Page 61 of Scarlet Promise

Thinking about it all turns my stomach. The cake’s too rich after a tiny bite. The coffee, too, makes my stomach roil, and I wish I’d ordered tea.

I sigh. “It’s Demyan, not Ilya.” I push my coffee away too. “My life’s a mess, and I don’t know how to sort it because anything I do causes hurt. To me, to Ilya, to my brother. I want to be with Ilya, and Demyan’s being impossible. I had to fight to get some freedom.”

Her gaze goes to the window of the coffee shop because she hasn’t missed my bodyguard. “Ishefreedom?”

“He’s the compromise.” I half smile. “I demanded I get to see Ilya, but it’s not enough, and I don’t know what to do.”

Isla squeezes my hand. “Give it time. Demyan probably needs time to get used to the idea of you two as a couple. He’s stubborn, but he loves you both.”

I nod, but really, I’m not so sure.

He’s stubborn, yes, but Isla has no idea just how stubborn my brother can be.

Chapter Fourteen

ILYA

I’m not a beer drinker,but apparently Chase is.

Isaak accompanies me into the kitchen while Chase sets up in the dining room. We’ll help where needed, though with his three computers and other hardware, I’m not really sure what help I’ll be.

“He’s better than good,” Isaak says as he leans against the wall, holding open the brushed black steel fridge door. “If there’s anything, he’ll find it.”

“And your job?”

He grins. “Fridge doorman. “I’m deciding if I want a beer or bourbon.”

“Both?”

“Now that sounds like a plan. Pizza?”

I roll my eyes at him and collect a couple of bottles of the Brooklyn Breweries beer. Apparently, it’s Chase’s favorite.

It’s late afternoon, and Isaak has a rare day off, kind of. Right now, he’s setting up meetings for the leave he’s taking so he can trial here.

Today, apparently, all he has is a cocktail meeting with a long-time client at a fancy bar.

“Slumming it before you hit the highlife?” I ask.

“Getting in some reality first. Also, I’m hungry.”

“Order some, and some more beer.” I pull up the app on my phone and toss it to him. “No beer for me, so order accordingly.”

“You gotta get down here with the little people, bro.”

“I can do that while drinking vodka or bourbon.”

He laughs and sets about placing some orders, and I carry the drinks into the dining room.

Chase doesn’t look up. “Thanks, man. Nice digs.”

I pour a drink for myself and head out to the foyer, taking my phone back from Isaak and calling through to the front gate to let them know a delivery’s on its way.

I try to remember who’s working here tonight, and Elisei comes to mind. I let the gate guard know who’ll be picking up the order from them.

Next, I text Elisei, who gives me the thumbs-up. I don’t even have to check to know he’ll be there in minutes, waiting.

It’s still a gamble, and I probably should go myself or send Isaak. But trust needs to start somewhere, and Elisei doesn’t need to come in beyond the foyer.