Page 34 of The Pakhan’s Hidden Heir

If I keep letting Raina get under my skin, it’s going to come back to bite me.

She isn’t bad, per se, but allowing myself to get too attached is a risk.

I’ve already let it start happening, which is why the instant she announced she is pregnant, I started making it clear she was her own woman now.

The sex has paused for now, though I can feel the urge to go to her every day breathing down my neck—a beast I barely control.

She’s so damn magnetic I can barely control myself.

He must be picking up on some almost imperceptible mistakes or challenges I’ve been having, and now he’s trying to snap me out of it.

But I know I can handle this. She has her own room now; I have mine. And as long as she’s safe, my future is secure.

“Then help me guard the future instead of mourning my past, okay?” I tell him. “Increase security on her. Make sure she doesn’t leave this home. Ensure Ingrid encourages her to eat the healthy diet we’ve laid out for her, and most of all guard her life like it’s mine.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Can you do that?”

Some of the fight drains out of him as I give my orders, as I’ve done many times before, and his shoulders relax.

It’s not acknowledgement that I’m right or that he needs to back off, but his nod of agreement gives me confidence that my orders will be followed.

“I’ve already had Demid and Ingrid put her in her own room, so that will make caring for her easier for you. You don’t have to fuss with my schedule and routine.” I sit straight, reaching for my laptop to check on some emails I’m waiting for, but Akim hovers.

“Yeah, well you put her in her own room but how long will that last?” He huffs again, and now I’m getting annoyed.

He won’t let this go.

He’s like a pit bull with a bone, and I’ve about had enough of defending my actions.

“Usually when I give orders you follow them. Why are you still questioning me?”

When Akim leans down, fingers tented on my desk, I get the feeling something more than just Raina’s grandmother’s cancer is to blame for it. His face is screwed up in concentration, brow wrinkled and eyes dark.

“You can’t see it?”

I’ve never seen him so adamant about something. I’m not sure what he’s getting at, but I don’t like whatever newfound stick is up his ass.

“See what? What am I supposed to see?” My tone shifts and I feel my temper rising, but he still doesn’t back down. “You’re in my face constantly over something I put to bed weeks ago. Get over it. She’s having my child. She’ll be out of this house in a matter of eighteen months or less now.”

Turning, I power the laptop on and scowl at my reflection in the dark glass before the CPU whirs to life and the screen lights up.

None of my other men seem to have this same problem. Akim is being impossible.

“The death threats? The men killed to send a message.” His haunting tone pulls my attention as I type my password in and screw it up. I look up at him in anger. “You are ignoring direct links.”

“Correlation is not causation, Akim. You’re being a fool. She’s a dropout, not a spy.” I say those words with such assurance, but something niggles at my conscience now.

Raina did appear so conveniently right as the threats started happening, which I chalked up to men in my ranks not wanting my heir to be born—that or an enemy.

“She shows up and men start threatening to kill you. That doesn’t strike you as funny? What if she’s the lost daughter of some other faction? What if she is a spy? And you’re ignoring my warnings.”

I’ve vetted this girl thoroughly, but even my extensive background checks wouldn’t pick up on someone who has hidden their past and has a secret agenda.

I don’t believe Raina is anything other than the pure, humble soul I believe her to be, but if there is even a hint of truth behind his obvious fears, I’d be a fool not to heed him.

“So what do you suggest then?” I hook a finger into my tie and loosen it slightly, to keep my blood from boiling over. “Hm? You’ve got this all figured out, so tell me your plan.”

Akim straightens and his chest puffs out. If he even thinks of telling me to get rid of her, he’ll be out of this office so fast it makes his head spin. But I may entertain anything even remotely logical at this point just to shut him up.

“Cut her off. Remove her phone. Don’t let her have access to speak with anyone. If she’s a spy then that will stop the worst of it, right?” His chest puffs out; his shoulders square again, and finally he seems appeased. “Or if I’m wrong, let her do as you please. But I can’t be held accountable if one of her friends comes into this home and kills you or your heir because you ignored me.”