Page 38 of The King of Hearts

“If it’s all right with you, my mom is going to watch over Harper while we visit my dad and brothers.”

She doesn’t look like she’s completely on board with that idea, and from the way Harper squeezes her mom’s leg, the little girl doesn’t like it either. The meeting we’re about to have is not for little ears, so if Lili denies the request, the meeting can’t go forward.

I open my mouth to reassure them both, but Mom beats me to it. She squats down, and directs her gaze at Harper, smiling at the little girl. “Do you know what macarons are?” she asks.

Harper slowly moves her head back and forth.

“They’re delicious cookies with a yummy filling on the inside. Kind of like Oreos, but even better. Lea, the cook, and I are making some in the kitchen and we need someone to taste test them. Would you like to help by being our taste-tester?”

Her eyes light with interest, and she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. I smile on the inside. Mom knows exactly what she’s doing. No child would forfeit the opportunity to eat sweets.

Harper looks up at her mom. “Can I, Momma?”

Lili lays her hand on top of Harper’s head, smoothing away some errant strands of hair off her forehead. Lingering uncertainty still lines her face, but after a moment of hesitation, she relents. “For a few minutes.”

Harper smiles big, her eyes sparkling so bright it’s nearly blinding.

Mom stands and holds out her hand. “Come on, sweetie. Lea is waiting on us.”

It’s obvious Lili doesn’t want to let her daughter go, and the worry in her expression breaks my heart. How long has thiswoman been terrified for her daughter’s safety? Every parent fears for their child, but this goes beyond normal parental worry. She looks like she wants to snatch her daughter back, wrap her in her embrace, and never let her go.

As Mom and Harper walk away, the girl’s hand wrapped protectively in my mom’s, I reach out to grab Lili’s. “She’ll be okay. I swear it.”

It’s not until they’re out of sight before Lili brings her gaze to me. “I don’t remember the last time she’s been out of my sight. I don’t like it.”

“I understand. If it makes you feel any better, I have my guard stationed in the kitchen. Marcelo is ex-special forces and is as tough as they come. No one gets in this house who we don’t want in here, but even if they did, Marcelo would protect her with his life.”

A dark, masked figure appears in my mind, and I mentally amend my statement.No ordinary person could get inside this house.My devil, apparently, isn’t normal. I’m not sure how he’s doing it, but he’s somehow bypassing our security system.

The mention of me having a guard gets her attention. “Why do you have a guard?”

That’s not a subject I want to go over, so I give her the partial truth. “My dad takes my protection very seriously.” I smile at her. “Are you ready?”

She lifts one of her slender shoulders. “Not really, but let’s get this over with anyway.”

We leave her room and go down the stairs, heading left toward Dad’s office once we reach the bottom. The door is closed, but the people inside are expecting us, so I don’t bother knocking. Just before I open the door, a childish giggle reaches our ears from further down the hallway where the kitchen is located. Lili’s shoulders lose some of their stiffness at hearing her daughter enjoying herself.

When we walk into Dad’s office, all conversation stops, and several pairs of eyes move to us. Lili shifts uncomfortably beside me. I can’t imagine being the center of attention is something she enjoys.

“Lili, this is my dad, Alexander, and my brothers, Bishop and Cassio.” I point to each one as I say their names, then gesture to the female sitting across the room. “And this is Charlotte. I invited Charlotte because she’s utilized The Raven Group’s services before and understands the client’s point of view.”

Dad, who’s sitting behind his desk, gets up from his seat and walks around to stand in front of it. He leans against the hardwood with his hands on the edge, purposely leaving them visible. He’s trying to make Lili feel as comfortable and as safe as possible by keeping his distance.

Bishop and Cassio stay in the two seats across from Dad’s desk, their hands on the armrests.

“How are you, Liliana?” he asks, keeping his tone low and even.

Lili, with her hands clasped together in front of her, moves a step to the right, putting herself closer to me. “I’m fine.”

“Your injuries seem to be healing well.”

I keep a watch on her out of the corner of my eye, so I don’t miss when she flicks her gaze to my brothers and back to Dad.

“Yes, they are.”

Dad gestures to the sofa that’s in the center of the room. “Would you like to have a seat? Something to drink? Coffee, perhaps?”

“Nothing to drink, thank you,” she replies.

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