My gaze flits to Elsa, who seems nonchalant. She’s gorgeous and appears laid back—which can’t be said about her husband. And I find myself wondering how they’re even together.
Knox’s grip tightens on the phone and that brings my attention back to him. “Or you can come here yourself and pick her up or something? Send your plane over.”
“Not until the forty-eight hours are over.”
“Are you sure you didn’t hit your head? Because there’s no way in fuck you’d let her be away from you for this long.”
Aiden pauses before he says, “I was promised things.”
Elsa smiles, then whispers, “Plural.”
Aiden, who seemingly didn’t know he was on speakerphone, releases a breath, then lowers his voice until it takes an edge. “Fucking plural, sweetheart.”
“I can’t believe you let her manipulate you, King,” Knox taunts. “You’ve lost your touch.”
“Fuck you. If she comes back with one hair on her head hurt, consider yourself dead, Van Doren.”
And with that, he hangs up.
Knox curses, then narrows his eyes on Elsa. “What did you promise that crazy fuck so that he’d let you out of his sight.”
“It’s our secret.” She winks.
“Eww. Disgusting. But this isn’t over.” He directs his phone at them as if it’s a weapon, then dials another number. This time, I see the name “Ronan” on his screen.
As soon as he answers, Knox says, “Come pick up your wife, Ron. She’s an unwanted guest in my flat.”
“On my way,” he says with cheerfulness.
“Don’t you dare, Ronan,” Teal says.
“But he said you’re an unwanted guest, ma belle. I have to come there and beat him the fuck up for calling you that.”
“You promised,” she enunciates.
“Fine, whatever.” He sounds dejected. “Remi and I miss you.”
“Miss you, Mummy.” A tiny voice comes through the phone.
“Miss you, too, hon.” She smiles for the first time since she got here. “Mummy is going to stay with Uncle Knox for a few days, then I’ll come back, okay?”
“Okay! Me and Daddy will wait.”
“That’s a good boy.”
“Ron.” Knox grits his teeth, his words sounding clipped. “Say or do something.”
“My hands are tied, Van Doren. I lost a fucking bet, so I don’t have a say in this.”
“Why do I have to suffer the downfall?”
“Don’t call my Teal and Ellie downfall or I’ll fuck up your face, mkay?”
By the end of the call, Knox is breathing heavily, Teal and Elsa are smiling, and Ethan is obviously amused.
I’m about to dig my own grave for feeling so out of place.
They’re a family, and I’m just an outsider. Someone who shouldn’t even exist in the midst of what seems to be their usual form of interaction.
But when I try to think of an excuse to disappear from their immediate vicinity, Elsa grabs me by the shoulder. “Teal and I need to talk to Jane. Dad, can you and Knox cook us something?”
“Why the hell would I cook?” Knox narrows his eyes on where Elsa is holding me. “And what are you going to talk to her about?”
“You don’t need to know.” She pulls me with her to the bedroom and Teal closes the door, despite protests from the other side.
When Elsa sits me on the bed, my skin tingles and I clasp my hands together so tightly, it hurts. But not as much as the unknown or the situation I’m in.
I was never a people person, ever. Being sheltered my whole life and witnessing countless assassination attempts on my father and the leaders of the Bratva made me careful about each step I took. Each breath I inhaled and every word I uttered.
It’s not merely a personality trait, it’s how I learned to survive. It’s how the Pakhan’s daughter is supposed to be. Silent, demure, and follows orders.
A beautiful bird in a gilded cage.
Even though I thought I escaped it, maybe I was only upgraded to a bigger one where I supposedly have freedom, but it could be snatched away at any second.
However, this situation, being in the company of two women I’ve never met, who also happen to be Knox’s sisters, isn’t something I thought I would find myself experiencing.
I grew up surrounded by men, lots of them, and they were harsh and unyielding. The only prominent female presence I had with me was my cousin, Rai, who’s as hard as they are.