She swallowed hard againtrying to resist the tears that threatened to fall. Anna was dead.They tortured, raped, mutilated and killed her and made her listento everything as a warning to her father. Then they left herterrified and alone, blindfolded and tied, her clothes in tatters,in front of one of his houses three days later. Now every time sheclosed her eyes images would flash before her. She could neverforget what had happened.
Neither one of them knewthe secrets that her father had, but she certainly did now. Whythey murdered Anna and kept her alive, she’d never know. There werea few times that she was so terrified that she wished it was herthat they killed. She hadn’t been able to sleep without some sortof light on since.
She focused on the gardensthe car cruised past still trying not to weep. Suddenly a whitehandkerchief appeared in front of her. With deep breath and withouta word she reached up and took it. She wasn’t crying, but she wasclose. She was certain she didn’t let a sign of it reach herexpression. Obviously she didn’t do a very good job of hiding herfeelings from him. This was something she had to workon.
Her eyes flicked back up tohis, then to the front of the large stone mansion that came intoview. She was thinking how much she wanted to be somewhere else,anywhere but here. Disgust and anger welled up in the pit of herstomach making it churn. This was a death house.
“Are you going to throwup?”
Her attention went back toher new bodyguard. He was still watching her intently. It was adangerous combination, being intuitive as well as intelligent. Heread her too easily. Yet, she was certain he wasn’t going to lether know the real him. It was hard to trust someone, anyone, whenthe world you thought you lived in was a lie. Ryan was aprofessional and how was she supposed to trust him when she didn’tknow him? That just wasn’t going to happen. Yet, she’d been lied toher whole life by people closer to her than him. Trusting anoutsider seemed to be the only recourse at the moment. He’d statedhe would risk his life to save her. She believed him. “No,” shefinally answered. She was close to it though so she didn’t evendeny the queasiness.
He nodded that he’d heardher.
The car circled around apaved driveway and came to a stop in front of the stone steps. Ryangot out just as several servants came out to get her bags. He heldhis hand out for Katya who ignored it and stepped out on her own.He wasn’t put off by it. He knew she was not happy about him beingaround her besides being back in a house full of people sheloathed. She was forced to stay there with someone she blamed forher sister’s death and caused her suffering. He honestly didn’texpect her to come around and warm up to him either.
When they found her therewas a note pinned to her chest. All it said was ‘notdone.’
“Welcome home MissNickolov,” greeted Ivan as she walked by. He smiled affectionatelyat her.
Katya never said anything.She never even spared him a glance. All of this was a complete lie.She’d known Ivan since she was six, yet he was part of this deceitthat her father put on. He knewabout his business, and protected him. She would never trusthim again. Secondly, this wasn’t her home. She’d only lived here ashort time only in her last few years of high school. Her fatherhad sent her away at a young age to be raised by strangers and shepromised herself that she’d never consider it home now.
Ivan’s face fell indisappointment. Then, he looked past her to Ryan.
Ryan just raised his browsas if to say, ‘What do you expect?’ as he followed her through thefoyer to the marble cased stairs.
Ivan narrowed his piercingblue eyes on Ryan’s back. He had asked Peter for the chance toguard Katya. He’d seen her grow up and protected her. Mostly, he’dbeen in love with her since she turned eighteen. Peter refused himeven though he’d given him fourteen years of unwavering loyalty.They needed an outsider, he said, because she didn’t trust any ofthem and he needed her safe. Ivan didn’t think that applied to him,but after that display, he knew he was wrong. He was angry over herreaction to him. He couldn’t have her feel that way about him. He’dfind a way back into her heart. As for that man that his bossbrought in, he’d find a way to discredit him.
Ryan opened the door to herroom and did a routine check before allowing her in.
“It’s my room. I don’tthink there are monsters in the closet,” she said coolly visiblyangered that he inspected her private room. It was invasive andeven her father’s men never stepped foot in there. It was alsoprobably the only place she could expect solitude and she certainlydidn’t like a stranger poking around in it. Besides, the estate waswell protected and she doubted very much that anyone would risk thenumerous guards, pit bulls and guns that lurked inside the secludediron gates and brick walls.
He ignored her and walkedover to the door adjoining their rooms and opened it. “This staysopen,” he said beginning to step through it.
She was slack-jawed. It wasthen that she realized that her father placed him in the room rightnext to hers, not downstairs with the rest of his men. She wasappalled and rushed up to him, fuming. “Oh! No it doesn’t.” sheprotested, “I will not have you peeking in on my while Idress!”
Well, there goes the solemndemeanor. Again
