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“Smartass,” she said, and tried to close the door, but he laid his palm against it, and his strength far outweighed hers.
“I’m not here to hurt you, elskan. I am looking for my niece.”
“She’s not here.”
“Where is she?”
“None of your business,” she said.
Anger flashed in his eyes, and Jesska tried not to panic.
“I’m sorry, elskan.” He reached out and ran a finger down her cheek, and she immediately felt calmer, much to her amazement. “I will not hurt you. I would never hurt you.”
She believed him. To her core, she knew he’d protect her with his life. She just didn’t know how or why she knew that. She took a deep breath. “Maybe that’s true, but I don’t know you, and the fact that you’re stalking my niece makes me question your intentions.”
“Will you allow me to explain?” he asked. “I will tell you everything I know if you’ll just let me.”
Jesska stared up at him for several seconds. “Fine. I’ll give you five minutes, but not inside. This isn’t my home, and I don’t feel comfortable inviting you in.”
“On the porch, then.”
Jesska paused for a second before stepping outside, locking the door behind her, and sitting in one of the porch chairs.
Kaspar sat in the other and stared out to the street. “My brother has made a few unfortunate choices of late—”
Jesska snorted. “A few?”
“Já. More than a few, eh?” Kaspar sighed.
“Já,” she mimicked. “What’s his deal with my sister anyway? She obviously left him for a reason.”
Kaspar cocked his head. “What do you know of their story?”
“Probably less than you.”
“I doubt that,” he admitted. “Did she tell you how they met?”
“All I know is that Megan met him at some party, and ran off with him to Iceland. She came home when Sophia was one, but she never talked about your brother, and I never asked. I was only ten when they got back.” Jesska stared out to the street. “As I got older, I just assumed something bad had happened and respected Megan’s privacy enough not to ask her about it. She told us he died, and I remember thinking it was weird that she changed their last name to Bailey, but I was too young to really understand the reason behind it. I’ve only recently learned a few of the details around her story with your brother, so I’m sure it’s cloudy memories anyway.”
“I understand why she did it now.” Kaspar grimaced. “I just wish I’d known about it at the time.”
“Why?”
“Because I could have helped. I could have protected them.”
“From what?” Jesska demanded.
“From everything. Right now, we are unclear as to exactly what is going on, but if I’d known about Megan, I would have insisted she come to my residence during her pregnancies. It’s the safest place in Iceland, perhaps in the world.”
“What did your brother tell you?” Jesska asked.
“Not much,” he said. “I’m still ignorant of the entire truth because Ari’s afraid. Of what, I’m also not entirely clear about. All I know, is that I have three nieces that no one in our family but he knew anything about until recently, and that someone wants these girls... for what purpose, I don’t know.”
Jesska frowned. “You don’t seem to know much, do you? Do you know why our nieces are in demand, so to speak?”
“They are special.”
Jesska pushed out of her chair and paced the small porch. “Special, how, exactly?”
