“So…I need to tell you something,” she says after a few moments of silence.
I kiss the top of her head and then let her pull away.
“What’s up?”
“You know how you asked me to stop by Declan’s?”
“Yeah…”
My mind starts to run wild. What the fuck did he have in his apartment that concerned her?
Is the place trashed? Did she find a woman chained to his bed?
“Well, when I was leaving, I met his neighbor, Nikita.”
I take a deep breath and let what she said roll over me.
Please don’t let this go where I think it’s going.
“And, well…I might have invited her to Christmas dinner.” Autumn cringes.
Slowly, I bend down and put Emily down. Standing, I rub my jaw.
Surely, I misheard her.
“I’m sorry, you did what?”
“I invited her to Cleo and Haruaki’s for dinner.”
“A stór…”
“Look, I know it wasn’t smart, okay? Truly, I do, but Callum, she’s a good person. I know it.”
“My love, I know you are in tune with yourself and the world around us, but it’s more complicated than that.”
“What do you mean?” she asks.
“Nikita isn’t a guest at the apartments. She’s a prisoner of sorts. She’s the consequence of the Russian Bratva betraying Kai and Cleo.”
She frowns. “Nikita betrayed them?”
“Not necessarily. Listen, you know I don’t like to talk business with you. I prefer to keep you out of it.”
“Usually I’d allow that, but if you don’t want me to hang out with this woman, then you better give me more than ‘it’s complicated.’” She folds her arms over her chest.
I sigh. “Her father was part of the Popov Bratva that fucked with Cleo. When they fled, he stayed and made a deal with Kai. Kai would allow him sanctuary in the city, but he would need to give something as collateral. So he gave his daughter. Kai didn’t want her anywhere near Cleo, so he in turn made a deal with me to keep an eye on her on his behalf. So while it appears she has freedom, she’s never actually alone. Someone is always watching her. In fact, I could tell you where she is right at this moment if I chose to.”
Autumn’s eyes fill with tears. “She’s being punished for her father’s mistakes. How is that right?”
I shake my head. “I never said it was right. It’s the way of the world, though. He could have given anything as collateral. He chose her. The deal has been made. So now you see why it would be a bad idea for her to show up at Kai’s home, right?”
She shakes her head. “Is she even allowed to be with her family on Christmas?”
I shake my head slowly.
“I’m not okay with this, Callum. Not at all. That poor girl can’t be any more than twenty years old, and she’s been isolated from her family. She’s being treated like a criminal when her only sin is being born into the wrong family. I won’t rescind her invitation, and if Kai decides he has a problem with that, then I will deal with him myself.”
I look to the ceiling, closing my eyes.
