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“Mom?”
My eyes widen and he says gently, “Family is what matters most, Lilli. You have lost your dad, your sister and your mom is hanging on by a thread. I’m guessing that’s down to Mickey feeding her drugs and so rather than punish her for what she allowed to happen to you, I have arranged a drugs rehabilitation program where she will be taken to today.”
“You did that?” My eyes fill with tears, and he brushes them gently away.
“I’m looking after you, Lilli. If that involves helping your mom, of course I will. It won’t excuse what she did to you and your sister, but she deserves a chance to make it up to you. If she chooses not to, then we will review the situation.”
“Review the situation.” I laugh softly. “So business-like, Mikhail.”
He raises my hand to his lips and kisses it softly. “Always.”
He winks as the car enters the elevator and as we travel down, my nerves flutter. I’m going home. I’ll see them again. I’ll be surrounded by ghosts and demons, and I don’t know how I’m going to handle that.
As we spill out into the traffic, we are in the middle car and I say with interest, “Is this normal for you?”
“Yes.” He shrugs. “Not all the time. I like to drive myself mostly and I prefer high performance vehicles when I do.”
“You mean tacky performance vehicles.” I pull a face, making him laugh.
“Why is Katerina here? Is she also one of your guards?”
I remember to ask, and he laughs. “Sometimes. You see, Katerina is skilled in martial arts. She’s also a champion rifleman and can hold her own, sometimes better than the men.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” I shake my head, making him laugh softly.
“However, this time she’s here to make sure your mom comes quietly. Her duty today is to deliver your mom to the rehab center and make certain she stays there.”
“Wow, poor mom. I’m almost sorry for her.”
It makes me giggle and Mikhail reaches across and grips my face and whispers, “I love seeing you happy, Lilli flower.”
“Do you, Mikhail?” I sigh wistfully. “But you won’t set me free.”
“I will.” His eyes darken and he hisses, “In ninety-nine days, your prison gates open automatically, and it’s up to you if you step through them.”
His words shock me, and I stare at him in confusion.
He shrugs. “Although I may change my mind and renew the contract.”
“Even if I want to leave?” I stare at him incredulously and he shrugs. “I haven’t made up my mind yet. I may even bring the release date forward if I tire of you. You see, Lilli–”
He leans closer and his breath catches mine as he whispers, “I kind of always get things my own way and you will be no exception.”
I pull away and glare at him. “Asshole.”
It makes him laugh and I shift away from him to stare out of the window at the many people going about their business. I have never been one of them. My days are spent lying on a bed doing suggestive things for the camera. What I would give to be normal. To head to a coffee shop on my break and chat with my imaginary friends. To have a family who cares, who insists I call home when I’m going to be late and to spoil on Christmas and birthdays. I have never been normal, and neither has Mikhail, it seems. We are both living a strange life and I wonder if he regrets that as much as I do.
We pass a park and I watch children playing and couples walking their dogs. I want that. I want to be free, but if I’m free I’m not with him, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“Mikhail.” My voice surprises me because I wasn’t sure I’d speak out loud, and he says gently, “What?”
“One day, can we go for a walk in the park? Alone. Without your guards.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“Because I want to be like them.” I point to a laughing couple as they stroll hand in hand and, for some reason, his eyes glitter as he watches them.
“With me?” He sounds surprised about that, and I giggle softly. “It surprised me, too. But yes, with you.”
