“For real,” Simon nods firmly.
I lean close to Simon and whisper, “Are those real gold coins?”
Simon grins and nods. “Of course they are.”
I shake my head. “You are completely and utter crazy,” I laugh. “You’d better help him put them somewhere safe.”
Arron insists on dividing the treasure with his co-pirate, Solenne. Then Simon helps them pack the coins away so that he can put them in the safe when we get home.
After all the excitement of the day, the twins are exhausted. We all are. But it’s the kind of exhaustion that still has you smiling from ear to ear while your heart sings happily and your skin holds the heat of the sun like a power source.
“I’m going to see if I can get the twins down for a nap,” Simon says, leaning over me where I’m lying on the deck reading.
“Alright, shout if you need help,” I reply.
“No, you relax. I’ll read to them a bit and probably fall asleep with them,” he chuckles.
“I promise not to wake you,” I grin.
He kisses me before wandering inside, calling the twins names.
I set my book down and sigh happily, letting my gaze wander over our private beach, the tall palm trees with theirbright green leaves lining the property, and the crystal-clear blue water gently lapping the white shore.
Then something catches my eye in the tree line, and my heart jumps.
Two figures, standing in the shadows. I squint, pulling my sunglasses down and sitting up in the sun lounger.
It must be security.
But it isn’t.
And even from here, I can recognize the movements, the subtle gestures, the profile… of my twin brothers.
Yaroslav and Yakov.Older than me, but the youngest of my brothers. The twins. They were never my father’s favorites. He adored his oldest son and his second oldest. He spent more time grooming Vasya and Bogdan than he spent grooming the twins. But still, the twins obey him. They always have. Through fear or respect, I will never understand.
My entire body has tensed. My muscles are rigid as I consider my options.
If the twins are here, then my father has found us. Even on vacation, we weren’t as safe as we thought we were.
I glance back towards the house. It’s peaceful behind me. Whatever I do now, I don’t want to jeopardize my children’s safety. But I also don’t want to alert Simon’s guards and have them kill my brothers.
I bite my lip, running scenarios in my mind. Finally, I rise to my feet, wrapping the soft silk kimono around my body, and stroll casually into the sand as though I am doing nothing more than going for a walk on the beach.
I reach the water’s edge, letting it lap against my feet, then turn towards the trees. My brothers haven’t moved. They have been watching me, though.
I approach them with anxiety knotted in my stomach as I slip between the palms and into the shadows where they are.
“What are you doing here?” I blurt out.
“We got intel that you were here with the Volkov. We had to come find you,” Yaroslav says.
“Why?” I insist, eyeing them closely, ready to run if I need to.
“Because he’s using you, Selene! He’s using you, and he’s brainwashed you into thinking otherwise. We want you to come home with us, where it’s safe,” Yakov says sternly.
“Safe?” I mutter in disbelief. “Did father send you?”
“He doesn’t know we’re here. We risked a lot coming out here.”
