Page 3 of Caged

I can’t.

When my legs buckle beneath me, and I’m held up by my unseen assailants, I know I’m truly screwed.

Dragging my toes against the rough asphalt, it only takes one more breath before the world goes black.

TWO

NIKOLAI

I love her. More than anything in this world.

But, I don’t have time to deal with one of her little temper tantrums.

“No, Daddy! I don’t want a ponytail! Clara has a braid, I want you to do that, too.” Her arms cross her pink dress and her lip sticks out far enough I could trip over it.

“Elena. Stop.” I can play this game, too. If she wants to be stubborn, I can teach a master class.

“It’s not fair.” Her brows furrow over her tiny turned up nose and her dark curly hair falls over her forehead.

“You can ask Svetlana when she gets here.” I don’t have time for this. Mikhail called me in, and the last thing I need to do is make him wait for me to act as a hairstylist to my fussy seven year old.

Her small foot stomps. “But, Daddy! She won’t. She thinks my hair is ugly.” She drops onto the footstool and drums her heels against the side.

I swear she’s more dramatic than Alexei when I tell him no more candy.

It’s like having two children some days.

Speaking of.

The front door bangs open and bounces back into the frame as Alexei saunters in, the white handle of a sucker sticking out of his mouth.

“Niki, we must go.” He grins down at Elena and ruffles her bangs. “Good morning, eel.”

She tilts her chin up and smiles, her tantrum forgotten. “Uncle Alexei? Did you bring me anything?”

Shit. All he ever has is sweets.

“If I have to pay for one more cavity, Alexei, I’m using your silver tooth as a filing,” I growl at him as I sling my bag toward him.

He stumbles back under the weight before letting it fall to the sofa next to him.

Winking at my daughter, his voice drops to a loud whisper. “It’s okay. I can buy all the silver.” He pulls a piece of butterscotch out of his pocket and holds it out.

Elena squeals, then claps her hand over her mouth and glances back at me, a mischievous twinkle in her eye before grabbing it from his fingers. “Thank you.” Giggling, she runs back to her room with her prize.

I was wrong. It’s worse than two kids. My rules mean nothing to him.

“You’re an ass,” I grumble and lift the heavier duffle over my shoulder.

“Elena, I love you to the tenth!” I yell, then grab the handle to the front porch.

“I love you to the thousandth!” she calls back, muffled by her door.

I’m not sure what we’ll say when she learns bigger numbers in school. But, for now, she thinks it’s the largest quantity in the world.

I’m pushing Alexei’s bag into the trunk of my Hellcat when I see Svetlana pull up in her compact car.

Finding a sitter who is available for the insane hours I have to work has been trial and error. She’s lasted the longest, although Elena likes her the least.

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