Page 90 of The Shadows We Keep

The air sucks from her lungs, a look of surprise and realization washes over her features.

Jesus Christ, she really didn’t see that option coming.

“Harkin will get tested too.” I throw a look in his direction and see the quick smirk before it disappears when Alina’s attention falls on him.

“We can do the paternity test at the same time,” He asserts, no emotion behind it and I understand. There’s no doubt in my mind that if that test comes back positive, he’d step in. But from everything he’s told me, she’s given him no reason to trust what she says.

“What is wrong with you, Harkin? Of course she’s yours. You know you never would have questioned me before her.” She throws a disgusted look my way, but it doesn’t phase me. I feel the same way about her now.

“You’ve been dead for almost two-years Alina, things change.” He’s not giving into her emotional whims, only stating facts, and keeping things short between them.

“And this change happened way before Keira came into the picture. But you keep blaming her if that’s what will help you sleep at night.”

She huffs in irritation, nearly stomping her foot again like before. “Whatever.” A rush of feet comes battering down the hallway. Rounding the corner, is a group of men in black suits, all carrying a variety of assault weapons strapped around their chest. One man stands out. He’s tall, suave, with thick, slicked back black hair and olive skin. His eyes are hard and menacing, the air around him screams danger. He leads the group to a stop a few feet away, breaking from formation to step in closer to us.

Harkin moves quickly blocking him from getting any closer to me, but it’s not me he has his eyes set on.

“Mia Tesoro.” He stops next to Alina, his hand coming up to cup her face. The giant rock on her finger makes a whole lot more sense now. His eyes soften briefly as he takes her in. But I don’t miss the way her body tenses when his skin draws against hers. The feelings between them don’t seem mutual, but that’s not my problem. She made her bed. Now apparently, she has to lie in it with this guy.

“Your father had a business issue to deal with.” His eyes swing in my direction, though the majority of my body is still behind the wall of man muscle in front of me. I shove my way forward, not missing the quick shake of Harkin’s head or the finger signal he flashes me.

Two.

I scowl back, knowing I’d rather these men see me as the force I am, instead of writing me off like my twin. I’ll deal with Harkin and his delicious torment later.

“When will he back? I need to talk to him,” I ask calmly. The man stares me down, a light of intrigue in his hollowed eyes.

“When he gets back. You’ll wait in your room. Follow me,” he orders, expecting my unyielding cooperation. He turns and heads back in the direction he showed up from, not checking to make sure I’m following behind.

I don’t make to follow, but Alina does, falling in line just as I expected. She’s all bark, no bite, or backbone.

“How long until you think he notices,” I whisper, leaning into Harkin. His light chuckle warms my body that’s still fighting the shock from everything that’s happened today.

“You’re just a glutton for punishment today, huh, baby?” He sighs back. The warmth from his breath sends a shiver down my spine.

“You think we can just back away slowly and make a run for it?” I ask, ignoring my bodies response to having him so close.

That thought disappears when a deafening explosion shakes the house. The dry wall crumbles from the ceiling as a crack from the stress forms above us. “Yes, now we can.” Harkin says, grabbing for my hand. “Run!” He instructs before turning and running to one of the many doors along the wall of windows looking out into the walled-in courtyard.

“How are we supposed to get out of here?” I yell over the blaring sirens, as we run down the narrow paved walkway outside.

“Just give them a second,” he calls over his shoulder.

“Give who a second?” As soon as the words leave my tongue, a second explosion sounds from the direction we’re heading. For fuck sakes, for the first time since I woke up on the couch, I’m hoping we’re nowhere near civilization.

The cascade of gunfire sounds in the distance, getting further away as we run to the corner of the compound. A small section of the cement wall now lies crumbled on the ground. I dig my heels in, jolting Harkin back, when two men in blacked out military gear and skeleton masks stand waiting on the outside of the ruins.

“They’re with us,” he placates.

I hesitate for a few seconds looking back at my father’s home.

“Harkin, wait.” I tug at his hand again.

“I can’t do this. I promised Alina.” He huffs in irritation at my sudden onset, conscious.

His rough hand finds my cheek, cupping it softly. “You can help her, without being a prisoner in a house full of men who want to kill you. Your father won’t always be around to protect you. I won’t leave you here. So, you either take that fine ass over those bricks and into the woods or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you.”

I roll my eyes at his over-the-top bullshit. Unfortunately, for me, he’s right. If I stay here, it’s just a matter of time before my life is on the line, regardless of how much Daddy Dearest wants us to be a family.

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