Page 32 of Scarlet Promise

There’s a sharp, harsh laugh from Ilya. “I’ve been an ass to you. I’m sorry. I just… I convinced myself you were better off without me.”

“I’m not. Ever. I belong with you, Ilya. You and Albert. We’re a team. I want to see you…”

“Any time you want, you can come home.”

I snort. “Demyan’s got a bodyguard for me.”

“Fuck. Demyan’s not going to allow you to up and leave, but I still have privileges at the Yegorov compound. I’m still part of the team, as far as anyone knows.”

“Sneak in.”

“I’m not?—”

“It’s the easiest thing. We can work out how to approach Demyan. Because I’m not staying here. If the bodyguard must come to your mansion, so be it, but we need to work out the details.” I stop. “And I just want to see you. I need to see you. I was so scared when I was taken. And all I want is to be in your arms. You and Albert, Ilya. Maybe Erin will help us.”

I know she will. She may be Demyan’s wife, but Erin believes in love. She believes in choice. She’s the calm to Demyan’s storm, the softness to his steel, the reason to his set ways.

“Do you think she’ll help?” he asks.

Ilya already sounds dubious about sneaking in, because I know him. He’d rather face this straight-on, and he can.AfterI’ve had the moments with him that my brother stole.

“Yes,” I say. “I do think she’ll help.”

He sighs. “Okay, if she can help set it up, I’ll be there.”

“I’ll call you with the details,” I say, then we hang up.

Albert and I do a little dance before we leave the room, the bodyguard trailing us down the stairs.

Erin’s in the small room she calls her study, where she and her good friend Kara run their little business from. It’s still in its infancy, but Erin tells me she’s good at it, and it gives her something to do when she’s not running around after small children.

I turn and glare at the bodyguard. I can’t remember his name. I don’t want to because that’s the start of some kind of bond, so he’s just Bodyguard in my head.

“No. You stay out here.” I point to the opposite wall. “Over there.”

I close the door on him.

Erin tucks a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. “You should be nicer to Z?—”

“No names. I don’t want to know it.”

“To your bodyguard. He didn’t choose the job. Demyan did, and I’m sure he’s bored senseless.” She closes her computer and rises, coming around to me and leading me to the sofa where we sit. “But you didn’t come in here to talk about your bodyguard, did you?”

“Nope.” I let out a breath. “But first, how’s work?”

Erin smiles, getting up and going to the wet bar. “Soda, tea, coffee, bourbon, or water?”

“It’s a little too early for booze. Just water.”

She pours two glasses from the bottle in the fridge and brings them over, handing one to me. “Spoken like an American. Work’s…work. Kara and I are getting it all ready. While I’ve been away, she’s been collating enquiries, and we’re sorting through them and working on some other things… Boring stuff. What’s up?”

“Demyan’s so angry,” I say quietly. “I understand him. I do. Mostly. But I’m grown up now, and his claim about danger is ridiculous. It follows people in this world, as well you know.”

“Yeah.” Her smile slips. “I know. And it weighs on him.”

“I’m not his responsibility. This could have happened underhiswatch.”

“It didn’t,” she says.