Page 79 of Royal Bargain

He watches me for a beat longer than he needs to, like he knows something’s off but doesn’t want to push. “You hungry? I was gonna order something in.”

“I’m okay,” I murmur, crossing the room and kneeling beside them. I press a kiss to Lily’s forehead and wrap an arm around her squirmy little body, trying to ground myself in her warmth.

I tell myself I’m not saying anything because Liam already has enough on his plate—because I don’t want to add to the stress, to the tension we’ve only just started learning to live with.

But deep down, I know that’s not the whole truth. I know that deep down, part of me is starting to wonder if I can really trust anyone.

Even him.

26

LIAM

Iwake before my alarm, eyes snapping open to gray morning light bleeding through the curtains. For a second, I don’t move—just listen. The soft hum of the fridge downstairs. The quiet whistle of wind against the windows. The small, rhythmic breath of the woman sleeping beside me.

Annika’s curled away from me, one arm tucked under the pillow, the other wrapped protectively around the stuffed fox Lily sleeps with sometimes. Her hair is a mess, wild and beautiful. She looks peaceful. It almost makes me forget what day it is.

Almost.

I glance at my phone, screen lighting up with the date like it’s taunting me.

The primary’s tomorrow. But today—today is the trial.

Anatoly Volkov finally goes to court.

My jaw tightens. I don’t know if he’ll show up in cuffs or in some sleek designer suit with that smug look he always wears, like none of this touches him. Like he owns the damn courthouse. And maybe he does. With people like him, you neverreally know. There’s always someone paid off, always some hidden play.

My thumb hovers over the screen, itching to check the news, my email, texts from Rory, Lucky, hell, even Burns. But I stop myself.

I don’t want her to see.

I know if I tell Annika what today is, she might want to go. She’ll say it’s just to see for herself, or to support Aleksey, or to get closure. But we both know it wouldn’t stop there. She’s not built to stand still when something big like this happens. She moves toward the storm.

And I can’t let her.

Not when it could blow everything up again.

So I slide the phone under my pillow and roll onto my side, tucking an arm around her waist. She shifts slightly but doesn’t wake. I press a kiss to her shoulder.

Then I slip out of bed as carefully as I can, easing the sheets back and planting my feet on the floor like I’m afraid the whole apartment might creak and give me away. I grab yesterday’s jeans from the chair, a black button-up, and a jacket from the closet. Nothing flashy. Just sharp enough to send a message.

Downstairs, the place is quiet. Kate must still be asleep in the guest room. Lily’s sound machine hums softly through the monitor on the kitchen counter. I pour myself a cup of coffee, drink half of it black and bitter, then set it down without finishing. My stomach’s too twisted to handle more.

It’s not like I was asked to come. No official reason for me to be at the courthouse. But I don’t need one. Just being there sends the message I want it to send.

I’m not afraid of you. I will protect what’s mine.

He tried to bury Annika under his shadow. Tried to twist her into something she wasn’t, then sent monsters to hunt her downwhen she broke free. He wants her back in a cage. He wants our daughter raised in his empire.

Not happening.

Not ever.

Outside, the morning air is crisp and gray, clouds hanging low like the sky can feel the weight of what’s coming. I climb into the car and tell myself not to second guess it.

The courthouse is already buzzing by the time I arrive. Press crowding the steps. Police at every door. Protesters with signs—some screaming for justice, others declaring Anatoly’s innocence like they’ve got his face printed on a damn T-shirt.

I flash my ID and walk straight through security. No fuss. No flinching.