Page 51 of Taming a Ruthless Heart

A flutter of uncertainty stirs in my chest.What visitor could I have in this isolated fortress?

Stepping into the room with a bright smile and wide eyes, my cousin Olivia shoos my worries away.In her own way, Olivia has always been the big sister I never had—checking in often, calling after every suspicious glance or whisper she overhears.Her brand of overprotectiveness has always been comforting.For her, I suppose, looking out for me has become second nature—maybe the only way she knows to stay close to the pieces of my life that Igor hasn’t shattered.

Her chestnut hair falls in loose waves over her shoulders, framing a face that could be on the cover of any fashion magazine.She’s dressed in a deep, chocolate-brown satin dress that clings to her in all the right places, striking a balance between sophistication and allure.There’s a sharpness to her gaze, an almost feline intensity softened by the warmth of her smile.

“Oh my God!Liv!”I rush from the chair, my voice barely a murmur, but it’s enough to make her smile even brighter.In two strides, she’s in my arms, and we’re clinging to each other like two survivors at sea in a shipwreck.She smells like vanilla and fresh air, and it hits me with a wave of nostalgia.A funny reaction, considering it’s been less than a week since we last saw each other.I escaped Igor four days ago, but it feels like four centuries.

Her slender frame feels delicate, but there’s a hidden strength, too—a resilience that seems to radiate beneath her glamorous exterior.Her arms are surprisingly strong, and for a moment, I’m wrapped in the warmth of her, a reminder of simpler days.

She pulls back, keeping her hands on my shoulders.Her eyes, a shade of smoky hazel, narrow with a flicker of worry as she looks me over, her brows drawing together in that familiar way that shows concern.Even dressed like she’s ready for a night out, Olivia exudes a fierce protectiveness, the kind you wouldn’t expect from someone with such a polished, almost ethereal beauty.

She murmurs, “Alexia, I swear, I’ve been calling you every ten minutes for days!I was getting nothing but voicemail, and now it’s full.”

I nod.“Dave’s got me a new number.He said my old one might’ve been too easy to track.Igor certainly keeps tabs on my calls.”

Olivia’s eyes flicker, a brief shadow crossing her face, but her smile returns as she gives my hand a squeeze.

I gesture to the leather chair across from me and we settle down.

“I got a taste of Dave’s protective instincts firsthand,” she says, her tone both amused and weary.“He called me this morning and sent a limo to pick me up.I swear, it was like a mobile cavern in there.Windows tinted so dark it might as well have been a blindfold.Plus, the number of men he packed around me…” She shakes her body in mockingly, wide-eyed terror.“I lost count at four.”

A laugh bubbles up in my chest, and some of the tension melts away.“It’s safer for you that way.The less you know about this place, the better.”

She grins.“Safer for me?And here I thought I was the one who should be worrying about you.”I spot a flicker of vulnerability in her expression.“You’re okay, right?”

I nod, but the words stick in my throat.Am I?I’m a woman who’s spent the last three days in a fortress, caught between the warmth of an old love and the icy edges of secrets that could break us all.

“I’m managing,” I say finally, squeezing her forearm.“Dave’s doing everything he can to keep me and Rose safe.”

Fran arrives with a tray, her timing impeccable.She sets the tray down gently, the soft clinking of the tea service breaking the quiet.The scent of fresh shortcakes wafts up, buttery and sweet, mingling with the faint hint of citrus from the iced tea.The library, despite its dark wooden shelves and leather furniture, feels lighter with Olivia here.But even this small, intimate moment carries an edge, a reminder of all the things I haven’t told her—or anyone.

I reach for my tea, the glass cold in my hand, a perfect contrast to the warmth in the summer air.Olivia leans forward, elbows on her knees, watching me intently.There’s that look in her eyes, a mix of curiosity and concern, the one she uses when she’s picking up on things I’d rather she didn’t.

“So,” she begins, her tone casual but her gaze sharp.“Are you ever going to tell him?”

I look down, tracing the rim of my glass with a fingertip.“Tell him what?”

She scoffs, shaking her head.“Don’t play coy with me, Lex.Tell Dave about Rose.”

The name alone tightens my throat.Rose.I can see her in my mind as clearly as if she were here—those green eyes, so much like Martha’s, that mischievous little smile that lights up her whole face.My daughter.His daughter.A secret I’ve buried so deep it feels like a part of me now, like something I carry in my bones.

I take a sip of tea, letting the bitterness cut through the heaviness building in my chest.“It’s… complicated, Liv.”

“Of course it’s complicated,” she replies, exasperation lacing her words.“But don’t you think he deserves to know?To be honest, I think you’re missing an obvious point here.”

I frown and put my glass back on the table.“How do you mean?”

“Now that Dave has you back in his life, he won’t let you go again.”

My heart skips a couple of beats at that thought, but I press a hand to my chest, trying to calm the old ticker down.“I’m not so sure of that, Liv.It’s all too soon and I don’t want to create false expectations.”

While I speak, Olivia finishes her tea and pours an extra glass for herself, also refilling my glass.

“You serious right now?Dave has always been head-over-heels, crazy in love with you.Look at us now,” she says as she sweeps her free hand over the table for emphasis.“You guys are on the brink of war.But the man sends a small army in an armored car to bring your cousin here to have tea with you?Bet he’s trying to make you feel comfortable in this fortress.”She tilts her head, still holding my gaze, a smug grin illuminating her face.“Am I wrong?”

“You know you’re not.”I allow a reluctant smile to lift the right corner of my mouth.“In fact, this morning he asked me what I missed most from the outside world.”

She guffaws, pointing her perfectly manicured index finger to her chest, the bright red polish gleaming in the light streaming through the library windows.“Me?Little old me?”

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