Page 91 of Shadows of Obsession

"Not now, but he'll understand," I tell her softly, and I know he will.

She manages a faint smile though her eyes are rimmed red from crying. I know it won't be easy for them to forgive her, but they will - after all, Anuska is the closest thing to a loving mother they've ever known. I glance down at our intertwined hands and give hers a gentle squeeze, trying to offer what comfort I can.

The moment is broken when a soldier appears in the doorway, announcing Kai's arrival. Anuska jumps to her feet, quickly muttering something about heading to the kitchen. As she slips out, Kai walks in, and one look at him tells me he's had his own share of struggles tonight.

I give him a sympathetic smile. “I'm sorry you had to come out at this hour, Kai.”

He flashes a wry grin. “Well, better not risk angering the devil twice in one day, right?”

The way he says it makes me burst out laughing.

“How long have you two known each other?” I ask, watching as he drapes his stethoscope around his neck.

I settle into a chair as he approaches, ready for the examination. He checks my breathing and heartbeat before moving on to inspect my ribs and dislocated shoulder. The silence between us is comfortable - usually I'd feel the need to fill it, but right now, this quiet is exactly what I need. I've almost forgotten my question when his voice breaks through the stillness.

"Fifteen years. The shoulder looks good. You'll have some lingering pain and I want you to do some physical therapy so you don't have mobility problems with it."

"Okay, I think I have a few sessions covered by insurance," I tell him, and he looks at me bemusedly.

I'm glad I'm making your evening more entertaining.

"You don't need insurance, Luna. Probably if Roman finds out, he'll bring his own specialist here to take care of you," he says, and the problem is I can't contradict him.

Because it's exactly the kind of action my boyfriend would take.

"Hey, have you eaten anything?" I ask, noticing how, despite his earlier amusement, Kai's face looks drawn. He's moving slower than usual too - clearly exhausted.

He sinks into the armchair, resting his hands on his knees with a barely audible "No." The heavy sigh that follows makes my heart ache. Something's weighing on him, but I can't put my finger on what. Though I don't know Kai well, I've seen enough to understand that he and Roman share a friendship - even if neither would ever admit it out loud.

"Come on," I say, getting up. "Anuska made some soup. You should have some." I wait for him to follow me to the kitchen, where we find Anuska looking more composed than she did just minutes ago.

If Kai picks up on anything unusual, he keeps it to himself. It hits me then - this absolute discretion is probably why Roman trusts him so deeply. God knows what secrets this man has collected over the years, patching up Chicago's most dangerous Russian crime boss and his men.

Dinner passes in complete silence. I'm lost in my own thoughts until my phone chirps, yanking me back to reality.

?

All numbness disappears when I see the message from the private number.

Breathe, Luna.

But he can't know I'm lost in thought unless... Involuntarily, my gaze starts scanning the room and I feel all the blood draining from my cheeks.

"Luna, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." It's Kai's voice that brings me back to the present, and I tell myself that this isn't the moment or place to have a panic attack.

Easier said than done.

"I'm fine. Just tired after everything that happened," I answer and paste a smile on my lips.

Kai doesn't seem convinced, but he doesn't ask additional questions.

I don't understand where Aidan gets this information. First the message about the blouse when I was having lunch with Clara, then at the party, and now me being lost in thought. Once is coincidence, three times is purposeful.

After pretending to take a few more spoonfuls of soup, I get up and make my excuses to Anuska and Kai, but I need to have a nervous breakdown in private.

Months of thinking I'd become immune to his harassment, months of hoping maybe a car had hit him and I was free. Ifeel all of it falling on my shoulders and I want to scream, to break something. I'm so tired of always being panicked by that madman.

I wish Roman were here.

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