Page 23 of Scarred Ruin

“Yes, Roman. He dotes on Mina and she adores him. He’s more like a big kid around her and she’s been craving friends.” Expounding any further would bring us into a topic of conversation that would likely drive her away.

She was banking every answer I provided in the back of her mind, undoubtedly determining whether she could tolerate working with me. “If you want my opinion, I believe getting Mina a dog would be an excellent start. Everything I said before is true about responsibility and empathy.” She hesitated, even tossing me a knowing look, perhaps to nudge me into realizing my child was living with a monster.

“Perhaps.”

“Plus, he or she would be an excellent form of security. I’m not talking about getting her a guard dog. Labs can easily do the trick with their size and big barks. Trust me.”

“You really had a dog as a child?”

“Didn’t you?”

“No, I did not.”

“What a shame. My puppy was my best friend. At least until I wasn’t allowed to take him with me to school.”

Some information I’d never learn otherwise. “I promise I’ll give it some serious consideration. But don’t gang up on me. She’s already managed to wrap me around her little finger.”

Isabel thought about my answer then turned toward me. “As every daughter should. Now, how can I help with lunch? Is there something I can prepare?”

A genuine offer. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. I have dozens of skills. Cooking isn’t one of them. I ordered from Mina’s favorite deli. But if you’d like, you can help me put everything on plates.”

She appeared almost relieved. “I’d love to.”

I hadn’t needed to tell her where to find anything. In the next few minutes, she made herself at home, grabbing plates and napkins and even creatively cutting and placing the various sandwiches on a platter. The minutes flew by even as the conversation remained stilted.

When we’d sat down, she’d acted as if the most important person in the room was my daughter. Granted, Mina wasn’t about to allow such a special guest to forget the real reason why she’d been invited over in the first place.

Entertaining her.

While the two girls chatted, I’d enjoyed the view, all but ignored for most of the time spent.

There was such a quiet calming beauty with the woman and even with her conservative attire, I sensed a tiger underneath.

I tossed my napkin, pushing my plate away and leaning back in my chair. When was the last time I’d even had a visitor other than Roman, Sergei, or Kristoff in my home?

So long I wasn’t certain. There’d been no parties, no American-style barbeques. I’d been intent on keeping Mina protected from my world and in one damn day, I’d lost all sense of control in being able to do that.

Whoever had decided to try to kidnap her from her own school had been driven into hiding. I’d had my men rattle cages, scour the streets of Charleston, and even offer a monetary reward for information to both the attempted kidnapping and the hit and run ending in a family friend’s death.

A week and a day later and so far, I hadn’t received even a small snippet of information. Not one. Keeping secrets of this magnitude was next to impossible. Between the number of men I employed and the multimillion-dollar operation I owned and operated, I’d been privy to every sordid scandal for hundreds of miles.

At this point, there was one additional source of possible information that hadn’t been explored.

Details provided by a woman who’d been at both events.

The stunning woman currently wiping mayonnaise from my daughter’s chin. I’d need to handle the interrogation carefully.

“How old are you again?” Isabel asked. Every time she laughed, my attention was dragged away from whatever thoughts were running through my mind.

“Five. But I’ll be six in less than five months.” Mina held up both hands, offering five fingers and one mayonnaise-covered thumb.

“Six? Wow. Then you’ll practically be an adult.” Isabel didn’t blink, pulling her napkin from her lap and cleaning my daughter’s hand.

I was in fucking awe of the moment.

“What do you want for your birthday?” Isabel slipped a wink at me then caught herself doing so, her expression darkening.

As if forgetting who she was having lunch with.