Page 49 of Corrupt: XXX Vadim 2

“I, um…” I make eye contact with Maxim’s fiancée. Francesca, I think that’s her name. Without a word spoken, I sense that we share a mutual understanding—these children may be innocent in the affairs of the adults around them, but it’s better not to touch that dynamic with a ten-foot pole. “We’ll talk about it later, sweetie. Come on, your lunch is getting cold. Maybe after we can go pet Dasha, hmm?”

She follows as I tug her along, but cranes her head back to watch as Francesca does the same to Ainsley. The two girls wave at each other while my insides squirm uncomfortably. How utterly cruel is it to deny a child a potential playmate merely because their guardians hate each other?

Very,I decide once we return to the house, and Magda’s frown makes a dramatic reappearance. I cajole her into eating, and we’re in the middle of another game of Monopoly when the front door opens. I turn only to choke on my relieved sigh; Vadim isn’t the one who storms into the kitchen.

“Mr. Vadim no come back,” Ena declares. “Business. Be back tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I try to keep the panic from my voice. “Can I call him? Do you have his number—”

“No call.” Ena crosses his arms, and I have enough sense to suspect that point is non-negotiable. “He busy. You see him tomorrow.”

“But what about…” I trail off, glancing at Magda. This isn’t her fault. I can discuss the whole “how dare you abandon me with your child” issue with Vadim at a later date. Instead, I force a grin and pick up the dice. “Ready to get your butt kicked, kiddo?”

She smirks, apparently more than eager to accept the challenge.