Page 115 of Mountain Daddy

And I'm playing for keeps now.

26

NIKOLAI

Ivan's warning still burns in my ears as dawn breaks.

The Kozlovs are angrier than I thought.

The timeline's shorter than I thought. I watch Chleo demolish his cereal at the kitchen table, chocolate milk dribbling down his chin. His innocence like a knife to my chest.

He has no idea his world's about to change again. That his father's past is circling like vultures, waiting to strike.

“Can we go outside today?” Chleo asks, mouth full of cereal. “I wanna see if there are fish in that creek we passed.”

Perfect excuse. I need to scout the perimeter anyway. Check for watchers. For threats.

“Good idea,” I say, keeping my voice light. “Let's go after breakfast.”

Lilly's eyes meet mine over Chleo's head. Questioning. Worried.

I give her a slight nod.I'll keep him safe. Trust me.

She understands. Doesn't like it, but understands.

“Bundle up,” she tells Chleo. “It's cold out there.”

Ten minutes later, we're heading out.

Chleo's hand in mine.

Small.

Warm.

Trusting.

I make sure my jacket hangs loose enough to conceal my weapon but tight enough for quick access. Life-saving habits.

“Stay where I can see you,” I tell him as we follow the path from the cabin.

He nods solemnly. Then races ahead anyway, scanning the ground for interesting rocks, sticks, bugs. Anything that catches his attention.

“Is this one special?” He holds up a rock. Ordinary. Gray. Unremarkable.

“Very special,” I say. “Good eye.”

His face lights up like I've handed him gold. He shoves it in his pocket, already searching for the next treasure.

We reach the creek after a five-minute walk. It's narrow. Clear water rushing over smooth stones. Tall pines create shadows that dance across the surface.

I scan the tree line. The opposite bank. The path behind us. Looking for anything out of place. Any movement that doesn't belong.

Nothing yet.

Chleo crouches by the water's edge, poking at minnows with a stick.

“Don't fall in,” I warn. “Your mom will kill me.”

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