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“Don’t be childish, Erin.”

She continues to gaze out the window as if it’s the most interesting thing she’s seen.

“Erin, you’re going to have to get over this and talk to me.”

But she just doesn’t respond.

Frustration burns hot in my veins and it chokes in my throat. When we go through the security at the gates, even though it’s me, they now check, she still doesn’t look at me. And when we pull up, she unstraps Sasha, gathers him and his stuffed toy, and stomps into the mansion.

Shit. I start up the stairs after her when Magda appears and puts her hand on my arm. “Mr. Demyan, if you want her, leave her be for now. Alina is up there.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

She pulls herself up to her short height. “You didn’t see her face. If you want her, you listen to me and Miss Alina.”

I want to break things. Luckily, the meeting I’ve got is to do with a late payment, so maybe I can take out my frustrations there.

Without a word, I motion at my men and spin on my heel, heading out. At the door, I pause. I look at the guard there. “She is not to leave or this is your last day on earth. Got it.”

The man nods. “Yes, sir.”

I stay out laterthan I plan, drinks with allies, listening to talk, and laying plans and the beginnings of deals.

None of it’s an answer to the biggest issue I face. Marrying Stefina.

Sure, take out Sergio and that problem goes away, but amillion others pop up. I’ll be untrustworthy, and that’s not what I want. Not what I can afford.

There’s taking out an enemy or someone in your way and then there’s killing the man to get out of a deal I made.

It’s worse than untrustworthy in the broader scheme. It means my word is nothing.

I need another way.

That means I may have to take the man out, a risky move as far as I can see. Just because I don’t trust him, the fact is I slid out of this once and went to him for help. Manipulated into that or not, he helped.

If I back out, kill him, or worse Stefina, I upset not just the ecosystem in place but I hurt myself and my operations.

There’s a way, I just haven’t thought of it.

I go upstairs when I get home and strip off my jacket and tie.

The bedroom’s not only untouched, it feels empty, like Erin hasn’t even stepped foot inside here.

I didn’t hear any voices downstairs, nor my son. But it’s adult dinnertime. He should be fed and getting ready for bed. I leave my room and go to his. The door opens and Alina steps out, glaring at me, pulling the door shut behind her.

“Out of my way, Angel.”

“No.”

I frown. “That’s my son in there, and?—”

“You’re not bugging Erin.” She grabs my arm and tucks her hand around it. “We can go have dinner, or?—”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Then you can watch me eat or we can have a drink, but you’re not upsetting her. She’s been through enough, don’t you think?”

I let Alina drag me down to my study, where she pours me a drink, choosing whiskey over vodka, and she pours one for herself, too.