Page 60 of The Enemy's Defector
Saul made a goofy face at Katerina, holding his hand up in a mock attempt to hide his expression from Maxim.
This banter was good. Their joking around was nice. While it wasn’t a sure sign of my family warming up to my bringing “the enemy” into our home, I wanted to think that it was a first step in the right direction.
No matter how hard it would be to convince every single member of the Ivanov organization, I would do everything in my power to persuade them all to open their eyes and realize that Katerina belonged with me, with us.
She belonged here, where we damn well would usher in a new beginning and a new life.
Just so long as I can end the past.
She was right. I wouldn’t be a fan of letting her avenge her father’s death. I wasn’t in the mood to let her out of my sight or give her a hint of permission to kill Anton.
I would.
For her. He was already on my black list. He was a dead man walking for any involvement in my kidnapping and my father’s poisonings. And if the Romanos needed to pay for their part in this crusade to end my family, I would handle them too.
Now that I could trust that Katerina would be protected here, an understanding that Maxim had already extended to us since telling us to relax and settle in at home, I was impatient to finish therealenemies who had once threatened my life and those of my loved ones.
Because I did. Watching Katerina talk more with my brothers at the breakfast table, I sighed and knew without a doubt that was what it was. Love.
That was what had stitched us together for so long.
I loved her.
And I wouldn’t ever stop defending her place here, with me.
25
KATERINA
I’d hoped that coming to the Ivanov building with Nik would give me a sense of security. It would take a while before I could feel like it washome. Yet, after the second day of being in the building, I wondered when either of those things could happen.
From the moment I woke up on the first day there, I was subjected to a whirlwind of activity. And it hadn’t let up by the end of the week.
When I left Nik’s apartment and sought him out, I wasn’t shocked that he was talking with his brothers. He was close to them—always was and always would be. The Ivanov brothers were a tight-knit group. I’d never scorn their closeness. In fact, I was more envious of the fact that they always had each other no matter what. As an only child with no cousins, I felt robbed of companionship all my life.
Of course, he would’ve hurried to talk with them. And of course, he’d be talking about me. I hadn’t lingered in the hallway for long to listen in and eavesdrop, but I’d heard enough.
The Ivanovs not trusting me in their home was the precise problem that I counted on facing here. This was the argumentI’d made to Nik about his plan for our marrying. It was no secret that I was supposed to be the enemy, and I wasn’t sure what it would take to convince them that this enemy status was only given to me because of my name.
Nothing else.
After that breakfast, I felt unconvinced that Maxim would fully warm up to me. He’d always been more serious than Nik, and as the eldest brother who was now in charge of the organization and the family while Grigory recovered further, it made sense that Maxim would bemoretense and serious. Still, I couldn’t be mad at Maxim. He was the boss now, the Ivanov leader, and he had to do what he thought was best. I couldn’t blame him for being a leader, and there wasn’t any excuse I could give for Anton’s behavior since he’d killed my father.
That was just the condition of this shitty situation.
Damon seemed iffy toward me too, but then again, I couldn’t really fault him, either. He was more implicated with me—and Lucy—because of that marriage arrangement. I hated to think that he saw my presence here as a threat to his marriage with Lucy. I’d told her that I’d contact her when it was “safe” to divorce her husband, without even knowing which brother she’d married. Clearly, they had no desire to separate. Instead, they seemed to view me as a threat to their marriage and happiness.
Besides, I was here as Nik’s wife now. It pained me that they couldn’t get past the deception I’d pulled off in sending Lucy here. It wasn’t a good example of my honesty or that anyone could trust me.
But didn’t it work out better this way?
If I hadn’t sent Lucy here in my place for that marriage arrangement, Damon and Lucy never would’ve met and fallen in love.
If I hadn’t refused to fulfill that outdated agreement between Grigory and my father, I wouldn’t have been at home to locate Nik when he was beaten the worst.
Be patient, Kat.
It’ll take time.
