Page 75 of Fall of a Kingdom

BARRETT

I’d never been moregrateful for a crying child. Seeing to Piper’s needs allowed me to escape Sasha’s penetrating gaze.

I wished he didn’t know me so well.

I wished I’d thought to keep my mouth shut while people were staying with us.

I wished I’d been able to keep the fact that I was going insane on lockdown.

Instead, I’d allowed Igor’s ghost to get the better of me. Even now, he followed me up the stairs into Piper’s nursery. She was howling like a banshee. Her tiny fists were clenched, and her mouth was open in ravenous hunger. I scooped her up and placed her at my shoulder, crooning Gaelic endearments into the warm skin of her head.

“Why didn’t you tell him?” Igor asked.

I set Piper on the changing table and got to work. “Because he wouldn’t understand.”

“If anyone can understand, it will be Sasha. I am the link that binds you together.”

“You are the noose around my neck,” I muttered. “How many times do I have to tell you to go away?”

“I can’t go away. I can’t leave you alone.”

I slathered cream onto Piper’s bottom and then put her into a clean diaper. “You won’t be happy until I ruin everything in my life.”

“It’s not aboutmyhappiness, Barrett. It’s about yours.”

“I am happy.”

“Are you?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “I’m more in love with my husband now than when we met. We have three beautiful boys, and now we have a baby girl to spoil too. My life is perfect. My life is charmed. Why the hell are you ruining it?”

“Why are you ruining your own life?”

I looked at him. “I’m not self-sabotaging if that’s what you’re getting at.”

There was a soft rap against the nursery door, and I instantly quelled my one-sided conversation with a ghost.

The door opened and Quinn popped her head in. “Hey,” she said softly.

“Hey.”

“Have you seen Sasha?”

“Downstairs,” I said, forcing a smile. “Is Helena awake?”

“Not yet.” She frowned.

“What’s wrong?” I picked up Piper and cradled her in my arms.

“Nothing. He just—we were—never mind.” She shook her head. “Heading downstairs?”

I nodded.

Helena’s epic cry shattered through the baby monitor Quinn was holding. She sighed. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

I smiled. “Take your time.” I walked downstairs with Piper and heard the front door open. Just as I got to the first floor, the boys ran inside, and they were covered head to toe in mud.

“Stop!” I commanded before they could take another step forward and ruin the Persian rug that graced the front hallway.