Page 56 of The Brigadier

She sighed. “I think you helped teach me. Let’s get a plan together. The one thing my mother taught me that I’d consider decent was that you can’t escape a difficult situation, or in this case raw and real danger, without a decent plan. If you don’t have one, the person trying to unravel you has already won.”

“Agreed and you’re one smart lady.”

She sighed, fear and exhaustion from dealing with the same shit for days in her eyes. “Don’t you forget it.”

I caressed her face, needing that moment of closeness. I hated the unknown, and had never worked well when I couldn’t grab a distinct handle on a situation. Somehow, she was grounding. “Do not allow Damien to look out front or any other window for that matter until I give the clear.”

“He doesn’t know about the world he lives in. Does he?”

I shook my head. “No, and I’m not ready. I have a feeling whatever he went through with his mother was traumatizing enough.”

“Agreed. That’s what you’re seeing when he throws tantrums. He has no way of understanding what he witnessed or experienced. No child does.”

The woman was far more intelligent, suave, and perceptive than I’d given her credit for.

Shame on me.

“Then we’ll work on it. After we get through this shit.”

At least I was rewarded with a slight smile.

“Just remember he’s very intelligent just like his father. He will figure it out. You already know that.”

Yeah, I did. And that didn’t make any of this any easier.

Or me any less enraged.

CHAPTER 17

Chantel

Danger.

It had a particular feel to it. Tangible.

Ever growing.

And danger could sense fear a mile away. However, I was no action hero. I’d never even considered myself brave. But right now, that was very important so I could keep a level head. There was a strength to Nikolay I think I’d known instinctively as a child. He was contemplative, only his anger getting in the way every so often when someone dared to touch people he cared about.

Which was admirable.

His love of his son was something that told me all I really needed to know about the man.

He had integrity.

Which is why I was having such a difficult time separating fantasy from reality. We clicked. We hungered.

We’d indulged.

We were in dire straits and there was no denying it. What we were about to go through would take every ounce of bravery I could fake. But the man I… But Nikolay was here. I could count on him. I rose onto my tiptoes, kissing his lips.

“Aww…” A little voice said from behind us. “Butterfly kisses. They are good luck, Daddy. Mommy told me that.”

I could see the light in Nikolay’s eyes change. There was an instant sadness, a dash of anger, and a moment of joy as he nodded his thanks to me. I hadn’t done anything but provide Damien with just a little sprinkle of magic dust so the tough steel armor he’d placed around himself could come down, the superhero inside feeling safe again.

With a boyish grin on his face as well, even in times of utter danger, the powerful and very merciless man with a brutal reputation halfway reacted like a kid himself, pulling away and crouching down.

I couldn’t help but remain a voyeur, amazed such a tough dude could be a little softie. A marshmallow. Eventually, I would have my chance to tease him relentlessly.