Page 188 of Dark King Daddy

Oleg stood just inside the doorway, beside Kostya. Beyond Daniil, Nikita’s car waited with its engine running. The black SUV was parked along the fence; its driver watched us through the open window. There was space to get past it to the gate.

So close.

“Ksenia goes to the car first,” Daniil said. “Then I come inside.”

“Sir, I remember our agreement.” Oleg smiled. “You have the papers?”

“In my jacket.”

“And you’ll sign them.”

“When she’s with my brother.”

Oleg glanced at Kostya. The fingers around my arm loosened.

I looked at Daniil. He was going to let me walk past him. He was going to stand here while I got into the car, and then he was going to go into that room with them.

I couldn’t make my feet move.

“Daniil.”

“Go to Nikita.”

“What about you?”

His jaw tightened. He looked straight at me.

“I love you. Go to the car.”

He hadn’t answered. Behind me, Oleg shifted, impatient, and I understood that if I stayed here arguing I would give him a reason to stop this.

I stepped over the threshold.

Daniil was within reach. So close I could have put my hand on his chest. So close I could have kissed him.

I looked at the car instead.

Oleg’s phone rang.

“Papa.”

The word stopped me.

Behind me, Oleg listened. I took another step. Perhaps if I reached the car before the call ended, perhaps if I could just—

“Hold her.”

Kostya caught my left arm and jerked me backwards.

“No.” The word tore out of me. “No, you said—”

“Be still.”

He pulled me back to the threshold. My heel caught the sill. Pain went through my knee, and I grabbed the frame to keep from falling.

Daniil moved towards us.

Oleg stepped back into the bay and drew his pistol.