Page 73 of Bratva King's Secret Twins

“Nothing’s wrong.” I smile, pulling my feet underneath my bottom. “Well, besides your father hunting us and me going stir crazy in this house.”

He nods sharply, disbelieving. I bite my lip, internally begging him not to demand I tell him the truth. I can only lie when he doesn’t command me to be honest, and I can’t be honest right now. “Come take a shower with me.”

“Sorry, can’t scrub your back tonight.” I shrug, showing him my book. “I’m reading.”

“Right.” He looks off for a second before looking down at me with a mischievous smirk. “Well, be done with that by the time I get out of the shower. I want my favorite dessert tonight.”

My stomach flips, and my cheeks turn blossom a soft pink. “Don’t let me get cold. I heard I am best served hot.”

A lazy smile spreads across his lips before he turns around and disappears down the hallway. When I can’t hear him anymore, I let the fake smile drop off my face as I scurry to my feet and start to walk in the opposite direction.

Looking cautiously over my shoulder, I turn towards the emergency staircase passing some of the guards and placing my finger up to my lips to shush them.

“Ma’am, I can’t-” One of them tries to stop me, but I knock my elbow into his rib cage and give him a deadly sweet smile.

“Sorry, on the phone. I need privacy.” I sidestep him, my hand pressing against the door knob of the staircase when he places a palm on my shoulder. “If I were you, I would stop touching me because if Nikolai sees your hands on me, that will be the last time they will be attached to your body.”

The man snatches his hand back to his body, caressing it as if I just bit him. “Ma'am I can't let you down that staircase; you're not allowed to leave the penthouse.”

“Look, I get it, I'm in danger but I need a minute, no guards, no one breathing down my neck, just a minute where I can be alone and feel normal for a second.” My eye darts between his gaze and the man behind him. But before they can say no again, I continue. “I won't leave the building, I promise.”

One more cautious glance. And then the guard takes hisposition back against the wall. “Twenty minutes, Miss, and then we are coming for you like it or not.”

I give him a tight smile. “Thank you, boys.”

I push into the stairwell and slip my phone out of my back pocket, quickly dialing Kelsey's number. I skip casually down the stairs, taking my time down the forty flights of stairs. Kelsey answers on the third ring, her voice shooting over the speaker. “If you were calling me to tell me not to come to New York, it's too late, we're already through security and Mia already has a matcha latte.”

I snort, knowing that Gio is probably pinching his nose away from her because he hates the smell. “What’s Gio drinking?”

“Your son is weird, he got iced black tea, no sweeteners, or juice, just plain black tea, totally not normal,” Kelsey whisper-yells into the phone. In the background, Gio's muffled voice can be heard protesting, while Mia's high-pitched hello echoes in the background. My heart swells at the sound of their voices, anticipating seeing them again.

But then I remember why I had to call Kelsey, and a sickening feeling settles in my stomach. I was going to introduce the twins to Nik, but when was I going to tell them that their grandma had died? They would notice when she wasn't here for Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or when there were no sloppy kisses on their cheeks for their birthday. They would ask for her and I would have nothing to say. I don't know how to tell two five-year-olds that they will never see their nana again. And I know I could never tell them it was my fault.

“Hey Kels, can you leave David with the kids for a second? I have to tell you something.” I continue my way down the stairs, listening to her shuffle awayfrom the children.

“What’s up? If you seriously don't want us to come to New York City, I was just joking. We will literally turn around and go back home,” she rushes out, but then takes a deep breath and continues. “But the twins really miss you, G. They want their mom.”

“It’s not that, just-” I pause, pushing open the other emergency door at the ground level, and entering a surprisingly empty lobby. It's weird, unsettling even, but I pushed that thought aside as I make my way to the back corner of the lobby where I will have enough privacy.

“After you land, I need you to drop the twins off at Taylor's and then drive down to DC.” I perch on the arm of a chair, nervously tapping my foot against the floor.

Kelsey groans. “Why do you want me to drive down to DC? After a four hour flight? Why?”

“They found Nana Rose’s body,” I blurt out before I can stop myself. The words feel heavy and cold on my tongue, making everything more real. The ball of salt that keeps building and unraveling in my throat churns again. “The cops need me to identify her. I can't do it alone, Kels. I can’t.”

“Gwen, what the hell? When did this happen?” Her voice comes out in a croak as if she's on the verge of tears.

“If you cry, I cry. And if I cry, I won't stop so please don't cry,” I plead and listen as she sharply clears her throat.

Before she can respond, the hair on the back of my neck stands up and I feel something cold and menacing standing behind me. “Kelsey, hold on.”

As soon as I open my mouth to respond, a chill shoots down my spine and I feel a menacing presence looming behind me. Before I can even turn around, a hand covered in cloth clampsover my mouth, cutting off my scream. The scent of something sharp and sickly sweet invades my nostrils and just then, panic sets in as I thrash against the strong grip, but it's no use.

A raspy voice grates against my ears as he whispers, “Don't you worry, gorgeous. We are going to treat you just fine.”

I take a deep breath, ready to scream my heart out, but then everything goes black.

37

---