Page 33 of Caged
My god.
This is a bad idea.
Elena’s lower lip juts out. “You have to pick so she knows.”
Nikolai looks up at me before dropping his broad hand to the square next to mine.
The dark navy.
Figures.
Elena sighs. “You always pick that one. Is it because you’re a boy?”
“No, my little brother loves green.” Shit, I shouldn’t have shared that.
Nikolai raises an eyebrow at me, but doesn’t say anything.
Maybe he’ll forget about it.
“Daddy, can I show Melissa my room?”
His eyes narrow and his mouth thins into a line. “Maybe after she’s settled. This is a new place.”
I can see the slight shake of his head.
Gotcha.
“There’s so much here, it’s going to take me a long time to get used to things.” I sit on the edge of the bed to create a gap between us. “I mean, I have all of these to look at first.” I wave my hand at the wall of pictures.
Her nose crinkles. “I forgot grown ups like boring stuff. Okay. Nice to meet you.” She takes off in a full run out into the hall and disappears.
Nikolai stands and steps to watch her.
When I can’t hear her anymore, he glances back. “Thank you. I’m sure you can understand my…” His teeth grit as he clenches his jaw.
I try to give him my most solemn look. “Yea. I get it. I’ll keep my distance. I won’t do anything to violate your trust.”
Except steal your diamonds.
FOURTEEN
NIKOLAI
I’m not exactly comfortable leaving Elena with Melissa, but at least Svetlana is there too. I know she will tell me every little thing that happens, so that’s my only reassurance.
I wouldn’t have left so soon after bringing Melissa back, if Mikhail hadn’t called telling me there’s been a spotting of Kirill.
That slimy agent of my father’s is in town.
“Which way?” Jax asks Enzo over the speaker from the passenger seat of my Hellcat, while Alexei hangs over our shoulders from the back.
“Take the next right. The camera on C Street has him diving into the Bellhouse Bar on Tenth.” Enzo’s calm voice carries through the car.
That man must have seen some shit to always be so level during all the crazy stuff we have him talk us through.
He’s never divulged any of his own history. If I liked going to his style of clubs, I’d consider visiting him for a night to get him drunk enough to talk.
I’m curious if his past is any darker than my own.