Page 9 of Doubts & Fears

“Oh, it is. I just wanted to offer one last time. God, your eyes are like fire right now. They’re so fucking beautiful.” I couldn’t help myself. I reached out and caressed her cheek. Her lips parted, and a soft sound came out.

“The answer is still no.”

I smiled as she slammed the door in my face.

On my way back to the drawing room, I contemplated the feelings of being drawn to her. It wasn’t just the fire in her eyes that held me captive. It was the complexities that lay beneath the surface. Ivan and Alek both looked up when I walked in.

“She refused my offer of help this time.”

“Well, at least her sassy ass has made a comeback. I’d take her anger over her crocodile tears any day,” Alek admitted.

“She was just asleep on the floor?” I asked Ivan, and he nodded.

Alek seemed to have found a measure of control once again, his face smoothing out as he took out his phone. “Marcus, I know you just got back, but would you mind waiting outside Kinsley’s door?”

Thirty minutes passed, then another ten. With each passing minute, our patience was tested. I whipped my phone out and sent a text to Marcus, asking him to bring Kinsley to us. Not five minutes later, I was struggling to stifle my laughter.

“Be on standby, Marcus. Surely, the Reaper gives you a day off, and if not, just tell him you need PTO. I’ll send you the address so you know where we’re going.”

“Are we stopping for jelly beans?” Marcus laughed.

“Yes, but I must warn you, I like to hog the red ones. Seriously, this should only take a few minutes. I’ll talk to the Reaper.”

“The Reaper says no. To jelly beans and a ride to Skagit with my bodyguard. He works for us, not you. Get your ass in here,” Alek shouted, his voice echoing through the room.

An audible groan sounded before her beautiful, freshly washed face appeared in the doorway. She stood there frozen, and Marcus gave her a gentle nudge into the room. “Traitor,” she grumbled, as he let out a belly laugh.

“Please have a seat. I know you’re in shock right now, but we need to talk,” Ivan said.

She flounced into the chair, making her unhappiness known. “I have nothing to say to any of you.”

“The fire chief is on his way to update you. Since this was an accident, it’ll be a formality,” I said, ignoring her comment.

“I’m leaving right after, just so you know.” She drew her knees up to her chest, stretching out my shirt. Closing her eyes, she shut down. Twenty minutes later, he arrived.

Her face paled once she saw him, and her demeanor instantly changed. Her guard went up, and she plastered a mask on her face.

“Ms. Taylor,” he said, sitting across from her. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid your house and its contents are completely lost. I hate to be the one to inf—”

“I know. You don’t have to say it. I saw it this morning.” Her eyes flicked to Ivan’s.

He frowned. “Yes, and I’m going to have to ask you not to go back inside. Not only is it unsafe, but we need to thoroughly complete our investigation. Can you tell us again what happened?”

She repeated what she’d told the officer the night of the fire.

The fire chief leaned forward, his gaze fixed intently on her. “And you moved to Woodinville in 2022?”

“Yes,” she replied, shifting in her seat under his scrutiny.

“I assume you have family to stay with?”

“No.” The word hung heavy in the air. “I have no family. Just my grandfather, who died.” The pain behind the words hit hard, and tears welledup in her eyes.

The fire chief’s expression softened, a flicker of sympathy crossing his face. “So, you’ll be staying here?”

A hollow laugh escaped her lips. “Ha, he wishes. I’ll be leaving as soon as this conversation is over.” She glared at Alek.

Little did she know. I was about to say something when Ivan spoke. “No, you’ll stay here.” His voice was firm.

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