Page 46 of Like An Animal

THE GHOST

I t's been such a long time since Charlotte and I have gotten to spend time together just us girls. It used to be a daily occurrence but that changed the day Jeremy brought us to Newark.

First, we watched her favorite movie, Zootopia , then she decided she wanted to go swimming in the pool. Silva joined us at the pool and brought some light snacks.

“Thanks, Silva.” I offer her a soft smile as Charlotte snatches a cracker off the small tray.

“No problem, miss. The little one is a delight. She has brought life to the compound that the space has been lacking. She’s perfect.” She grins as she takes a single grape off the tray.

Seven guards stand around the pool room as if they are waiting for someone to bust through and take me and Charlotte but luckily, my daughter doesn’t notice. She’s happy as could be splashing about as she sits on the stone steps.

She doesn’t go further without an adult she can cling to. She doesn’t like arm floaties or any other kind, so until she’s ready to learn to swim, this is what she is comfortable with.

“Mrs. Borza, there’s an hour until the little one’s tutor arrives,” Silva offers and I nod.

Technically, Charlotte doesn’t need a tutor since she’ll be starting kindergarten next year and she has been going to a day care that promotes her thirst for knowledge since she was two, which we refer to as school for her.

She’s prepared to start school, but she needs a lot to keep her busy and she likes learning.

Charlotte is a kid that watches documentaries, asks questions for clarification, and pays attention. Her speech may not be the best, but she was the smartest kid in her class. That’s not me just saying that because she’s my kid. Her class’s teacher told me that.

“Thank you.” I leave my wrap on the lounge chair before joining Charlotte in the water. “Come on, baby.” Charlotte wraps herself around my body as I walk us out into the water. She shrieks and splashes the water around us before waving at Silva.

Seeing her so happy and carefree makes every single sacrifice I’ve made up to this point worth it. It all comes down to a single smile, a hug, a laugh.

Maybe that’s what it means to be a mom.

“Little miss!” Silva calls out to us as we float around the pool. “The tutor will be here in five minutes.”

“Alright. Let’s get showered off and dressed in dry clothes, Lottie.”

“Aww. Do we haves to?”

Nope. That pout may work on her father, but it won’t work on me. I’m stronger than that.

“Come on, fussy butt.” We make it to the stairs and I walk her over to the shower in the corner of the pool room before getting all the chlorine washed off of her.

Then, I look at the guards and scowl. “Well, what are you waiting for? Turn around, pervs, unless you actually want to watch a four year old change. If that’s the case, you won’t want to see her father’s reaction when I call him in a minute. ”

In a flash, all of them turn to face the wall. I hold up a towel to block the view of her as Charlotte takes off her wet bathing suit and pulls on her clothes from earlier.

We leave the pool room and head into the living room where the tutor and Alex waits. I send Charlotte off with the tutor to the kitchen and she waves to me.

“Mrs. Borza, you have a visitor in the lounge,” Alex offers quickly and my eyes narrow with confusion.

I secure my wrap to cover myself. “A visitor?”

“Yes. Mr. Borza is here to see you.”

Jeremy is headed out of state and there is only one other Mr. Borza.

Dimitri.

“Hm. Give me a minute to get dressed.”

He nods. “I’ll let him know.” He turns to head for the lounge and my hand shoots out, grabbing his arm.

“Wait.” Alex looks back at me, confusion in his eyes. “When I go in there, can you come with me? I don’t trust a hair on that man’s head.”

Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I would rather be cautious than be in trouble and not have the help I need when the time comes.

“My job is to protect you, Mrs. Borza. If you feel unsafe, I trust your judgment and I won’t leave your side. You have my word.”

Alex was with Jeremy long before he brought me here, but he’s truly loyal. Jeremy assigned Alex to watch after me when he isn’t here and he takes that job seriously.

“Thank you.”

I head to my room and change out of my bathing suit into a baby blue pant suit, knowing the fucker will look down on me for the slightest irritation.

I swear, I hate that man.

Alex meets me at the bottom of the stairs with a smile on his face.

“Let’s go,” I say and Alex walks directly behind me all the way to the lounge. Pushing open the door, I stroll in to find Dimitri leaning back against the desk, staring off into space.

“Mrs. Borza has arrived,” Alex announces and remains behind me, having my back the whole way.

Dimitri turns his head and nods before looking down at his watch.

“Twelve minutes. That’s a new record for how long someone has kept me waiting,” he quips and I cross my arms over my chest.

