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Why didn’t he share the bed with me? Was this his way of letting me know we’d once again made a bad decision? But then why would he go to so much trouble making sure I was comfortable, carrying me upstairs, tucking me in bed? Because I was the mother of his child. I needed to stay healthy and, most of all, stress-free.
Why, oh, why did I pounce on him like that? Of course, it had been a mistake. The regret was only just hitting me because I was so tired. It didn’t feel like regret for what we did this time, though, but I wished I hadn’t been the one to initiate. I should have let him make a move if any moves were going to be made.
Oh God, was I really going to start keeping score and playing games like that? No wonder Leo had wanted a surrogate instead of a relationship.
That was what it all came back to every time I got myself worked up. I was his surrogate, nothing more. It was our insane chemistry that kept making me forget that and start getting starry-eyed over every little kindness. Remembering my status in Leo’s life stung, but at least it made sense. I could stop obsessing about something that didn’t exist and never would.
It more than stung. It hurt like hell, and it was a long time before I was able to fall asleep.
Chapter 25 - Leo
Evelina must have gotten her new family on Mikhail’s jet the minute after I talked to her the night before because they arrived back at their house shortly after I woke up. I was eating breakfast in her kitchen, rolling my shoulder because it hurt more than I let on to Samantha when all three of them tumbled through the doors.
My sister honed in on how I was holding my arm and instantly handed Maks over to his father so she could hover over me. “What happened? Did you get shot again?”
Her twin sense was far stronger than mine had ever been, and it always put me to shame how easily she always knew what was going on with me.
“Just a scratch,” I said, pulling my sleeve down so she’d take a look at it and then leave me alone about it. “It hardly hurts.”
“By looking at it, I can see it shouldn’t hurt, but I also know you’re a giant baby, so you’re probably lying. Do you need a pain reliever?”
“No,” I said, ignoring Mikhail’s not-so-subtle laughter at my expense. I needed to keep my wits about me if anything else happened. I could handle a stiff shoulder.
She took Maks back and handed him to me, then looked around, lowering her voice. “Where’s the surrogate?”
“Her name is Samantha, and she’s still asleep.” I quickly filled her in on the hospital visit, which I hadn’t gotten around to when I told her about getting run off the road.
She nodded sympathetically. “Being pregnant’s a bitch, which is why I’m still pissed I didn’t have twins. I really want another one, but it’s such hard work.” She poured herself a coffee and motioned for me to follow her to her study. “Bring Maks, Mikhail didn’t get any sleep on the flight, and the nanny isn’t back until next week.”
I was glad she wanted to jump right in. We needed to move fast and end this. We settled down in front of her bank of computers, and she pulled up all the camera feeds she’d been able to hack into. She’d been surveilling the Giannis since the first attack, which seemed like a distant memory.
We pored over everything from the last two days, but not much was helpful. Aldo Gianni, the head of our rival family, wasn’t an idiot and had been in hiding since right before the kidnapping attempt on Sam.
Evelina bounced Maks on her knee while she scrolled through the data. “We’ve got to cut off the head of the snake,” she said. “Otherwise, they’ll just keep coming after you.”
“And Samantha,” I said.
“I’m glad I took a backseat when we took over the New York territory,” she admitted. “I don’t need your troubles.”
“I don’t need them either,” I grumbled.
Burya yipped from the hall, and a second later, Samantha stuck her head in the door. “Sorry to bother you,” she said. “I was just wondering if I could take the dog outside.”
I jumped up and motioned for her to come in and meet Evelina. “Here, sit down,” I said, guiding her to an armchair. “The dog can wait. Or I’ll take him.” I glanced at my phone and frowned. “Are you sure you got enough sleep?” I searched Sam’s face for signs of pain, but she looked fine except for very faint dark smudges that still showed up under her eyes. “Do you want breakfast?”
Her cheeks turned red under my onslaught, and I remembered she wanted to make a good impression on Evelina. I introduced them and glared at Ev to go easy on her.
“Help yourself to anything you want,” my sister assured her. “And, of course, you can go out back. There are guards everywhere. I’m sure you’re used to it by now.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll let you get back to work,” Samantha said, leaning down to make funny faces at Maks before she went.
“I’ll go with you,” I said, getting up to follow her.
She shook her head. “It’s fine. Do your thing.”
“Yeah, you’re here to work, Leo,” Evelina reminded me, grinning at Samantha.
Burya bounded after her as she left, and I stared after her, unsure she’d take Evelina at her word and help herself to breakfast. Evelina held out her hand.
