Page 22 of Lost & Found

I’m five minutes out. Bring her straight to me. We can let Nik know later.

BELLARUSO:

We’re at the studio. We’re waiting for Marcus. See you in twenty. Love you.

MARCEL:

Love you too. Stay with her.

BELLARUSO:

Will do.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and looked at Pasha. I gave him a small smile as one hand rubbed circles on her back. He was speaking to her in Russian, his voice low and steady, the cadence soothing. Maybe it was because I had a brother, but nothing in the way he held her screamed that he wanted her for himself.

Why couldn’t Hannah see that?

Another knock sounded, and Aiden poked his head in. “Marcus is here,” he said.

“Thank you. I hate to ask, but do you—”

“I’ve got a late appointment. I’ll close up and make sure everything is ready for tomorrow,” he offered before I could finish my question.

Pasha was making his way out with Kinsley. “Thanks, I owe you one,” I said, slipping past Aiden and shutting my office door.

Marcus had the door open, and his cheek twitched in anger at the sight of Kinsley’s tear-streaked face. The three of us climbed into the car. Kinsley was quiet the entire way home, but tears still streamed down her face as she looked out the window. She’d pulled away from Pasha. Tonight was going to be a tough one for her.

Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to the house. Kinsley sighed wearily. Once inside, I guided her to Marcel’s office. The look in his eyes said it all. He gave me a warm, reassuring smile. I relaxed, knowing he’d bring the calm and understanding she would need. He always did.

He took her hand and led her to the couch. “I’ve got you. We’ll get through this.”

“I don’t understand why it’s bothering me so much…”

I closed the door behind them, leaving them alone. Pasha was waiting for me, concern etched on his face. He pushed off the wall, his jaw clenched with frustration. He shook.

“I swear,” he began. “I don’t know what else to do. How many times do I have to tell Hannah we’re done for her to get it?”

His words spilled out in a rush. That frustration he’d contained bubbled right to the surface now that we were alone.

“She never used to care about other women when we were together,” he continued. “What does she hope to gain by acting this way?”

“You’re asking me?”

“You’re both women, right?” Confusion lay in his brown eyes.

“Technically, I suppose,” I offered, at a loss to answer him.

Our heads were bent close, engrossed in the conversation, when a shadow fell across me. I jumped. Sebastian stood staring at us both, a puzzled expression on his face.

“What’s going on here?” he asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

I scrambled for words, heat creeping up my neck like I’d been caught doing something I shouldn’t. “Oh, uh, hey Sebastian,” I stammered stupidly, only making things ten times worse.

His eyebrow lifted in question, and he swung an angry gaze at Pasha.

“Hannah stopped by Isabella’s and then popped off on Kinsley,” Pasha said. With not a hint of awkwardness, he took over, leaving me relieved.

“Did tiny tot draw blood?” he asked.