Chapter 9 #2
“Me. Me. Me. Me!” Nina was happier than I’d seen her in a long time. While I was blessed with such an incredible little girl, she bore the same sadness at times that I did. How interesting for both of us that Lainey was the single reason we were both smiling at the same time.
Even if I was trying my best to hide it from my annoying family.
“Oh, my goodness. Look at you!” Lainey continued. “Well, Miss Nina Dmitriyev, I wrote you a little song just for your birthday.”
“She’s incredible,” Fallon said from beside me. “And the way you two look at each other is dreamy. Just like a romance novel.”
“That does it. Go away.”
The women had likely been told to tease me. “Party pooper but mark my words. I know what I’m talking about,” she added.
When they walked away, likely bored with the men they’d been lured into loving, I finally took a deep breath.
“I better check on our mother. She threatened to bring a pony back with her from Italy for Nina’s birthday.” Nadia gave me a look that said she wasn’t kidding.
“No way,” I huffed.
“Yes way. Why don’t you come help me, Katya? She doesn’t like to be told no by her own daughter.”
Katya grinned. “I’ll see what I can do.”
When the Dmitriyev boys were all alone, I could feel one or more of them ready to grill me about Lainey. “Just get it over with.”
“What?” Mikhail asked, the amusement in his voice driving me crazy.
“All the questions you have about Lainey.” As I’d experienced before, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
All I’d done all night was think about her, worrying about her.
While Bernie and Danny had kept a strict vigil outside both her hotel room and the resort itself, augmented by Jaxon and a couple of other soldiers, I hadn’t felt completely relaxed.
Both her security guards were here keeping an eye out for her, although I had to admit it appeared they were enjoying the party more than keeping watch. That was fine. Between Jaxon and the men he’d put in place disguised as guests, I felt more secure.
Even though the property was surrounded by a thick wall, that didn’t mean every inch was protected by security cameras. It really hadn’t been necessary and I doubted the party would be considered kid friendly if there were armed guards everywhere.
To our guests who didn’t know much about our pasts, we were simply Nina’s family. That’s the way it needed to stay.
My thoughts drifted back to Lainey. Shit. My cock was aching, aroused enough I was concerned guests would see my condition.
I’d also thought about calling her at least five times. Why hadn’t I? Because the last thing she needed was to get mixed up with someone like me. She had her life.
I had Nina.
“No questions, cousin. Just an observation and comment. It’s about damn time you allowed yourself to live again.”
Hearing Mikhail’s heartfelt sentiment did nothing but drive another ache into my system. “It’s not what you think. I stopped that fake boyfriend of hers from strangling her to death. Then we had a drink and hit it off.”
“Whoa,” Kazimir huffed. “What do you mean almost strangled her to death?”
I turned toward them, nodding. “The relationship they shared was a concocted story by their respective managers and public relations teams. Maybe her record company as well. Unfortunately, Damien decided he wanted to keep her against her will. So I stepped in.”
“Is he alive?” Alexsey asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Barely,” I said before taking a gulp of my drink. “Then he made the very bad decision to trash the house she’s been staying in.”
“Holy fuck.” Vissarian looked back and forth from Mikhail to me.
Alexsey pulled his glass to his lips. “Now I know the man is dead.”
“He’s alive. He’s hurting this morning and not pretty enough for cameras, but he’s alive. However, after some reflection, I’m not entirely certain he destroyed the house.”
The admittance was one I hated to make. Not that the asshole was innocent.
“Say that again,” Mikhail directed. “Who else would have trashed her place? Are you suggesting someone else noticed the two of you were spending time together?”
“We had a drink and after she received a threatening text, I took her back to my house. Whoever did tear the place apart did so in the middle of the night. The security system wasn’t tripped. It was bypassed.”
Mikhail took a deep breath. “Let me do a deeper dive into the man.”
“You need to cancel his contract,” I threw out. “I checked the morals clause. He violated it with his attack on her alone.”
“Even so, that might be tough to do,” Kazimir suggested.
I turned my head toward him. “I don’t give a shit. He abused Lainey. At some point, he and I will have another discussion.”
Sudden applause drowned out the rest of the conversation. I turned back to face her, giving Lainey all the credit she was due. The guests were enthralled, cheering and I could tell by the look on her face that she was very happy. It was good to see her smile.
And everything else.
She took the time to offer hugs to the little girls before pointing out the gift tables and whispering in my little girl’s ear. There were so many presents on the three tables that Nina would age another year before managing to open every one of them.
“Lainey truly is remarkable,” Kazimir said, getting way too close.
“Yes, she is.”
Just as she started to walk in my direction, he moved in front and turned. “Selena would want you to be happy again, cuz. You know that. It’s time you did something just for you.”
I barely shot him a look, even shaking my head when he squeezed my arm. I knew he was right. It wasn’t about worrying that Selena wouldn’t forgive me or not give her heavenly blessing. It was about worrying that our worlds would collide in a way that wouldn’t make Lainey happy.
