Nightswan

NaNo - Day 26

- Alessio - 

Thaddeus let them use his private jet to return to New York. Vasilisa seemed to have really enjoyed spending time with Mallory, McCoy, and his family. They'd even spent a few hours with the McCoy kids. Vasilisa seemed a bit uncomfortable at first—like she was worried about hurting Linley and Emma. As soon as she recognized she wasn't going to break them—they actually seemed hardier than an adult—she played with them. She chased them in the backyard and played with their dolls. Linley in particular liked running her plastic horses on the back of the couch. She told them all about how her daddy promised to buy her a pony and that she was going to learn to ride it. And she was going to be the best pony rider ever. Vasilisa encouraged the little girl's dreams and asked her all sorts of questions. What color of pony did she want? Did she want a boy or a girl? Did she want to try to jump her pony?

Her response had made Alessio laugh. She wanted to ride her pony away from all the boys in the universe so she couldn't get their germs. When questioned whether her opinion would ever change, she made a disgusted face and said never. It was impossible. Perhaps when he was her age, he'd felt similarly. He couldn't remember for certain, but it didn't matter.

What mattered was that he was now married to the most incredible woman, and he wanted to keep her close to his heart for as long as possible. And now their family had grown to three with Dash, who stayed curled up next to Vasilisa on the jet's leather couch during the entire ride home. Alessio could hear Vasi murmuring to the dog, but he couldn't understand a word of it. The small, content smile on her lips, though, spoke well enough how she was feeling. She was happy. He'd do whatever he could to keep that smile on her lips for as long as possible.

As soon as they arrived at their apartment, Alessio turned his active burner phone. He'd missed so many phone calls and texts over the few days they were in Texas, the phone buzzed itself off the table. After scrolling through the messages for a few minutes, he groaned and tossed the phone on the coffee table. Dash saw it as a sign it was time for a visit. He tucked himself in front of Alessio, facing him and sitting between his legs. Alessio rubbed behind the dog's ears and sighed.

"Is everything okay?" Vasilisa sat down next to him, rubbing her hand up and down his back.

"Total Eclipse has killed more of my men." He ran a hand down his face. "And each murder looks to have become more violent. I'm not going to tell you any of the details."

"Have you...returned the favor?"

"Not exactly." Alessio frowned. "I need to call Crane and find out why."

"Do it," Vasilisa said.

He didn't say anything. Was she telling him to call Crane? Or approve the vengeful killing of other people? He rubbed at the tight muscles at the back of his neck. Living this double life was getting progressively harder with how much more of himself he wanted to give to Vasilisa. Alessio could manage to compartmentalize when it was just him, because the only person who'd be impacted by any of his decisions was himself. Now, one misspoken word—one affectionate moment with Vasi spotted by someone in the Flight or Total Eclipse—and they were both in trouble. If anyone came after him, they'd come after Vasilisa. And whether anyone knew of her existence or not, if something happened to him, something would happen to her. It was unavoidable.

"Call him," Vasi said. "But could you not go in another room? This is my life, too, and..." Her words trailed off, and she bit her lip.

"If that's what you'd like," Alessio said. He picked up the phone and dialed Crane's number. After a few moments, the other man picked up.

"What's going on?" Alessio asked.

"Where have you been?!"

"I've been away."