Page 57 of His Forbidden Obsession

Because I was the reason he was here.

And what would have happened if you hadn’t decided to go to his room? He’d be in Ivanov’s hands now.

I shuddered as nausea curled in my stomach. I couldn’t let myself think about what that man would have done to Niko.

Tell yourself the truth.

He was here because he was mine. I let the enormity of that sink in as I stepped into the shower. I’d let myself make a rash decision, and now I’d let myself want someone I would have changed my own rules for. Did I dare?

Once I was dressed in a clean button-down and dress pants, I stepped onto the balcony to make sure the guards were where they should be. The man stationed below looked up immediately when I slid the door open. “Everything quiet out here?” I asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Stay alert.”

“Yes, sir.”

I pulled out my phone and called Dante.

“I’ve got to leave for class in five minutes,” Dante said. “What’s up?”

“I need you here. Remington’s coming to discuss our next move.”

“Didn’t you hear me earlier? I told you I have to work today.”

Niko was far more important than his classes. “You’re going to have to get someone to cover for you.”

He sighed, and I knew he wasn’t going to argue anymore. “You fucking owe me.”

“I know.”

I called Rafe next. He answered with a groggy hello.

“Were you still asleep?”

“Fuck, yes, I was still asleep. Dante took the other bedroom, so I slept on the couch.”

“It’s a perfectly comfortable couch.”

“Not when it’s right under your room, where you’re staking your claim on your little Russian.”

“Fuck off.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“Remington’s on his way to make plans. You need to clean yourself up, get dressed, and figure out how to remain calm while he’s here.”

“I’m the picture of calm.”

“Rafe.”

He snorted. “I’m getting dressed now. It’s going to be a hell of a day, isn’t it?”

“It sure is.”

I sent Dante to stay with Niko while Rafe and I greeted Remington. Lancelot had brought Tony, his pet monkey. They were basically inseparable. He headed right to the kitchen to get Tony some dried fruit to snack on.

“Where’s Dante?” Remington asked once I’d ushered him into the living room and offered him a drink.