Brie could just imagine and tried hard not to laugh.
“It took us almost an hour to locate and rid my house of all those vile things.”
Brie covered her mouth, her eyes wide with amusement when he told her, “I did not realize my mistake until I sat down on the toilet. The instant I heard the telltale sound of the bomb inflating I knew my fate was sealed…”
He raised an eyebrow, looking at her accusingly. “Needless to say, in my compromised position, I only had time to throw the damn thing in my bathtub and throw a towel over it.”
Rytsar shook his head slowly. “That obnoxious smell lasted for days, radost moya. Days!”
She let out a little squeak, loving his recounting way too much.
“My men and I scanned the entire house two more times before I was confident we’d located them all.
“But…” he growled ominously. “I had not counted on my boots buried in the back of the closet.”
Brie bit her lip, trying desperately not to laugh.
“Master Anderson may have been the brains behind the sneak attack, but it was your simple but effective touches that truly made this deadly.”
Brie couldn’t hold it back any longer and started to laugh. “I’m so sorry, Rytsar.”
He smirked. “Nyet. You are not.”
She burst out in a full-on belly laugh, imagining the sexy Russian and all of those deadly bodyguards running in sheer terror just like she had, hoping to get the little silver packets with yellow smiley faces out of the house before detonation.
It was priceless!
“Do you forgive me?”
He snorted. “Do you forgive me for returning the favor?”
Brie giggled, telling him how she had unwittingly flashed one of their neighbors as she tried to get rid of the thing. She grinned afterward. “I loved it.”
“As did I, radost moya…” His low chuckle filled the room. He nuzzled her neck before biting down on her delicate skin, sending delightful shivers down her spine.
Send-Off
The following day, Brie went with Sir to see Rytsar and Faelan off. She’d left Hope with her parents out of concern for Faelan, uncertain how he was handling his grief over Kylie now that he intended to leave for Russia with Rytsar.
Marquis Gray answered the door and nodded respectfully to the Russian before addressing Sir and Brie, “It is good you two came as well.”
Brie held her breath as Marquis Gray ushered them into the house. She had hoped to see an improvement in Faelan but, as soon as they entered the room, she was disheartened to see he was even more pale and gaunt than before.
“Are you ready for this?” Rytsar asked him.
Faelan glanced in their direction, the grief in his eyes so palpable that Brie gasped in pain.
Celestia walked into the room, carrying the crying child. Brie wondered if the little girl could sense Faelan was leaving her. The desperate sound of the baby’s wails broke her heart.
Faelan winced and closed his eyes. “The sooner we do this, the better.”
Sir picked up the suitcase in the hallway while Rytsar slapped Faelan soundly on the back. “It will get better.”
Faelan let out a low grunt as if he didn’t believe Rytsar. He then turned to Marquis and Celestia and frowned. “I’m sorry for the burden I have become.”
“You are not a burden,” Marquis stated firmly.
Glancing briefly at the bereft child in Celestia’s arms, Faelan said with regret, “It’s unfair of me to ask this of you.”
Celestia was quick to answer. “We do this out of love for you both, Todd.”
Marquis clasped his shoulder. “Do what you must to reground yourself for your daughter. She deserves no less from you.”
Faelan nodded curtly and turned to leave.
The child’s cries intensified when he walked away. Brie held her breath, her heart aching for his little girl.
Faelan suddenly stopped in his tracks and walked back to his daughter, holding out his hands. Celestia placed the crying baby in his arms.
He cradled her against his chest and gently hushed her. The tiny baby quieted, then looked up at him with teary eyes.
“I will come back for you. I promise.” Faelan kissed her on the forehead before handing her back to Celestia.
Brie saw Faelan swipe his eye as he rushed out of the room without looking back. Following quietly behind Sir, Brie listened as the child began to wail again.
Once outside, it crushed her when Faelan stared up at the sky and said, “I’m barely hanging on by a thread, Kylie.”
“Do not look back, only forward,” Rytsar stated gruffly as they walked to the vehicle.
Sir handed the suitcase to Rytsar’s man and stood beside Brie, wrapping his arm around her. “If you need anything, Wallace, don’t hesitate to call Brie and I.”
Faelan held out his hand to Sir. “You helped saved my life once. I’d prefer not to owe you a second time.”
Brie instantly thought of Tono and struggled not to show any emotion when Faelan gazed into her eyes. “Look after Celestia for me, blossom. I don’t know how long this will take and she’ll have her hands full with my little girl.”
“I will.”
Faelan suddenly frowned and looked away. “I can’t imagine life without Kylie. I don’t even want to…”
“I know,” Brie whimpered.
When Faelan met her gaze again, she was hit by the immensity of his grief. “Life means nothing without her, blossom.”
She took his hand and squeezed it. “But you’ll find a way.”
Faelan glanced toward the house briefly, before turning to Rytsar. “You’ll live to regret letting me tag along with you.”
Rytsar snorted. “You’re wrong. I am a man who no longer lives with regret.”
Brie felt chills, moved by the profound truth behind his words.
With Sir by her side, she watched Faelan get in the vehicle. He called for Little Sparrow, who jumped in to join him.
Rytsar nodded to Brie. “He will be a changed man on our return, radost moya.”
“I’m grateful…for everything.” She swallowed hard to keep her emotions in check.
Rytsar winked at her. “There is nothing I’d rather do than ensure the creature is no longer a threat to you.”
“You’ll keep us apprised of the situation?” Sir asked him.
“Of course, moy droog.”
Sir furrowed his brow and looked at Rytsar thoughtfully. “I hope to repay you for helping with my sister.”
“Nyet.”
Leaning toward him, Brie heard Rytsar whisper, “I do this for me as much as for you, comrade.”
As Brie watched them drive away, she felt a great emptiness in their wake.
Once they were out of sight, Sir guided Brie back inside. They were greeted by the loud wails of the little baby. Brie immediately went to relieve Celestia. “Let me hold this little bundle of sad cuteness.”
“Celestia,” Marquis asked, “would you brew us some chamomile tea and bring a cup for yourself? We could all use a moment of calm.”
After she left, Marquis addressed Sir. “I know it is not my place, and you are within your right to say no, but I would like to be kept informed on how things progress in Russia.”