Page 3 of Conceal

I pull back, knowing I crossed a line with him. “I’m sorry.”

“What happened?”

I really don’t want to give Leo any more of my time or consideration, but I know he won’t let it go.

“Leo was cheating on me,” I reply. Roman’s head springs back as he glares at Leo’s apartment window. I tug on his suit lapel. I’ve told him he doesn’t have to wear a suit with me, but he insists. He’s too damn tempting in a suit. He’s broad, tall, with a square jaw and a dimple in his chin. He’s a decade older than me, though, and would never look at me like anything but his best friend’s daughter and his charge.

When his dark eyes find mine again, I give him a smile. “If it weren’t for you and Mik, I’d have thought a long time ago that there are no good men left in the world. But I have you two. You’re good men, so there’s hope for me yet.”

Chapter two

Roman

Iam not a good man.

It’s all I can think about as I turn the SUV on and pull out onto the road to drive my charge back to her apartment. I’m not a good man because of the things I’ve done in the line of duty. I’m not a good man because of the shit I grew up in. And I’m not a good man because I’m unfortunately, tragically attracted to my charge and my best friend’s daughter.

A girl ten years younger than me and so goddamn pure we shouldn’t be breathing the same air.

I check my side mirrors and out of the back windshield before shifting so that Tatiana’s face fills the mirror. She’s not crying. She’s not angry. She’s silently watching the city pass by, looking forlorn. And somehow that’s even worse.

She doesn’t care that her supposed boyfriend cheated on her; she’s disappointed that, once again, she’s been let down.

Tatiana is the kind of good that the world needs, but watching life systematically chip away at her kindness and her heart has been painful to watch. I want to throttle Victor more days than not. How something so beautiful came out of someone so... him... I’ll never know. When we were kids, he caught me pick-pocketing in his family’s territory, and instead of letting them kill me or cut off my hand, he took me in as his unofficial second in command.

That’s when we were kids. I’m not his second, but I am still in his inner circle. Which is also why he has me babysitting his daughter. Because he trusts me and knows I would never cross that line.

No matter how much I want to.

“You can say it.” Her voice is small from the back seat, but strong.

“Say what?” I ask.

“I told you so.”

I snort before I can stop myself.

“I’m not paid to have opinions on your dating life, Tanya.” It’s the nickname I allowed myself to give to her. “Little Tatiana.” It’s something a friend of the family might call her, but in my mind, I use it instead of Malyshka, “baby girl”.

She rolls her eyes at me, and it softens the ache in my chest. I prefer bratty Tatiana over sad any day. So, I dig a little deeper to try to pull her out of a depression.

“He’s an idiot.”

She’s quiet, and I’m worried that I failed. But when her tone turns serious, she has all of my attention.

“I just don’t understand men. Why would he want to hurt me? He knew I was coming. He wanted me to catch him...”

Fucking asshole. I should turn around and put my fist through his face. My hands tighten on the steering wheel. Tatiana is more mature than a lot of women her age in some ways and still so painfully naïve in others. She still thinks people are fundamentally good and that there must be a reason for cruelty.

“Because he’s a coward.”

She frowns at that, her blue eyes locking on mine in the rearview.

“That’s not a reason.”

“It is.”

“How is it a reason? How is he a coward?”