Page 14 of The Hermit

My house, if you can call it that, is in the Tetra Mountains, which are part of the Carpathian chain between Slovakia and Poland. It’s more of a bunker that breaks through the side of the mountain, overlooking a forest and lake down below in a valley.

There isn’t another living person within miles of my place. It’s just me and the mountain out there, and the only person who’s ever set foot in my home is Evinka.

The cottage won’t be far enough from these people.

Jebat.

I let out a disgruntled sigh. “A few days. I’m not staying a month.”

Devlin quickly nods, looking pleased as fuck. “Take a seat while I tell my housekeeper to ready the cottage.”

As he leaves the living room, I let out a heavy sigh. Instead of sitting down, I walk to the windows and glance over the front yard, where guards stand by their posts.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and pulling the device out, I see a message from Evinka.

Evinka: How long will you still be in Ireland?

I type out a reply that’s sure to make silent laughter burst from her.

Dominik: For a while longer. I’ve agreed to an arranged marriage with Devlin’s daughter so I can get fifty percent of his business.

I watch as she reads, and a second later, it shows she’s typing. Soon, a string of laughing emojis pop up on my screen.

Evinka: Nice one. When will you be back home?

Dominik: I’m not joking. I’ll be here for a few days to arrange the wedding and take care of business. BTW, you’ll have to attend as my best man.

This time, when it shows she’s read it, my screen goes black, and minutes tick by before it lights up again with her response.

Evinka: What. The. Fuck?

Dominik: Fifty percent of Devlin’s business.

Evinka: Still. You’re not the marrying type. You’ll kill the poor woman for breathing too loud.

Dominik: The marriage will mainly be in name. She’ll stay in Ireland.

Evinka: Oh. That could work. Are you sure about this? You’ll be tied to Devlin for life.

Dominik: Again. Fifty percent of his business.

Evinka: I hear you.

Evinka: I guess good luck is in order then.

More laughing emojis follow, making me shake my head before I tuck the device back into my pocket.

I feel the air shift and turn my head slightly as I listen to the soft footfall of steps coming in the direction of the living room.

A moment later, Grace asks, “Where’s my father?”

I turn around to face her while shoving my left hand into the pocket of my suit pants. “He’s gone to talk to your housekeeper.” She turns to walk away, and it has me saying, “Grace.”

As fun as it was watching her stand up to her father, I have to draw a line so she’ll know I won’t tolerate being disrespected.

She glances at me with an arched eyebrow.

Slowly, I walk closer to her until she’s forced to tilt her head back to look at me. I take in the purple and blue bruises on her face before capturing her gaze.

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