Page 38 of Daniil
“What if I sent Marcus to protect Sasha and sent Axel to you?Just for a couple of weeks?”
He laughs.“You really think he and Solange want to be separated while she’s pregnant?”
“Probably not.”
He hesitates.“You and Sandor make all the decisions about the Protectors, so you’ll have to talk to him.”
“I will.”
We discuss a few things for another couple of minutes and then disconnect.This is a mess, and the only short-term solution is to convince Courtney to let me take them to Limaj with me, which will mean she needs to ask for time off from her job, so I’m not sure how to address it.
Grim is leaving today, heading home to L.A., ready to go back to work.That means she no longer has live-in help, which could work in my favor.I just have to find a way to frame it that won’t piss her off.
“You’re here early,” she says, coming downstairs with Micah just after seven.
“Had some calls back home,” I reply.She knows there’s a ten-hour time difference, which makes it difficult to get anything done during the day.“Getting up at five is the only way to make them.”
“I understand.”She brushes past me heading into the kitchen and the faint hint of her shampoo wafts through my nostrils.Why does she always smell like sunshine and coconut?Visions of the two of us lying on a beach somewhere come to mind.
Except we’ve never been on a date, much less taken a vacation together.
I’ve never seen her in a bathing suit.
I’ve seen her naked, of course, but a bathing suit is different.A bikini would be fantastic…
Jesus.
I shake off my slightly inappropriate thoughts and follow her into the kitchen.One thing I’ve loved about being here is mornings.She gave me a key so I’m always here early and it’s nice to be settling into a routine.
Micah is a happy baby, growing and learning more each day, and mornings seem to be the time for the three of us to behave like a family.We talk and share baby duties as we make breakfast and coffee, and discuss our day.Mostly, we play with Micah.He calls me Dada now, with no hesitation, but to be fair, he sometimes calls Courtney Dada too, so it’s not as distinct as we first thought.
“What are your plans today?”she asks as she scrambles some eggs for us.
“I have a bill to read,” I say dryly.“Discussing a new pipeline into Turkiye.”
“Ew.”She glances over her shoulder, grimacing.
“I know.What about you?”
“I have a surveillance job, so if you can’t watch the baby, I’ll call Adele.”
“No, I can watch him,” I say quickly.
“Thank you.I think you’re pretty set with his routine, right?”
“I am.”
“The job should only be four or five hours, but you know how these things go.”
“Another cheating husband?”
“Actually, a cheating wife this time.Apparently, she takes off to a little house on the outskirts of the city every day while the kids are at camp.I need to find proof that it’s more than relaxation and errands.”
I nod.“All right.Go do your thing.I’ll hold down the fort.”
She smiles as she hands me a plate of eggs and bacon.“I appreciate it.Now that he’s six months old, I may have to put him in daycare part-time.The problem is that the daytime work isn’t steady.Most of what Chains needs me for is in the evening.And I need to start working more hours.Chains wanted me to ease into the job, but I’m blowing through my savings, so it’s time for more hours.”
I pause, absently feeding Micah his oatmeal as I speak.“I can help, Courtney.”
