The doorbell rang, and I nearly cried with relief at the interruption.
“We have a visitor. Let me see who it is,” I said.
Without bothering to wait for Sergei’s response, I smoothed my hands down my skirt and then left the kitchen, plastering the perfect smile on my face, the one that was reserved, yet welcoming, not too friendly, but not off-putting either.
I looked through the peephole and smiled and then quickly pulled open the door.
“Michael,” I said, ushering Michael Briar, my father’s associate and a man I considered a friend, in and then giving him a one-armed hug.
“You look gorgeous as always, Daniela,” Michael said, smiling fondly at me.
He was dressed in a suit and tie, which wasn’t uncommon for him. In fact, his tall, methodically maintained body was dressed as always, his blond hair perfectly in place. If I hadn’t known him all my life, I would never believe he was a career criminal, number two in my father’s organization.
But that outward appearance, the ability to blend was what made him such a valuable asset and was one of the things that had tied us together over the years. I didn’t look like Santo’s daughter, had never quite felt like I belonged, and Michael had confided in me he felt the same way. So we’d found kindred spirits in each other, and that tie through our childhoods continued now, if somewhat altered.
“You came to visit me?” I asked.
He frowned. “I…ah, no,” he said.
“Business,” I said flatly.
He didn’t respond, but I knew the answer. Business was all Michael cared about.
“Well, it looks like you survived the joyous occasion,” he said after an awkward pause.
“So far,” I replied, not bothering to elaborate. The idea of discussing yesterday felt wrong, and I told myself it was because Michael would use whatever I told him for some business advantage, but the little voice at the back of my mind whispered that I was worried about betraying Sergei.
Which was nonsense. I didn’t care about that. Not at all.
I looked at Michael, searching his face for a reaction, though he was difficult to read. I’d known Michael for my entire life, but he could still be somewhat inscrutable, particularly when he wanted to be, and today seemed to be one of those days.
“You’ll be okay,” he said, moving closer, his expression softening.
“I will,” I said firmly, unwilling to entertain the possibility of being anything else.
He moved closer, slanted his body so that he was only inches from me. “I mean it, Daniela,” he said, staring down at me intently. “I’ll protect you.”
“Protect her from what?” Sergei said.
Six
Sergei
After I spoke, they both turned, looked at me, her expression flashing irritation, his flashing the desire to rebel. The way he stood so close to Daniela had me wishing he would.
But neither said anything.
“What are you going to protect my wife from?” I asked again, striding across the room to stand next to her.
I felt Daniela stiffen next to me, but I didn’t look at her directly and instead focused on Michael.
“The situation is difficult for her. I was reassuring Daniela that she would always have my friendship and support,” Michael said, his voice expressing his alleged concern, but his eyes never quite meeting mine.
Smooth. Bullshit, but smooth. I’d need to watch him even more closely than I’d planned.
“Daniela,” I said, turning to look at her without responding to him, “Michael and I need to talk.”
I left the command that she leave unspoken, but she didn’t miss it. Instead, her expression turned down immediately. But unlike him, she met my eyes, and I could see the battle waging within her. She wanted to defy me, but something was holding her back. It wasn’t affection for me—I knew that with certainty—but she eventually nodded.
“It was lovely to see you, Michael,” she said.
Then, without addressing me, she walked away, posture stiff, steps graceful, a perfect mix of class and sex. She was careful not to acknowledge me, but as she walked away, I could see her struggle not to, could somehow feel how attuned she was to me. As attuned as I was to her.
I still didn’t quite understand it, and had been ready to chalk yesterday up to a fluke. But it wasn’t. There was something between Daniela and me, and I was going to find out what.
As soon as I dealt with the fucker who’d also watched her every step.
When she was gone, I looked at him, rage, hot and sudden at the way he’d looked at her surging through me. He still wouldn’t meet my eyes, but I could feel his hatred. Maxim would have killed him for less, and I was tempted if only to make sure he never looked at Daniela like that again. However, acting on emotion wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I swallowed it back and turned to business.