Page 9 of Possessive Vows

She shakes her head and sucks harder on her thumb. Her ponytail flops about.

I release her hand and nod for her to return to her brothers. She hesitates, searching my face for a moment, before scampering back to hide behind her big brother.

I stand and meet Artur’s eyes. He lifts his chin, preparing to stand his ground.

“You did well, Artur.” His eyes widen. “I will never scold you for protecting your sister, but your technique needs work. Tell me, how did you get your nanny to quit?”

Maksim shifts his weight from one foot to the other, but Artur remains firm.

“I think putting Frog in her soup was the final straw,” he says.

“And what do you think she will tell the other nannies about your stunt?” I ask.

“She will tell them not to come here,” he answers without hesitation.

I cross my arms over my chest.

“That is what you want?” I ask.

“Yes. We don’t need a nanny. I can take care of my brother and sister,” he says.

I take a deep breath.

“Zoya still needs a nanny, and after today, it is clear to me both you and your brother still need an adult to teach you basic manners. What should you have done if you had concerns about the nanny?”

With fire in his light blue eyes, he opens his mouth, but then my question registers and he falters.

We spoke about this already. I do not repeat myself. His anger deflates and he looks around as though he might find the answer in the grass.

“I should have told eitherBabushkaTatiana orTetyaKatya,” he says.

“Why didn’t you?” I ask, driving home my message. “Did you think they wouldn’t protect Zoya?”

He shakes his head and blinks, but tears shimmer in his eyes. I harden my features.

“You knew you were overreacting, didn’t you,moy syn?”

He takes a deep breath, rolls his shoulders back, and opens his mouth, but no words emerge.

“You screamed and flailed every timetvoya mamachanged your diaper when you were a babe. Should she have left you to sit in your filth?”

He shakes his head.

“You will take Zoya toBabushkaTatiana’s room every morning and wait outside the door until she is ready to brush your sister’s hair until we hire a new nanny. Understood?”

He grinds his teeth, but nods.

“While I am gone, you will mindBabushkaTatiana andTetyaKatya.”

A wave of unease rolls through Artur and Maksim.

“You are leaving?” Maksim asks.

“I am. I expect only excellent reports until I return. Understand?”

Maksim’s lower lip trembles. Artur clasps his hands behind his back and tilts his head up to look at the sky to hide his tears. Zoya sucks on her thumb.

“Understand?” I repeat.

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