I pause a beat. “He’s my father.”
A little sound comes out of her, like the squeak of a mouse. She covers her mouth with her hand as though to keep any response from falling out and turns back to the window.
“You’re Irish?”
“No.” The weight of iron is in my answer. “He’s Irish.”
“I don’t understand.” She shakes her head a little.
“There’s going to be a lot of that with him. Right now, let’s just get this over with.”
“Is he a doctor?”
I laugh. “No, but he’s the closest to one I’m going to get around here. Unless you’ve decided we should go home?” I arch an eyebrow at her.
If I truly wanted to get her ass on a plane and back to Chicago, I could. It’d be as easy as lifting her and throwing her over my shoulder, but one thing I’ve learned with Elana, pushing her makes her feel cornered. And just like any other wild animal, when she feels that way, she attacks.
“I don’t understand how that man is your father.”
“Not now, Elana.” I squeeze her hand.
“Fine. But you’re going to tell me everything.” She pats my arm, over the bandage of where the fucking raccoon bit me.
She must notice my body stiffen because she yanks her hand back.
“Sorry. I forgot.” She laughs as she pushes the door open.
“Forgot? The whole reason we’re here is… you know what, never mind. Let’s go.” I shove open my door. It’s this place. I’m already on edge, and I haven’t even gotten close enough to him to smell the pipe stench clinging to his clothes.
I can sense his eyes on me as I stalk around the front of SUV to Elana’s door. She pops it open just as I reach her side and jumps down.
“Since you’ve never mentioned him, I’m assuming you don’t have the best relationship with him,” she says under her breath as we make our way toward the cabin.
“You’re alive.” Seamus grunts, hooking his hands on his hips.
“So are you.” We stop at the foot of the stairs.
“Hi.” Elana pipes up. “I’m sorry to barge in on you like this.” She climbs three steps, stopping one below him.
He slowly moves his gaze to her, lifting his brows when he notices she’s stuck her hand out to him.
“I’m Elana. It’s nice to meet you.”
Just like her to breeze through the tension of the situation as though it’s not even there. I wonder if she realizes her ability to soothe tensions so easily. She’s also capable of creating enough hostility to make grown men tear each other apart.
A woman of many talents.
Seamus looks to me, ignoring her hand.
“Elana Volkov,” I tell him. “Vladimir’s granddaughter.”
“Oh.” He takes her hand then. “I suppose that’s fitting.”
“What’s fitting?” She asks, looking over her shoulder at me. I lift my shoulders like I don’t know what he’s talking about.
“Him taking a Volkov woman to his bed.”
Elana yanks her hand away from him. “What the hell does that mean?” she demands.
