Page 102 of Fractured Ties

She’d opened it before bed. It was now closed and a small sliver of light spilled out from the crack at the bottom of the door. If that wasn’t a good enough clue, the fact that Sumerki had climbed down from the bed—a feat he was still scared of doing alone—and had now perched himself in front of the bathroom door would have done the trick for her.

Kolya was back.

Finally.

Maya rolled over and checked the clock on the bedside table. It told her it was only five in the morning, which explained why she was still so goddamn tired. The time also meant Kolya had been gone for an entire day—or just about. He’d left the morning before after getting a phone call, and had told her practically nothing.

Vadim had given her more information, frankly.

Maya climbed out of the bed when she heard a low curse come from inside the bathroom. The water turned on before she even reached the door. She rapped two knuckles against the wood as she glanced down at Sumerki, who was staring up at her like he was two seconds away from falling over and going back to sleep.

Poor dog.

He really had missed his human.

“What?” came the angry grumble from inside the bathroom.

Maya frowned. “Can I come in?”

“No.”

“Kolya—”

“Go back to sleep—it’s too early for you, dushka.”

Maya huffed. “It’s been a whole day. You didn’t even call. The least you could do is let me come in and see you.”

Silence echoed for a whole three seconds before she heard heavy footsteps cross the bathroom. Then the door was abruptly swung wide open with no warning. Kolya stood just beyond the threshold in nothing but black slacks. Even his feet were bare. Behind him, she saw a puddle of ruined, bloody clothing on the floor.

She might have overlooked those things, but she couldn’t pretend like his raw, sore-looking knuckles weren’t a cause for concern. Never mind his hostile disposition.

Maya blinked. “What happened?”

“Nothing.”

Her gaze darted back to him. “Is nothing also why your knuckles are bruised and bloody?”

Kolya didn’t even try to hide his hands at her question. “Possibly.”

“Kolya.”

He sighed. “I got angry, yeah? Bad things happen when I get angry.”

Like the fucking Hulk, or something.

“Do you know—”

“That my father sent me on a fucking impossible task just to keep me away from you for an entire day, and then proceeded to taunt me with it until I was able to get back here? Yes, I know.”

Maya’s shoulders dropped. “Oh.”

Kolya jerked his chin upward. “Go to bed. I want to clean off and then I’ll join you.”

“I don’t think so.”

Now that he was here—back with her where she needed and wanted him to be—the very last thing she wanted to do was let him out of her sights again. She really just wanted to touch him; to hold him, and hide away from the rest of the world for a few moments. Because when it was just her and Kolya, nothing and no one else seemed to matter. Nothing could break through that wall he was able to put up to barricade them from reality.

He was her safe place.