Page 32 of Caged

A daughter?

What the fuck is he doing with a kid? That wasn’t in his folder.

Ivan just wanted me to off a single dad for diamonds?

Elena’s small footsteps ring hollow on the wood as she comes down.

Dark curly hair, rich chocolate eyes, and a pink dress.

What is she? Six? Seven?

She’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.

When Elena spots me, she pauses before looking at Nikolai.

She has his nose, and definitely clenches her petite jaw like him when she stares.

“Elena. This is Melissa. She’s going to be staying in our spare room for a few days. Be nice to her.” Nikolai gives her a lopsided grin before scooping her up into his arms.

He’s a completely different man holding her.

Bouncing her up onto his shoulder, he gestures to me to walk with him.

“Hi, Melissa. Your hair is pretty.” Elena turns over his back and smiles shyly at me.

My heart shatters.

“Yours is, too. I love how curly it is! Can you teach me how to make mine like that?”

How in the hell am I going to do this?

Elena pulls down one of her tightly coiled locks and lets it spring back. “I don’t know how it does that. Do you know how to braid?” She has the lightest of lisps as she talks past the gap in her teeth.

Nikolai pushes open a door that reveals a cozy room with a handmade quilt and colorful framed photos on the wall.

The other place was so sterile in comparison.

My stomach tightens.

This is a home.

I’m going to be sick.

“Do you have a favorite color?” Elena twists in Nikolai’s arms as he lowers her to the floor.

“I like lots of them.” Although, mostly all I wear is black.

She runs to me and tugs at my hand. “Pick one on the blanket.” Her finger pushes into the mattress over a neon orange square. “This is mine.”

I hover near the darkest color, a navy blue.

Fuck it.

“This one.” Bright purple presses beneath my palm.

“Oh. I like that one.” Elena looks up to Nikolai who’s towering over her. “Daddy, which one is yours?”

Nikolai squats and presses a kiss to the top of her head. “Whichever one you’re wearing.”

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