Page 158 of Lethal Legacy

I’m not part of Roman’s family. I’m not his partner. I’m a secret, something to be hidden away behind closed doors.

And I have no idea where that leaves me.

I think of the unboxed pregnancy test stuffed in the bottom of my drawer. With a cold shock, I imagine running again, but this time with a baby in my arms as well as a crippled old man.

And despite all that Roman has said to me, the many reassurances he’s given, I can’t help but wonder if what that journalist said was right.

Am I trusting the wrong people?

49

ROMAN

“Why the fuck are you at Pillars?” I frown at my phone. It’s nine a.m., and Dimitry was supposed to be at my Hale office an hour ago.

“There’s an issue with an order that hasn’t shown up. I’m just lending Abby a hand to sort it out.”

For fuck’s sake.I forgot Dimitry’s girlfriend is working at the nightclub now.

“That’s Nikolai’s fucking job. Wake the lazy prick up.”

“Nikolai’s away. I told you that, remember?”

“Of course I fucking remember.” I’m getting annoyed. “But that was weeks ago.”

“Yeah, and he’s still away. Gregor’s been running the show, but he’s working twenty-four seven. He was still up from last night, trying to work it out, when Abby got here this morning. I just sent him to bed, told him I’d sort it out. Abby’s here on her own, and she doesn’t have all the contact numbers.”

I press my fingers to my head, staving off an imminent headache. “How is Nikolai still away? Is the little prick on permanent fucking vacation?”

“No idea. Gregor said he’s in the States, something to do with Cádiz FC doing showcase matches.”

“Hmm.” I’ll be making a call sooner rather than later. “Do what you need to, and let me know when you’re done.”

“Copy.”

I hang up, drumming my fingers on the desk. Nine a.m. is too early to call Miami, and I’ve got bigger priorities today. I make a mental note to call Nikolai when I’m done.

I’m restless, on edge. I glance at my phone.

No message from Lucia.

Usually she texts me a few times during the day, just an image of the kids or some small message of love or support. Although I often don’t have time to do much more than simply like the message, unconsciously I’ve begun to look forward to receiving them, especially on days as important as this one. She knows that today is the first meeting with the clients I’ve handpicked to utilize Mercura. The absence of a message makes me uneasy. I pick up the phone and call Luis.

“Boss.”

“Are you with Lucia?”

“Yep. And Ofelia. Dress shopping again.” He almost succeeds in not sounding bored.

“All okay?”

“Yep.” He lowers his voice. “Anything I need to look out for?”

“No, no. All good.” I hang up, feeling a bit foolish and admonishing myself for being a possessive prick.

I feel as if I’ve barely seen Lucia in the past few days. I can’t exactly blame her for that. In the lead-up to today’s meeting, I’ve been coming home after midnight most nights. Part of me always hopes to find Lucia waiting for me, wearing one of those delicious fucking lingerie sets that I get to tear off. But school has finished for the summer, and I know she’s been flat out with the kids. I make another mental note, this time to take her out somewhere special. I need to make the most of my time with her before Inger shows up.

Fuck knows I don’t want Inger to get even the faintest idea of Lucia’s importance in my life. That way lies serious trouble. Inger sees the parts of my life I allow her to and gets access to nothing more. She’s selfish, temperamental, and incredibly disruptive for the children—but she’s also their mother. It’s a fine line to walk. Walk it I do, for the kids’ sake, but there’s no fucking way I’m letting her anywhere near Lucia.

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