Page 23 of Magnus
No,it didn’t. But if Magnus answered Sapphie’s question honestly, then she was likely to run for the hills and take her daughter with her. She already thought his marriage proposal was insane.
Telling her that what he felt for her, after only knowing her for twenty-four hours, was deeper and stronger than anything he had ever imagined he could feel for anyone, was more likely to scare her than reassure her.
Sapphie wasn’t just beautiful. She had remained faithful during her marriage, despite knowing her husband was constantly involved with other women. A lot of wives would have had a retaliatory affair. Sapphie hadn’t done that, even though Magnus believed she would have been perfectly justified in doing so.
She had also been strong and resourceful in her protection of her daughter, by taking Angel and running and continuing to evade being found for the two years since then.
“Angel told me you go to the library to work on a Tuesday,” he recalled curiously.
Sapphie nodded. “When I can get the work, I illustrate children’s books. Libraries have the open internet connection I need to be able to talk to my clients without it being traced back to me.”
“Linus would have been able to,” he warned. “He can hack into and hunt down anything and anyone he chooses.”
She sighed. “I did what I could to still be able to create a career that would give me the money Angel and I needed to be able to live off the grid.”
“So you’re an artist?”
She released a shaky sigh. “I only studied art and design at uni for one year. I gave it up when I met and married Marco and moved to the States with him.”
“Are you any good?”
She smiled wistfully. “My clients seem to think so, yes.”
Marco Carlucci had a lot to answer for!
“You could resume your studies if you married me,” Magnus assured.
Her eyes narrowed. “Marco said that too when I agreed to move to America with him. But once we were living in DC, we were always out at social engagements that would further his political ambitions, during the day as well as in the evenings. He especially liked showing me off once I was visibly pregnant with Angel. The devoted family man and all that,” she added bitterly.
Magnus felt a tightness in his chest just thinking of seeing Sapphie’s body round withhischild.
“I’m nothing like Marco Carlucci,” he growled.
“I wouldn’t have come here with you, no matter how dire our situation had become, if I thought you were,” she stated flatly.
Magnus studied the pallor of her cheeks and the pain he could see in those beautiful violet eyes. “I would never betray our marriage or you in the base way that he did.”
She avoided meeting his gaze. “I can’t marry you, Magnus. I can’t marry anyone. Protecting Angel has to be my priority, my life, and I will not risk doing anything that would allow the Carluccis to find me and take her away from me. I appreciate your kindness in helping us so far. I really do. You’ve done everything you said you would, and more. But the last thing I want is to be trapped in another unhappy marriage.” She reached out to squeeze his forearm before walking away to join Angel and Angus on the couch.
Magnus had inwardly flinched at hearing her describe marriage to him in that way. Immediately followed by the thought:why wouldn’t she? She didn’t know him. Hadn’t even met him until yesterday.
“I think you need to back the fuck off, bro.”
Magnus turned to see his younger brother had now joined him in looking across at the woman, child, and dog, all seemingly engrossed in watching the cartoon on the TV. Magnus doubted Sapphie was as engrossed in the colorful images playing on the screen as her daughter. In fact, she still looked a little shell-shocked.
He knew the reason he hadn’t heard Linus arrive was because he was so concentrated on Sapphie. “Did I say you could let yourself into my apartment, little brother?” He spoke softly so as not to disturb the trio on the couch.
“You said you wanted me to install greater security here, so yes, you did. I’ve also brought you some fresh groceries and Chinese food that can be warmed up for your dinner.” He placed the bags on the breakfast bar. “Before I came up, I also checked in downstairs on the upgrade I’d made to tighten the security in the building and to your apartment specifically.”
“Doesn’t seem to have kept you out,” Magnus rumbled.
“That’s because I’m the mad tech guy who not only built but can override every bit of security in this or any other of our buildings.”
“Thanks for the groceries,” Magnus muttered after looking in the bag and seeing bread, milk, and eggs, as well as cartons of delicious-smelling Chinese food.
Linus shrugged, still looking at a Sapphie, who appeared to be on the verge of falling asleep. “She’s beautiful.”
“And mine,” Magnus warned.
