Page 8 of Claimed By Daddy

Lying through his teeth like a pro, he walks to the far window of the living room and stands with his back to us. All we can hear are his clipped responses to the new head of the Armenian mob on the other end.

“Yes, sir.”

“Eavan… My sister…”

“…Of course.”

“…Understood.”

“Tomorrow.”

He ends the call and holds the phone at his side as he stares at the city beyond the terrace. “Well?” I ask, too impatient to wait for him to divulge the details of his call.

Cillian turns slowly, running his fingers through his hair to smooth it back as he faces us. His eyes light up just a glimmer, and he smiles. “According to plan… Everything is going according to plan.”

“I’ll book our jet.” Nikolai gives a short nod.

“Maybe notentirelyaccording to plan,” Cillian murmurs, his eyes falling on Eavan. “We can’t all go like we originally intended. Someone has to stay here with Eavan.”

“Yeah.You,” she chimes quickly, overtly eyeing her brother.

Cillian tenses—knowing he has to deny her—but stands his ground. “It was our father’s deal. He was marrying you off. Out of the three of us, Ihaveto go. I’m the only one Sargsyan will be expecting. And Nik… He’s the closest thing I have to a translator. So he has to go.”

That leaves…Cillian’s apologetic eyes meet mine, and I already know what he’s going to say before the words leave hismouth. “Enz, you have to stay behind. To keep an eye on Eavan.Justan eye.”

My jaw tightens as I look between them.Of course it would be me. I nod slowly and swallow hard, forcing down thehell nobobbing in my throat and struggling to come out.

Me. Alone.Stuck in this penthouse with the bratty, redheaded princess I can’t stop thinking about—who’d probably stab me in my sleep if she thought she could get away with it.Perfect.

I don’t even bother hiding the sigh that escapes my lungs. “Babysitting isn’t exactly what I signed up for, Cian.”

Across the room, Eavan makes a disgusted noise in her throat. “Him?” she hisses, gesturing at me like I’m some bum off the street. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, relax, princess,” I shoot back, unable to hide my smile. “I’m not thrilled about it either. But at least now we can finally get somequalityalone time.”

Her eyes narrow, and she purses her lips, looking like she would throw something at me if there were anything within arm’s reach. “You mean the kind of alone time where you ogle my ass and make more comments about biting me?”

Yes…

“I only bite when asked nicely.”

“Ugh, gross.” She rolls her eyes, and I swear it’s because she knows the reaction it causes in me. The bratty princess enjoys watching me rub my hand over the beard of my clenched jaw,fighting the urge to use it to correct that little attitude problem of hers.A few handprints on that perfect ass… And she’ll learn to behave for me.

Cillian runs both hands over his face. “For fuck’s sake, can you two… just…not?”

“I’m not the one ogling her when she gets out of the shower,” I mutter, just loud enough to be heard. Her face flushes immediately, and I swear her nostrils flare.

“I didn’t… That was… anaccident!” she stammers. “You left the door wide open.”

“And yet, you stood there in the hallway and watched. You can admit you liked it,” I taunt her. “I won’t tell.” My grin spreads into a full smile as I wink at her.

“Cillian,” she growls, turning on her brother. “I swear to God, if you leave me with him?—”

“I’m sorry, but it’s the only way,” he apologizes, and I can tell he means it. And from the disapproving glare I’m currently on the receiving end of, I can almost hear the lecture I’m going to get about leaving his sister alone before he leaves.

Eavan doesn’t argue again. At least, not in front of the rest of us. But the look she throws at me as Nik and Cian leave the room, to make their travel plans, could set ice on fire.

I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and sprawl across the couch. As I settle into the throw pillow behind my head, Eavan paces between the kitchen and the living room. She chews on her thumbnail with every step, her whole body radiating annoyance. She doesn’t say anything, and she tries tobe discreet, but I can feel her eyes on me. Glancing. Watching. Assessing.Probably wondering if she could sneak up on me to slit my throat before I caught her.

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