Page 5 of Daniil
“Lennox.”Another wave of guilt washes over me.
My best friend.
Probably myex-best friend now.
“She wasworried.When Joe couldn’t find you, he reached out to Chains.When he wouldn’t tell them anything, Daniil got involved.”
“Crap.”
“And he called me first thing this morning.”
“What did you tell him?”
Landon shrugs.“The truth, without details.That you’re fine, but you went through something personal, and you’re taking some time to figure things out.”
“I’m guessing he didn’t like that answer.”
Landon chuckles.“No, not really.And it gets worse.”
My eyes snap to his.“Worse?”
“He’s on his way here.To Vegas.”
“Motherfu—” I try not to curse in front of the baby even though he’s not talking yet.I’m just trying to get out of the habit before he is.
“The lease and utilities are in Rage’s name,” Landon says, referring to his closest friend, Elliott Rageis.“So, while it’s not a huge leap, it wouldn’t just jump out at him if he’s done a search.I don’t know that he’ll find you, but this might be a sign, Court.”
“Youknowwhy I haven’t told him about the baby.”
“I do know.And I understand it.I also have your back, no matter what you decide, but as a man—I would want to know.I would be fucking pissed if there was a woman out there who kept my kid from me.”
“I know, dammit.I know.”I get up and yank the InstaPot out of the cabinet and start tossing in ingredients to make oatmeal.Oats.A banana.Milk.Cinnamon.Brown sugar.A dribble of maple syrup.A few pats of butter.Pinch of salt.
“Raisins or no?”I ask Landon.
“No raisins.”He gets up, Micah still in his arms, and comes to lean against the counter as I work.“Courtney.Listen to me.I can protect you.Both of you.”
“You have a job and a life.And I can’t afford to pay you to be my full-time bodyguard.Besides, the people I’m afraid of would find a way.They always do.”
“Daniilcould protect you.”
“At what cost?”I ask quietly.“We both know he would want to marry me, make this a big deal, and I don’t think I’m cut out to be royalty.And I’m definitely not cut out to be someone’s arm piece while he fucks everything that moves on the side.”
“You don’t know that he would be that way—he tried to ask you out multiple times.”
“Trust me, I know his type.”
“Just because he might want to marry you doesn’t mean you’d have to.”
“And risk him taking custody?He’s rich and powerful.He could take the baby and I’d never see him again.”I turn the switch to the correct setting and reach for my abandoned cup of coffee.“Dammit, it’s cold.”I dump it in the sink and brew another.“You want a cup?”
“Courtney, would you stop a minute?”He puts a hand on my arm.“I don’t know how long you can keep hiding.If you want me to move you again, I can.Short-term, we can keep doing this.But long-term?Micah will have to go to school, make friends, play baseball or hockey or do karate or whatever.You know damn well you’re not going to make him move every six months.”
I drop my head, letting my chin hit my chest.“I’m scared.”
“Of Dan?I mean, I don’t know him super well, but he always seemed like a solid guy to me.Loyal, trustworthy?—”
“He’s aprince, a very powerful man in Europe.It’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”
