Page 34 of Royal Bargain

I nod and wipe my hands on a towel, walking toward the door. I peek through the peephole, then immediately unlock it and swing it open.

Aleksey stands on the other side, sharp as ever in a dark coat, his expression unreadable. I frown, narrowing my eyes at him.

“What do you want?” I ask, furious he’s just waltzed over here like it was nothing.

“I need to talk to Annika,” he says.

Then his gaze shifts past me, to where Ana is standing behind me, a burp cloth over her shoulder, while she holds a mug of tea in one hand.

His voice softens, but not by much. “It’s important information, Annushka.”

Ana and I glance at each other, our eyes meeting. In that split second, we both feel that creeping dread low in the gut, the unspoken question we don’t want to ask out loud.

What now?

13

ANNIKA

“Ineed to speak with my sister,” Aleksey repeats, his gray eyes flicking to me. “It’s important.”

I step forward, ignoring the way Liam’s arm instinctively shifts like he’s trying to hold me back. “Let him in.”

“Are you serious?” Liam mutters, still standing in the doorway. “Here? Now?”

“He wouldn’t come if it wasn’t urgent.”

Liam’s jaw ticks, but he steps aside reluctantly. “Make it quick.”

As Aleksey enters, I see Liam retreat toward the laundry area, yanking open the washer with more force than necessary. A shirt falls to the floor; he doesn’t pick it up. I hear the sharp clatter of detergent being poured in, followed by the lid slamming shut.

“I’m not letting her out of my sight,” Liam calls from over his shoulder. “So don’t even try pulling any of that shadowy shit you Russians love.”

Aleksey doesn’t respond. He’s already halfway to the couch.

I follow and sink down beside him, adjusting Lily in my arms. She’s starting to fuss again, so I lift my shirt and guideher toward the bottle I’d tucked under the blanket earlier. She latches with a soft sigh, settling immediately.

“You look tired,” Aleksey murmurs, reaching out to put a hand on my shoulder.

I give him a soft smile. “A little,” I admit.

He nods and then leans forward, elbows on his knees. “You know I wouldn’t have come unless it was urgent.”

A sigh escapes my lips and I lean back against the couch cushions. “Just tell me.”

“Your father has a trial date,” he says quietly. “It’s been set. And it’s coming fast.”

My heart stutters. “How fast?”

“Three weeks.”

The air feels thinner. I shift Lily slightly, suddenly needing something—anything—to ground me.

“That’s not all.” Aleksey’s voice drops even lower. “He’s been asking about you.”

I tense, my grip tightening just slightly around Lily’s warm little body.

“What does that mean?” My voice is flat, but the undertone is sharp. Cautious.