Chapter 7 - His Little Secret (2)

CALISTA

“I do not know what you mean.” I stuttered, forcing my hand out of his grip. Mikhail stared at me in silence. Slowly, his eyes fell to my lips and he did not move.

“Say that one more time.”

I gulped, trying to swallow the dryness in my throat as my heart slammed heavily in my chest.

Oh God! I am going to have a heart attack!

I clenched the furniture beside me as my mind started thinking of how to get out of this situation. I knew from the seriousness in his eyes that repeating my words would not do me any good.

He was ready to fuck me up.

Mikhail’s eyes lifted to mine.Then his fingers tightened around my wrist, squeezing. Pain shot up my arm and my brows twitched slightly, but I bit my lips to stop myself from making a sound.

Who knew what he was going to do?

He leaned closer, his face now only inches from mine. I could feel his breath on my lips.

“Say it again,” he said quietly.

My heart was beating so fast I was sure he could hear it.

His eyes suddenly moved away from me to the spot behind the portrait, and at that moment my eyes widened in realization.

He knows.

“I am sorry,” I started, my lips trembling, but immediately those words left my mouth, the corner of his lips twitched slightly.

“So you saw it,” he muttered, finally letting go of me.

Wait. He did not know I saw it before?

My hand fell to my side as I stood there in shock. Mikhail turned around, his back facing me. His hands lifted to grip his hair, his back muscles flexing behind the black singlet as he exhaled sharply.

“God, Calista,” he hissed.

I gulped nervously, slowly risking a glance over my shoulder, and my eyes widened when I saw the knife he had given me placed on top of the shelf beside the portrait.

He was looking at the knife, not at the portrait. So what did he mean by there were dangerous things with consequences?

I turned my head back to him. “Ah!” I flinched when I saw him standing right in front of me again. I did not even hear him move.

He reached down and grabbed my hand, yanking me along with him.

“What are you doing? Let me go!” My heart quickened in fear as he pulled me effortlessly out of the room, his grip firm around my wrist.

What was he going to do with me? Was he going to silence me?

My legs hurriedly climbed down the stairs to keep up with his speed, and soon we were heading to the dining room.

“You are here. It took you ten minutes just as you said.” Eleanor’s voice sounded in front of us, and I tilted my head past his broad shoulder to see her.

She was sitting at the table with a mug halfway to her mouth. Underneath her left eye was a Hello Kitty bandage. She must have hurt herself earlier.

Her eyes moved from him to me, scanning me up and down. She set her mug down and stood up, the chair scraping the floor behind her.

“Oh, child.” She walked past the table towards me. Mikhail let go of me and walked towards the coffee machine at the other end. Eleanor grabbed my shoulders and pulled me into a hug. “Thank goodness you are safe. I thought the worst had happened to you.”

Her hand rubbed my back as she breathed heavily, while me on the other hand, my eyes were on that man's arms.

I had never found the arms of a man attractive until I met Mikhail. He grabbed the brown mug, his long fingers brushing against it, and slowly he lifted it upwards and my eyes followed shamelessly.

With such tenderness, I wonder how those fingers would taste in my mouth while he…

I snapped out of my daze when I saw him looking at me. He had a smug smile on his face as he gave me the “I am irresistible, I know” look. I snapped my head in the other direction, my face heating up.

The hell?

How could someone change from being aggressive a moment ago to being a total jerk?

“What is wrong, Cal? You are heating up.” Her voice sounded in my ears, and that was when I remembered I was still being hugged by her.

I pushed her away from me, and she stumbled backwards in shock.

Clearing my throat, I said, “I am fine.”

I sneaked a look at Mikhail and noticed he was not looking at me, but I could see the corner of his lips slightly lifted like he knew exactly what I was doing. I quickly looked away.

I cannot appear like a child before him. I am an adult!

“You do not look fine,” she muttered, walking towards me, but I moved back. “Your face is as red as a tomato.”

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. “I said I am fine. Look.” I swung my arm, turned around and gave her a big smile. “My teeth are complete and my jaw is not dislocated. I do not have a bandage on.”

Speaking of bandages.

I remembered Mikhail getting shot. I glanced at him and this time he was looking at me while drinking from the mug, his legs crossed over the other as he rested against the counter.

He lowered the mug halfway, his eyes never leaving mine. I glanced down at his chest but saw nothing.

Hmm. That is strange.

“Calista? Are you listening to me?”

“No,” I blurted out. My eyes widened and I snapped my head to her. “I mean yes. Yes, I am listening.”

God, I cannot stay around this man. He is trouble.

“Okay?” Eleanor nodded slowly before smiling, then glanced at Mikhail. “We have something to discuss with you.”

This time, Mikhail set down the mug and moved towards us. I frowned, noticing the change in atmosphere.

Did someone die from the attack?

Was it someone I know?

She gently pulled a chair back and asked me to sit. After that, she returned to hers, smiling at me.

“Did someone die?” I asked, glancing at the two of them.

“Goodness, no,” Eleanor gasped, and Mikhail simply stared at me. “No one died.”

“So what is this about?” I demanded.

She glanced at Mikhail, then back at me, and for some reason that subtle movement from her made my stomach twist in unease.

“Cali, your stepfather and I have decided to have you live with us until we know what is happening.” She smiled widely as though that was the happiest news in my life. “We noticed you had plans to settle at Sera’s apartment, but that will not be too safe.”

She reached across the table and held my hand. “Mikhail here will be your new guardian. He will watch over you and ensure you are protected twenty four hours every day.”

The bloody fuck?!