Page 94 of Scarlet Vows

Rolling over, I pick it up and hit answer, putting it on speaker.

My brother’s voice fills the room. “Where are you?”

Straight to the point. That’s always been him. My heart and stomach both clench tightly.

“Hello to you, too.”

“Pavel said you were out, but I called Vin, head of security. He mentioned you haven’t been home in a while,” he says, softening his voice. “Is everything okay?”

Shit. I still haven’t told him about staying with Ilya, and I’ve no idea what Ilya’s said to him, so I stumble through the story, telling him I was lonely and having nightmares.

“So,” I conclude, “I’m staying at Ilya’s new place.”

“You’re with Ilya?” he asks after a long pause.

I swallow. “His new place is huge. I have an entire floor and the bonus of company. I miss you, Erin, the kids. And since he’s here so much, it made sense, you know? I can’t rattle around on my own, and we’re good friends.”

“I see.” He has the tone of a brother who doesn’t see at all.

“Just until you and Erin get back, of course.”

“So you’re not okay.” The alarm in his voice is real. “There’s a difference between loneliness and a few baddreams and running away until we get back. I didn’t know things were so bad. We’ll come back immediately.”

“No.” I force a laugh. “I just meant I’ll come back then.”

“All you have to do is say the word, and we’ll cancel?—”

“No,” I say again, blurting it out way too loudly. “I’m fine. Really, I am. Just lonely, you know? Company is nice, and I got used to the late-night chats with Ilya. So finish your trip and have fun. I promise if I need you back here, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Okay,” Demyan agrees, sounding unsure. But at least he doesn’t sound suspicious. “But I worry about you. We all do. Just so you know, if you ever need me, I’m here. Erin too.”

“I love you, too,” I say softly, meaning it. “Thanks, Demyan.”

I ignore the stab of guilt that’s like pinpricks in my chest, because I do love him. I appreciate his offer, but I don’t want them back early.

“Hey,” Demyan says casually, “Ilya mentioned someone earlier, a Santo Barone. I knew him at school. Have you seen him around Ilya at all?”

Shit, shit.Shit.

“Nope,” I say, aiming for innocence. “Why?”

“It’s not important,” Demyan mutters. “But if you do ever run into him, understand he’s bad news and keep the fuck away, okay?”

“Okay.”

But his negative opinion of the man worries me. And it tells me my gut is right.

Santo is a bad guy.

Demyan rings off.

I let Albert come up and snuggle against me, and I hug him.

I hope Ilya knows what he’s doing.

Chapter Twenty-Two

ILYA