“No.”
More silence.
He sounds colder when he speaks again. “I’m coming there.”
“You don’t need to.”
“Yes. I do.”
Before I can argue, the call ends.
Jules watches my face carefully. “Well?”
“He’s comin’.”
“Wonderful. Maybe he can use billionaire intimidation powers to fix our emotional state.”
I snort low before pushing upright again.
Beside us, Ivy looks up from where she’s still holding the puppy. “Papa has intimidation powers?”
Jules points at her solemnly. “Sweetheart, your father walks into rooms and grown men suddenly sit up straighter.”
Irina claps her hands lightly. “Come,printsessa. We should wash our hands before touching more puppies.”
“But Maggie needs emotional support,” Ivy protests while allowing Irina to guide her toward the shelter entrance.
“I absolutely do,” I call after her. “I’ve had a terrible day and only six emotional support dogs so far.”
Ivy grins from ear to ear.
The next twenty minutes pass beneath a layer of restless energy hanging over the entire property. I stand near the front desk reorganizing paperwork when the low growl of an engine rolls through the parking lot outside. Every head near the window turns instinctively.
Alexei’s black SUV glides into the lot, followed by a second vehicle behind it. And Lord help me, the entire atmosphere changes the second he steps out. He moves through the parking lot with the same authority he carries everywhere, though anger radiates from him hard enough that even the volunteers nearest the window step aside.
His eyes find mine immediately.
Every inch of me reacts. Relief hits first, which annoys me in principle. Then irritation follows right behind it, because this entire mess exists because his world is bleeding into mine.
Alexei crosses the lobby quickly while two security men and Luka remain near the entrance behind him. Ivy spots him first.
“Papa!”
The tension in his face eases a bit when she runs toward him. He bends immediately, lifting her into his arms with one smooth motion.
“You caused problems today?” he asks her quietly.
“No. Mr. Pickles caused problems.”
“Ah. Naturally.”
Ivy nods very seriously. “He stole hot dog buns.”
Alexei kisses the top of her head before looking at me again, and my chest squeezes painfully at the expression on his face. Relief is there first, followed immediately by anger and concern buried beneath the icy calm he wears better than anyone I’ve ever met.
He walks toward me slowly after setting Ivy down beside Irina.
“You’re alright?”