“That’s what happens when someone stops by unexpectedly. Next time, call before you head over and we can avoid this issue.” He nods, but says nothing as he eyes Alex behind me. “What do you want, Dimitri? Jeremy isn’t here.”

“I’m not here for my grandson. I’m here to have a discussion with you. Could we get some privacy?” He tries to shoo Alex but I swat his hand away.

“Alex is here for my protection because I don’t trust you. That’s something that shouldn’t come as a shock.”

Dimitri sighs with frustration. “Fair enough. I may have contributed to the distrust.”

I throw my head back laughing. “Oh, dear. May have? You have done enough to never earn any trust back. My husband may still have a shred of faith in you, but I’m not nearly as forgiving. I tolerate you for his sake, not mine.”

“I think we can be frank with each other, Bronwyn. You don’t like me and I don’t think you are worthy of my grandson.

However, it’s clear I can’t do anything to remove you from our lives.

My grandson married you behind my back even though he knew I would never approve of it, but you are the mother of my only great-grandchild. The DNA test was irrefutable.”

Clearly this man has never heard of divorce or he just doesn’t believe in it, but either way it's not happening. I’m just as much a part of this family as anyone else.

“That’s true.”

He nods. “So, it seems the only healthy way we can move forward for Jeremy and Charlotte is to learn some mutual respect for each other. Wouldn’t you say so?”

Well, he’s not wrong. The man probably only has maybe ten years left in him max. What could it hurt to try to be civil? It doesn’t mean I have to trust him.

“And how exactly do you expect us to do that?”

He smirks as he shoves his hands in his pocket. “I have something I’d like to show you. If we go now, we can be back before Charlotte is done with her tutoring session.” He motions toward the door as if he expects me to just go with whatever he says.

The last thing I want is to create a toxic family environment for Charlotte, but I also need to be careful.

“I’m not going anywhere alone with you,” I refuse.

He looks surprised by my rejection. “I have a dozen of my own guards. You’ll be safe.”

“Well, I don’t trust your guards. I only trust my own.” I turn my head to Alex. “Grab Max and Tobias, please. They should suffice.” Honestly, I would’ve rather have Massimo, Boris, and Xavi but Boris is with Xavi who is with my husband. I’ll make due with who I have at my disposal.

“Yes, Mrs. Borza,” Alex quickly responds. He talks in a hushed voice into his earpiece as I arch a brow at Dimitri.

“That’s fine by me if that’s what you need.” He shrugs as if it doesn’t make a difference. Maybe he has good intentions after all, but I can’t risk it.

A moment later, Massimo and Tobias, one of the new guards brought in after my arrival, walks in.

“What’s going on?” Massimo presses before narrowing his eyes at Dimitri.

“We’re going for a short outing at the request of Mr. Borza.”

Massimo looks just as suspicious as I have been, but doesn’t say anything.

We all walk out of the lounge as Silva steps out of the kitchen.

“Are you alright, miss?” she asks, a look of concern across her face.

“Yes, Silva. I’ll be back shortly. Can you keep Charlotte entertained until I get back?”

She nods. “The little one will be fine. We’ll get started on lunch while we wait for you.”

I nod with a smile. “Thank you.”

Alex, Tobias, and Massimo create a barrier around me as we walk out the front door. We head to the line of cars surrounded by Dimitri’s guards.

Dimitri, Massimo, and I slip into the middle car as Alex and Tobias go to the others. I take my place between Massimo and the door, holding his hand to reassure him that I’m okay.

As soon as the door closes and Dimitri’s driver gets moving, I release Massimo’s hand.

“Are you sure about this?” he whispers in my ear and I slowly shake my head.

“Not at all. He just said he wants to show me something, but he’s the bratva. Let Jeremy know what’s happening in case it goes south.”

Massimo smirks his agreement before pulling out his phone.

I really wish Jeremy had gotten me a phone before now. I really don’t feel safe but I had little choice.

One of the many things the boys told me growing up rings through my head.

You don’t say no to the bratva.

Massimo’s phone pings as a message comes through. He reads it as I stare out the window, watching as the houses pass us by before leaving the neighborhood.

“I know Jer didn’t want to tell you, but for your peace of mind, I think you should know. He put a tracker on you on your first day in Newark. If Dimitri tries to hide you away, Jeremy will have your location in half a second.”

That should not bring me the sense of comfort it does.

“And if he plans to kill me?”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“What if he kills you, too?”