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She blinks at me, then slowly nods.
“No one is ever going to hit you, or hurt you. And if anyone does something you don’t like, you run and tell Miss Bambi or me, alright?”
Again, she nods, a little faster this time.
“Bambi.” I turn and wink at my assistant. “Did you remember to grab some monster spray while you were shopping?”
Bambi takes only a second to catch on, then quickly sits up and nods. “I even made sure to grab the Anti-Monster Magic Light. Strongest one they have.”
“Perfect.” I turn back to Willow. “We’ll keep the monsters away, okay?”Including the asshole who claims to be your father.
I expect her to nod some more and maybe say “okay” or “thank you.”
I don’t expect her to suddenly jump to her feet and run across the room…
And Idefinitelydon’t expect her to throw herself into my arms.
Again, I’m not sure what to do. But hugging her back is apparently exactly what she wanted, maybe even needed, because the bright grin on her face when she pulls away is a light in my dark life I didn’t know I was missing.
“Thanks, Demyen.”
And then she skips back across the room, carrying a piece of my heart with her.
Fuck.
I’m in trouble.
23
DEMYEN
Now that we’ve settled the workplace issue, I need to make sure the rest of Clara’s personal life won’t be coming looking for her. Or for Willow.
Fucking hell.I’m growing too attached to that kid.
I steer my focus away from the bright beam of sunshine currently jumping rope on the far side of the courtyard and home in on the door to my office.
The same office I really want to make Clara fill with her moans and pleasure-screams. With the heat of her exhales and the smell of her?—
Focus, goddammit!
I swear this family is going to be the end of me.
When we first met—or rather, when we second-met, at the casino—I was under the impression Clara didn’t own a phone. Given all that I’ve been learning about her ex, it wouldn’t be surprising if the bastard cut off her communications with the world so she’d have to go through him and him alone.
But it occurred to me, while sitting in Willow’s room, that no loving parent who actually cares about their kid would go about their day with no way for schools or other officials to contact them in case of emergencies.
I sure as hell won’t let Willow leave this compound without at least ten different ways for people to get in touch if necessary. Or without twice as many guards watching her every move.
Because she’s collateral. Valuable collateral.
Not at all because I actuallycareabout the kid. Not like a parent or anything.
I glance up to peer across the courtyard before I duck into the hall that leads to my office.Is she too close to the pool’s edge? Is anyone watching her? Where is Bambi?
But then Bambi materializes from behind a decorative cactus and leads the girl away from the pool and toward a safer area where she can continue counting her jumps.
Satisfied, I finally make it to my office and lock the door behind me. I don’t need any more interruptions or distractions for the day. Clara’s bag is in one of my locked safes. I quickly turn the dial to pull it out and search for her phone.
