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Niko pouts. “Remember what you taught me about hunting, Papa. If you catch something, you have to eat it.”
“Oh, I’ll eat it alright.” Satisfaction swirls as I see Scarlett’s face burn red. She turns away abruptly and I could swear I hear her mutter something under her breath. Sounds like “Dick.”
I chuckle.
“But enough of that,” I change the subject. “We must eat. Nikolai, let’s show Miss Scarlett to the breakfast room.”
He reaches for her hand again, seeming oblivious to the tense undercurrent between his new nanny and me.
“Come,” he says. “We can eat together every morning from now!” He continues to chatter as we make our way through the hallway. Already, I can see his little face brightening. I don’t care what Scarlett feels about being here with me and Niko.
This is going to work out well.
Chapter10
Scarlett
It’s been a whole week since I got stuck in this place.
I’ve resigned myself to being here for the foreseeable future. I can’t find a single way out.
Is it really that bad, though?
I scoff at the thought. Of course, it’s that bad. The fact that I’ve kept my interactions with Anton to a minimum doesn’t mean I don’t feel his presence looming all the time.
But now, I’m allowing myself to relax a little. If I’m honest with myself, it’s good to feel safe here. If I can’t get out, that means Cartwright’s guys can’t get in.
Unless Anton Ulianov is one of Cartwright’s guys.
But so far, nothing I’ve seen has pointed to that. He doesn’t seem to be the type to go to this much trouble keeping me here while waiting for that psycho to arrive.
I brush the thought aside and focus on the task at hand. The Sun is setting, casting long shadows across the room as I sit with Nikolai at the small table, a puzzle spread out before us. His nimble fingers work quickly, determination in his eyes. I must say, the kid is pretty darned cute. I can’t help but feel proud of the progress he’s making.
“Scarlett, where does this piece go?” he asks, holding up a jagged fragment.
“Let’s see,” I say, scanning the picture on the box. “It looks like it belongs to the tree over here.”
“You’re right!” He beams, slotting the piece into place. I smile back, warmth spreading through my chest.
But deep down, doubt gnaws at me. What am I doing taking care of a child? My life as a burglar required cunning and stealth, not nurturing and patience. How am I supposed to take care of this kid when I’ve barely ever had to take care of a pet rock?
I stare longingly out the window, frowning as a pair of heavily armed guards patrol by. I still haven’t been able to figure out their rotation schedule. It’s as if they deliberately keep their movements inconsistent. Which they probably do.
Dammit.
“Is everything okay, Miss Scarlett?” Nikolai’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. His concerned gaze bores into me, as if trying to uncover my secrets.
“Of course, kiddo,” I reply hastily, forcing a smile. “Just thinking about where to put the rest of these pieces.”
“Okay.” He seems satisfied, returning his attention to the puzzle.
I glance at the closed door, wondering when Anton will return.
Hopefully never!
But part of me doesn’t want that at all. I can’t deny that I find myself holding my breath whenever he’s in the room with us.
“Almost done,” Nikolai exclaims, snapping the final pieces into place.
