Page 87 of Scarlet Promise

“I’d love that,” she says, kissing me. “I can’t wait to move back in.”

“Baby steps,malyshka.”

“Are you close to finding Melor or the men who took me? I don’t mean that I don’t feel safe. I do, but—” She stops.

I kiss her hand. “But it’ll make it easier with Demyan.” I’m not sure how much I believe that, but that doesn’t matter. “I’m close.”

I think about all the things I was planning on doing, and one thing I can move forward, starting tomorrow.

“I’m upgrading the security at the mansion. New alarms… We changed the passcodes, but new systems are a good idea. Isaak has an expert to help me in the best direction.”

“You don’t need to.”

“Fuck that. I do. Not only because of Melor, but we’re having a baby, so security is important. I want you and our child to be as safe there as you are here.”

“I already am. I trust you wholeheartedly.”

Her words warm me. They really do.

I just wish I believed in myself as much as she does.

Chapter Twenty

ALINA

I sitin the kitchen early the next morning, my hands around my toasted rice tea. I find that it’s all I can tolerate in the morning, so I’ll just eat later.

It’s not until he steps into the kitchen, pulling up short, that I connect the nausea to nerves.

“You’re making this a habit,” he says.

“What?”

“Ambushing me at breakfast.”

“Well,” I say, taking a sip of the mild, soothing tea, “if you weren’t such a coward and would talk about things, then I wouldn’t have to, would I?”

He holds up his hands. “Save it.”

Demyan starts to make himself a coffee. He looks about, hopeful for Magda, but I have power here, too. And I’ve forbidden her from entering the kitchen before seven this morning.

It’s six thirty.

He wants food, but that’s too bad. He can make it himself.

“Save what?” I ask him.

“Whatever bullshit story you have over Ilya because I don’t have time for an argument this morning.”

“That’s just too fucking bad, Demyan. You left your wife last night, so right now, you’ve got a lot of making up to do?—”

“I—”

“Nope. Whatever romantic things you did won’t cut it, and you need to understand that. You. Left. Her. But I’m not here to argue about what you did to her. I’m just saying if you want a few extra points to use in climbing out of your deep hole there, you’ll be quiet and listen.”

He stares at me like I’ve grown another head.

Maybe I have. I feel like I have.