“We can’t. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Mia so wildly happy. We can only judge him on his actions.”
“Then let’s hope one of his actions is to slip and crack his neck open.”
She laughs. “You’re so bad.”
“You know you love it.”
“I do.” She gets on her tiptoes and brushes her lips against mine. “But I love you more.”
“Fuck, princess. You‘re the only one who knows how to cheer me up.”
“Always.” She interlinks her fingers with mine and I let her guide me out of the office.
I’ll find a way to make fucker Landon disappear.
But I’m more concerned about my beautiful wife’s company now.
My one and only.
My forever.
37
LANDON
To say Mia’s father doesn’t like me would be an epic understatement.
Not only has he been keeping a close eye on me since I showed up at their door yesterday, but he’s also been threatening me with bodily harm every chance he gets. Behind the backs of his wife and daughters, of course, so he won’t seem like the bad guy.
Too bad for Kyle, Rai tolerates me. Don’t get me wrong, she’s still suspicious, probably due to a bad marketing campaign Maya has led against me, but I’m nothing short of the best PR representative you’d ever encounter, so I’ve been changing my image.
Namely, now that I’m meeting Kyle’s father and Mia’s grandfather.
He invited the family for lunch at his place, and because I refuse to be separated from Mia, especially since I have my suspicions about this trip, I joined.
When I think of grandfathers, mine come to mind. My paternal grandfather Jonathan King from is a ruthless monarch who only shows affection to my nan and Glyn. My maternal grandfather, Lord Henry Clifford, is a posh, sophisticated man who still has the posture of a forty-year-old.
Mia’s grandfather, Mikhail, however, has a significant belly and the distinguished look of a mobster in his beady eyes. As I stand in front of him while Mia introduces me, I’m not sure if he’ll pull out his gun and shoot me between the eyes or ask the buff men stationed at every corner of his house to do it for him.
He looks at Mia the entire time she talks and only after she finishes does he direct his ruthless attention toward me. His voice carries in the air with a notable Russian accent. “So you’re the one my precious granddaughter chose.”
“My name is Landon King. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kozlov. Mia has told me so much about you.” I offer him my hand.
He takes it with a slight lift of his brows. “Like what?”
“Like how much you’ve spoiled her since she was young and how you were one of the first to learn sign language for her. Not to mention that she loves spending time in your house because she feels loved and safe.”
Don’t get me wrong. Mia never really told me these things and I haven’t been able to ask her or get alone time with her when Kyle has been acting like my designated warden. But I witnessed her talking to Maya and Rai earlier this morning and saw how excited she was to visit her grandpa’s house again. Since I’m a mastermind at linking patterns, I managed to create the image of everything I said just now.
My effort is greeted with a smile from Mikhail. “I see. I always knew Mia was smart and would know how to choose properly.”
“Naturally, Sir. She had a brilliant upbringing, and from what I see, a fantastic family support system as well.”
“Don’t call me ‘Sir.’ It’s too impersonal for my Mia’s boyfriend.”
“Of course… Grandpa?”
“Much better.”
Mia gives me two thumbs up as her grandfather guides me to the extravagant living room that’s decorated with animal heads and gruesome renaissance paintings.
This ‘Grandpa’ has no qualms about appearing entirely unwelcoming. In fact, I suspect he does it on purpose to blow fear into his enemies’ veins. But then again, I wouldn’t expect anything less from a man who probably spent his whole life in the Russian mafia and survived to reach an old age.
Maya and Rai walk alongside me and Mikhail, but Kyle wraps his arm around Mia’s shoulder and glares at me.
I meet it with a smile.
What? I’m working hard for his approval, and I doubt that would be achievable by being a dick.
And while I have no fucks to give about other people’s opinion of me, Kyle matters because he happens to be the man who contributed in the making of my little muse.