Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 100416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
So he stepped in. “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Dmitri cut in smoothly. He spared a smile for his niece. “Hadley needs to be socialized with other children. You want that. You said as much yourself.”
Olivia’s chin set in a stubborn line he knew all too well. “I didn’t say that.”
“Not in so many words, but you do agree with it.” He pretended to consider, and switched to Russian. “Unless it’s me that you’re trying to protect my niece from.”
She jumped like he’d reached over and struck her. “Nyet, of course not. If I wanted to protect her from you, I wouldn’t allow these visits.”
“I’ve given you no reason to call them off.” Agreeing to her terms had been easy enough. He had no reason to manipulate Hadley into doing anything but caring for him. She wasn’t a pawn in his game. The girl may be illegitimate, but she was family—the only family Dmitri had left of this particular Romanov line. If the visits had the double benefit of getting the O’Malleys used to his presence, well, that was a different play in a different game.
“Yet.”
“Hey, guys, still sitting right here.” Keira waved a hand in front of Olivia’s face, breaking their staring contest. “Speaking Russian in front of someone who doesn’t speak the language is a dick move.”
“You should learn,” Dmitri said.
“Yeah, yeah, it’s on my list.” Keira sat back against the arm of the couch. “Take the help, Olivia. It gets you what you want, and it will be good for Hadley. There aren’t any drawbacks.”
From the look on his sister’s face, accepting any help that came with a Romanov label was too much, but she was smart enough to know when she was backed into a corner. “I’ll talk to Cillian about it.”
“Do that.” Keira pointed an imperial finger at him. “You. I’m pretty sure my brother needs to talk to you. Don’t get any blood on the carpet—or anywhere else.”
The mantle of power looked good on her. She held herself like a queen, watching him with those witch eyes as he stood and crossed the room. Dmitri paused in the doorway. “I won’t be long.”
“If you’re about to tell me not to get into any trouble, don’t waste your breath. I was born for trouble.”
He gave her a sharp grin. “I know.”
Keira didn’t release a breath when Dmitri left the room, but Olivia did. Her sister-in-law slumped back against the couch cushion. “Hadley, why don’t you play for a few minutes before we hunt down some dinner?”
“Okay.” Hadley hopped off the couch and scooped up the book Dmitri had brought her. Now that her beloved uncle was out of the room, she climbed into the chair he’d vacated and paged through the book in utter seriousness. Smart little cookie, playing hard to get.
Olivia closed her eyes. “It never gets any easier dealing with him. He’s scarier when he’s being civil.”
Scary.
Scary didn’t begin to cover Dmitri Romanov, but he had been on his best behavior since they walked through the front door. Keira didn’t imagine for a second that he’d keep that up once behind the closed door of Aiden’s office, but his actions and words were above reproach up to this point. “He would never hurt you.”
Olivia opened one dark eye and gave her an incredulous look. “What are you smoking? Of course he would. Not without a reason, but our being half-related wouldn’t stop him.”
Keira knew that was true—she did—but a part of her rebelled at it all the same. Still determined to think the best of him. You never learn, you fool. “All the same, the offer for extra muscle is a legitimate one. There’s no way Hadley’s identity will fly under the radar indefinitely, and having the showing from both families will make anyone assuming she’s an easy target think twice. It will keep her safe, which is what everyone wants.” She might not be able to divine the motivation for a good portion of the shit Dmitri pulled, but she was confident he didn’t want his niece hurt.
“You’re right. I know you’re right.” Olivia sighed and sat up. “I’ll think about it, talk to Cillian, and let you know.”
That was as good as it’d get, so she said, “Okay.”
Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Did Aiden take care of things?”
Things meaning her running off with Dmitri. Keira wasn’t in the mood to keep defending him when it ultimately didn’t matter what anyone thought. Aiden wouldn’t move on Dmitri until he thought he had a good chance of succeeding. He didn’t believe that she was in love with the Russian, and for good reason—she wasn’t. She could bring her brother around eventually, but if she suddenly declared herself head over heels, he’d know it for the lie it was. “I’m sure he will.” She stood and headed for the door. There was one person she wanted to see while she was here, and with her time ticking down, she had to do it now. “I’ll talk to you later.”