Page 76 of Conquer

Magda nods while I suppress a grin. Sending a child to do his dirty work could be a hallmark of the old bodyguard slacking—or his knowledge of what he might have interrupted as well as the inkling that his employer would spare poor Magda his wrath. Which he does with a wry grin that warms me down to my core. Taking her hand, he leads the way downstairs, where Ena lurks in the kitchen, scowling at the scene visible through the newly replaced terrace door.

“Ainsley!” Shirking her father’s grasp, Magda surges forward, and Ena has just enough time to wrench open the sliding glass door before she can careen right through it.

Sure enough, her target is already racing to meet her, her blond hair flying out behind her. Smiling, I scan her wake for a familiar figure and promptly feel my mouth drop open.

“Jesus Christ,” I whisper. I have to resist the urge to rub my eyes just to make sure the stoic figure striding across the lawn is real.

“What the hell does he want?” Vadim murmurs, though he sounds genuinely curious rather than hostile—another fact contributing to my dropped jaw.

But his question winds up presenting its own answer—it’s obvious to anyone watching just what Maxim wants.

“Uncle Max!” Magda’s voice is audible from here, chirpy in the familiar way that took her own father weeks of trust-building to achieve. She skips to him, looping her hand within his, chatting animatedly the entire while.

And as his dark eyes take her in, they ignite with a warmth I figure might be visible from space. His posture relaxes as his lips quirk in the semblance of an expression that on any other man could be called a smile.

As Ainsley claims his other hand, I’m convinced that, foreboding figure or not, his heart has been stolen more than once.

As has the love of the man standing beside me. His hand flattens against my waist as if anchoring me to him is the only way he can stop himself from marching forward. Mistrust is always his first instinct—especially where Maxim is concerned—but in this case, I can sense the effort he exerts to stay still.

To watch.

To let his brother enjoy the simple gift they’ve both been denied for so long—family.

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