abashins. Trying to coax information out of me.
That same old anger spikes inside me. Festering, growing.
No, answering the call was a good thing. I managed to steer them off me. Now they need to go back to the drawing board and find a whole new suspect. I've prolonged their misery. I've drawn out their worry. This is what I wanted. I want them to suffer.
"That looks good," her voice jumps me from my thoughts.
"Welcome to the party," I smile, grateful for her distracting me.
"A pizza party? I can roll with that." She steps up to the counter and looks down at the raw circle of pizza dough I've rolled out and coated with base. "Did you already put garlic on here?" she asks.
Nikita grabs a handful of pepperoni and starts placing pieces on the pizza I was building.
"I did. But not too much in case you didn't like garlic," I reply, my eyes on her.
My heart slips with surprise warmth as I watch her. She hums quietly, completely oblivious to the effect she has on me. It's better she doesn't know. She would use it against me.
"Mushrooms?" I ask, pushing the bowl toward her while I start working on the second pizza.
"And the feta. Lots of feta. Where is the pepper grinder?" she asks, leaning close and peaking around me, seemingly unaware that she's pressed up against me for a moment.
Her body spreads heat into me, her scent washes over me, and with or without my consent, my cock stirs.
I should move away from her. But I don't.
I like this.
Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. I can find pleasure in the small things even if they're meaningless.
"Here you go. I have fresh chili. I wasn't sure if you were a spicy girl or not?"
She giggles, immediately reading into my remark.
"I'm very spicy. Probably far too hot for you," she says, a flirtatious smile spreading over her beautiful lips.
"You'd be surprised how dangerously hot things can get around me, little rabbit," I growl quietly. My cock is half erect, and I have to make sure I keep my body turned toward the counter to hide it.
Nikita bites her bottom lip, and her cheeks flush a beautiful shade of pink. Mm. She can give it, but she gets shy when I hand it right back to her.
"I'll cut up the chili if you get it for me," she says hurriedly, changing the subject back to the pizza toppings.
I'm grinning when I hand her the little bag of bright red and green chilis.
"Cut away, little rabbit."