Lainey had a cute look on her face as she approached. “Your daughter is amazing.” She glanced to where Nina was ripping open a present and I allowed my gaze to follow.
I shrugged on purpose. “Yeah, I guess she’ll do.”
Her laughter was spontaneous. “You’re incorrigible. I can tell how much you adore her. That’s one of the things that attracted me to you in the first place. A beautiful and tight bond like I’ve had with my parents.”
“So there were other things that attracted you to me?”
She casually turned her head toward me, tilting her chin. “Maybe one or two. Don’t let it go to your head. You’re nothing special.”
“Ah. Going to play hard to get.”
“May-be,” she purred.
The woman knew what she was doing to me.
“Daddy. Daddy. Look what Lainey brought me for my birthday!” I had no idea how my daughter had managed to carry the huge box with her, but when Nina put her mind to something, there was no stopping her.
“Let me see, baby girl. Oh, my goodness. Are they art supplies?”
Before I had a chance to open it, she glared at me and rolled her eyes. “Dad. I’m seven years old now. You can’t call me a baby girl any longer. I’m almost a teenager. They’re the most fabulous art supplies like a professional would use. They’re exactly what I wanted.”
I choked on purpose loudly enough, both Lainey and Nina giggled. When Emily joined in, I fell onto the ground, pretending to be in distress. Lainey grabbed the things from Nina’s hand just before my little girl tumbled on top of me.
“You’re growing up too fast, you little minion.” I tickled her tummy even as she fought to free herself.
There was such delight in my daughter’s eyes that I reminded myself I was a lucky man. When I glanced up at Lainey, even though my sunglasses were askew and I knew I looked silly, I could also tell how relaxed she was. Today was a good day.
In truth, today was the best day I’d had in a very long time.
“Do you need my help, big boy?” Lainey asked and carefully placed the presents on the ground, throwing out her hand and daring to beckon me. She had no idea she was really summoning the sadistic beast awakening inside.
Nina giggled again and Emily had her little hands over her face, watching us with bright eyes. As soon as my daughter climbed off, I grabbed Lainey’s hand, jerking her down.
When she was yanked on top of me, I sensed everyone was watching. I couldn’t care less. She shook her head, whispering words so only I could hear.
“You really are a bad boy. But I like it.”
“Lainey. Lainey! Come see my room. Please? I have the perfect place for my gift.” Nina as usual wasn’t going to allow Lainey to get out of her sight while she remained at the party.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I whispered in return.
“Come on, Emily. You can come too.” Given my daughter was pushy at this age, I gritted my teeth thinking how formidable she’d be in a few years. She reminded me of Lainey more and more.
As the girls scrambled to grab the incredible gift, I helped Lainey to her feet. She took a few seconds to adjust my sunglasses before rubbing the back of her hand down my cheek. “I like you with a goatee. Very sexy. Very you.”
I rubbed it with my hand, purposely allowing our fingers to collide. Her slight gasp felt like a reward and perhaps one I didn’t deserve.
“Then I guess I’ll keep it.”
Her smile faded, her expression turning darker.
“What did you say to Damien?” Her voice was imploring. “I know you went to see him.”
“I simply explained what would happen if he tried to touch you again.” It was difficult not to touch her. Just being able to brush hair from her face created an intense desire unlike anything I’d felt before.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I believe I did. No one will ever hurt you again if I have anything to do about it.”
She gripped my arm, rising onto her tiptoes and kissing my cheek. “You’re a true knight in shining armor.”
I laughed. “You have it all wrong.”
“I’m never wrong.”
The slightly awkward moment was following by another lick of her tongue across her lip.
Mmm… It was becoming very difficult to keep my behavior completely appropriate.
“I should head to Nina’s room,” she whispered.
“You’re probably right. She would hunt you down. Let me warn you about my daughter. She is into everything. Hobbies. Sports. Science. Art. She’ll try and convince you to build a volcano after playing a game of softball followed by giving you an art lesson.”
“That’s why I adore her. She’s eclectic like her father.”
“Lainey,” Nina called from behind us, the tone of irritation forcing a smile.
“I better go,” Lainey cooed. “But don’t go anywhere.”
“I live here.”
“Oh, that’s right.” As she walked away, she brushed the flat of her hand across my chest.
If she wasn’t careful I was going to turn into a caveman, guests or no guests.
The presence beside me instantly made me bristle, but before Kazimir could say anything, I was already smiling.
“Yep. It’s official. You’re finally broken free of your chains. Halle-fucking-lujah.”
I threw up my middle finger, careful to avoid anyone else seeing my childish reaction. “Get lost, you swine.”
As he walked away laughing, I knew he was right. She was the one. All the posturing I’d done about possessing her hadn’t been a lie.
She was mine.