Page 74 of Beguiled

“Sorry about that. We’re trying to childproof everything, but this kid is a magician.”

The little boy was waving at me, still giggling his little heart out. What did I find myself doing? Cooing and making baby talk while waving back.

Kazimir laughed. “You will make a good father, brother. One day. Mark my word.”

“You should eat your words.Brother.”

Even after several years, I was still getting used to having him as a brother. He certainly wasn’t anything like what I’d expected when my mother had sat me down one day and said we were going to be a part of a new family.

“Maybe I need to expedite my trip to New York.”

I gave him a look he couldn’t stand. “If you’re eager to escalate whatever Mikhail has planned then by all means do. He wants you front and center for his… display of affection.”

“Oh, that hurt,” he teased. “However, we do have the one-year celebration coming up.”

“If you think Mikhail can easily be tricked again, you’re crazy. We can’t pretend to have a celebration where no one shows up.”

“Who said it’ll be pretend?”

“Kazimir. You’re playing with fire, which is what you accuse me of all the time.”

He grinned. “And you’re still playing with fire. Mikhail wants a show. I think we should give it to him.”

Over my dead body. I couldn’t imagine he’d risk his family to try to entrap Mikhail. The thought was a dead weight in my stomach.

“Isn’t it late in our beloved hometown? Aren’t the kids supposed to be in bed?”

He rolled his eyes. “My bride was helping a friend. She’ll be back in a few minutes. She likes to sing to them.”

Meaning they liked to put the children to bed together. “I see,” I said while smirking.

“Seriously. What vibe are you talking about? Don’t you dare try and change the subject.”

“You know what I mean. Everyone knows something is about to shift.”

“Well, with this election coming up, an older leader being forced out, I can understand. No one likes change. Especially older people.”

That was true enough. “I’m going to do a little digging to eliminate who Mikhail might be working with on my own.”

Working with meant manipulating into doing his bidding. Mikhail was a master puppeteer.

“I don’t need to remind you that you’re just one man.”

Kazimir knew what I was capable of. I’d shocked the hell out of him after the murder of our father and the betrayal of our brother Mikhail. Until then, I’d been a church mouse determined to remain in the woodwork. I’d simply been in observation mode, biding my time.

“I have no intention of doing anything that will get me killed. I’m enjoying New York.” I was. To a point. For a reason.

Her. My cock twitched for the hundredth time in thinking about Saige.

He narrowed his eyes, moving closer to the screen. “Are you on drugs?” He knew more than anyone I’d abhorred the city at first.

“Just taking your advice and finding situations I can tolerate. I’m just going to do what I do best. Observe.”

Kazimir took a deep breath. “Be careful. I also don’t like change and don’t want to have a need to replace you.”

While he was being serious, he also didn’t want to face the inevitable in finally killing his own flesh and blood, but until one of us did, the curse would follow us year to year and from country to country.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of dying anytime soon. By the way. How do you feel about taking the company stock public?” I laughed as soon as I noticed the swift change in his expression.