Page 105 of Scarlet Secrets

“Doing all that is dangerous. It could start a war, make us look weak.”

“It would depend on how it’s done,” he says.

“I’ll take it under advisement.”

When we’re back, Erin takes one look at my face and frowns. I just gather her in my arms and kiss her hard, and then I play with Sasha. He’s starting to get tired because he’s getting whiny.

“Is everything okay?” she asks, a hand against her lips like they’re bruised.

“Everything’s fine.”

“Because—”

“Everything’s fine.” I stand right as she’s about to argue in the delicate way she has——as though she’s still feeling her way, as though she’s still afraid I’ll take our son from her. Words I wish I could take back.

But before she can say anything, Alina comes into theliving room, and she takes one glance at my face and speaks. “Erin, let’s get Sasha ready for bed.”

“But—”

“Erin,” she whispers, “please.”

I’m the recipient of a hard, disgruntled look, but Erin nods and gathers Sasha and leaves without saying a word to me.

“Demyan?” Alina asks. “What happened?”

“Nothing I can’t handle. Keep her occupied.”

“You need to talk to her, explain your business. She guesses but doesn’t know. She’s like Max. Not one of us,” Alina says. “So you owe her. Maybe if I’d told him, he wouldn’t have jumped in front of a bullet. Or maybe he’d have decided not to marry me, and he’d still be alive.”

“Stop.” I hold up my hand. “Just stop. He’d have still protected you. He’d still have married you. And I’m working on bringing down the fuck who killed him. So keep her busy.”

She crosses her arms. “Tomorrow, we’re planning on the zoo and lunch with?—”

“None of you leave here. Not without me. Got it?”

Her lips thin. “Got it. But… talk to her. She’s not property or staff. She’s the woman you claim you want to marry.”

She turns and leaves the room and I head to my office to meet Ilya.

“I spoke with Pavel,” he says without preamble, “and his idea has merit. To a point. I’ll work something out that makes us look good. But we can use lower-level grunts to see what they learn from other low-level grunts. You’d be surprised how some of them talk without caring who to. They don’t know much, but nuggets fall through.”

My head snaps to face him. “Our grunts?”

“Know how to be loyal. And they understand what happens if they betray.”

That makes me smile. For a moment. “I don’t fucking trust him.”

“Is now a good time to say I told you so?”

“Never is a good time, Ilya.” I sit and accept the drink he pours me. “I had to try.”

“I know.”

“We need more security. High alert. And the only person I trust with my family when I’m not here is you. I need you to move in.”

“Consider it done,” he says.

“Keep an eye on them when I’m not here. And stop them from being stupid and going out.”

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