Page 127 of Lethal Legacy

Roman waits until we’re all done congratulating Mickey, then nods briefly at Nikolai. “Your uncle wanted to say congratulations.”

“Oh.” Mickey’s face goes rather guarded. “Thank you,” he mutters, barely looking at Nikolai.

Wow. These kids really don’t like their uncle.

“Thanks for coming,” Roman says to Nikolai. “We’ll catch up soon.”

It couldn’t be more of a dismissal if he’d thrown him out of the plaza. Nikolai clearly gets the message, because he doesn’t argue, just mumbles a goodbye and leaves. I notice his steroid boys are missing. My guess is that Roman took care of them.

“So, guys.” Roman draws the kids and me into a huddle. “I have a surprise for you.”

The children eye him warily.

It’s as if they’re just waiting to get kicked again, I think sadly. I wonder how many times lately a “surprise” has been a euphemism for being shipped off somewhere they don’t want to go.

“Do you remember my finca in the mountains, where we went for Mickey’s birthday?”

The kids’ eyes widen. They nod.

“Well, we’re heading up there today. We’re going to spend the rest of the Holy Week holidays there. What do you think about that?”

Masha immediately starts jumping up and down, but Ofelia’s eyes narrow. “Where will you be?”

Smart girl.

But Roman just smiles. “With you, of course.” He ruffles her hair. “And guess what? We’re bringing Deda up with us, too.” He meets my eyes over the children’s head. I should be cross that he’s made that decision without me. But I’m not. I’m just relieved that we’ll be out of the city, away from crowds like these and whoever is hunting for us.

I smile at him. “That sounds wonderful.”

38

LUCIA

“Catch, Lucia!”

I hit the blow-up ball flying toward my face, laughing as I duck beneath the pool surface.

The water is balmy, April sun beaming down from a cloudless, deep blue sky. The infinity pool is perched on the edge of a rocky cliff, the distant Mediterranean Sea glittering far below. Mountains rise behind the white walls of the renovated farmhouse, rippling into the distance on either side of the estate. It’s called Finca de Carrascas, named after the holm oak forest that surrounds it. Bright pink bougainvillea crawls along the walls, and the air is redolent with the scent of the clematis, jasmine, and citrus plants on the patio behind us.

“Hey, Masha!” Mickey calls. His sister turns around just as he runs and hurls himself into the pool, sending water cascading over Masha and Ofelia, who squeal in delight.

“Deda!” cries Masha. “Watch me!”

Papa smiles from his dry seat on the patio, applauding as Masha pulls herself up on the side of the pool, then jumps back into Ofelia’s waiting arms.

I lie on my back in the deep end of the pool, gazing up at the sky, peace stealing through my body.

“Hey.” A shadow crosses me, and I turn my head to find Roman grinning down at me. His hair is slicked back, water running in rivulets down the rippled, tan breadth of his chest. He’s wearing nothing but dark red swimming shorts that sit just under the V of his navel. Every scarred, tattooed inch of him is rigid muscle.

A bolt of pure, unadulterated lust rips through me.

Christ.

I roll over, ducking my burning face under the water.

I’m used to wanting Roman. Accustomed to the sudden, vicious rushes of lust that take me by surprise. But Roman in a suit and tie is one thing. An almost familiar temptation by now.

Roman wearing nothing but swim trunks and a shit-eating grin, water running down his gleaming body, is a whole other world of lust altogether.

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