Page 22 of Daniil
Last time it was our cousin Anwar—the son of one of my uncles.He killed his parents, my parents, one of my siblings, and both of his, along with their significant others.All to take control.That day is burned in my mind the same way what happened in the tunnel that day is burned into Courtney’s.
I understand where she’s coming from—but she has to try to understand my side of things as well.We have equal but opposing traumas driving us.And somehow, I have to put my emotions aside and really think about what’s best for my son.
When we get back to the room, I start pacing like a mad man.I’m wealthy and powerful.I can have almost anything I want.The money we get from our oil residuals is substantial.We could all leave the country, buy an island in the South Pacific, and never have a day of hardship ever again.
Erik chose not to take that route, and the rest of us followed suit.We owe it to the family members who were murdered to protect their legacy, bloodline, and country.It’s that simple.
Or is it?
I reach for the phone even though I’m not sure who to call.
Ironically, I don’t have a lot of friends.I have my family, but they’re busy with their own lives.Sandor and Lennox have the twins, who were born the day of that attack.My sister Elen is married to a Royal Protector named Xander, and they have a little girl.
My ex-husband Jesper is now romantically involved with Joe, who runs palace security, and Charlie and Briony take up all their free time.Marcus and I are close, working and partying together, but it’s not fair to dump this on him.His twin brother, a rock star named Tyler, lives here in Vegas, and they were planning to hang out on this trip.
Truthfully, I don’t need a bodyguard.I’m perfectly capable of defending myself, so there’s no reason he can’t take some time off.
My brother answers on the first ring.“Everything okay?”
“Safety-wise, yes.My personal life, however, took a very unexpected turn.”
“Oh?”He sounds distracted.
“Sandor.You have a minute?It’s important.”
“Give me a sec.”I hear movement in the background and then the click of his office door closing.“I’m all yours.What’s up?”
“I found Courtney.”
“Okayyy?”He draws out the end of the word with a huge question mark.
“And I know why she disappeared.”
“Are you purposely keeping me in suspense?”
“She had my baby.”
Dead silence.Then, “Is this a joke?”
“Do I sound like I’m joking?”
“Jesusfuck.”He huffs out a grunt.“How old?”
“His name is Micah.He’s five months now.”
“So… she was pregnant when she last left Limaj.”
“Well, yeah.”
“Are you sure it’s yours?”
“Obviously not a hundred percent sure but she went incredibly far out of her way to hide his existence from me, and he looks just like I did at that age, so yeah, I’m pretty sure.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I wish I knew.”I pull in a breath and tell him everything.
When I’m done, he lets out a low whistle.“That’s…a lot.”
