Their Battle for Love (The American Soldier Collection 15)

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“In the interim, if you need to go anywhere, I will need to assign guards to you. I do not want you going anywhere alone,” Nicolai told Malayna.

“I don’t plan on going anywhere. I’m trying to get used to actually being free. It’s a lot to digest,” she said to Nicolai.

He watched her closely. She wrung her hands together and always seemed on edge. He wondered how she was sleeping and if the medication the doctors gave her helped.

“I would like nothing more than to keep you hidden, guarded behind these walls, but what kind of life would that be for a beautiful young woman? I know we have so much to learn about one another, Malayna, but I am your father, your provider, and it would be my honor to help you achieve your goals and dreams. Have you ever considered a profession or has anything interested you to try?” he asked.

She nibbled her bottom lip and those sweet blue eyes that matched his stared at him in hesitation.

“Go on. We’re just talking, running through some options. I won’t dictate what you should do in life. I mean that. Everyone has a talent or a calling.”

“Well, I love the arts. I like photography and painting. I didn’t have the opportunity to pursue those interests beyond a few classes in high school and what I learned caring for an elderly woman at the hospital I worked at.”

“You worked at a hospital?”

“Yes, a small aftercare program outside of Lozova. It was steady and paid well while Mom was a maid at one of the small hotels.”

Nicolai cringed. He lived in luxury, had more money than one man could ever want or spend while his lover and his daughter scrounged to make ends meet and worked cleaning up after other people.

“I’m sorry.”

“No. Don’t be, Nicolai. I enjoyed the work I did and meeting people and caring for them. I met Olenna, an elderly woman I cared for there. She was a teacher of art and photography and even gave me a camera and books on it. It inspired me to want to not only catch images in a photograph but also to sketch them afterwards.”

“Would you like to continue to do that? I can get whatever supplies you need. I’m sure we could even get some private teachers to help give instruction.”

“I think I would feel uncomfortable with you paying for all those things. If I could work—”

“No. You are not going to work. First of all, it’s not safe. People are going to find out about you. That I have a daughter and you will become a target.”

She widened her eyes and he quickly added, “It’s inevitable and I won’t lie to you. I am going to protect you with all I have, Malayna. I have time and responsibilities to make up and I intend on never failing you again.”

“Nicolai, you didn’t fail me. You never knew I existed until it was too late.”

“But if I had known about you, if things were different, then you would not be calling me Nicolai, you would be calling me your father.”

She looked away from him and exhaled.

“That is going to take time. I hardly know you.”

“You will get to know me and I will get to know you. Let me help you with this. Let me get you the supplies you need to explore this art you like.”

She nodded her head and he felt a bit relieved that she would allow him this. She was beautiful, intelligent, and caring, and he wondered how the hell he could be her father.

Chapter 2

Malayna was chuckling. “I’m glad that you find this so amusing,” Nalia said to her as she walked down the stairs to the outside patio with the large boot on her foot.

“I’m not laughing at you. I think it’s funny that you hid down the hallway until Boian passed by before you decided to sneak out here with me.”

“He would have carried me outside. I swear, I think they don’t want me walking.”

“I think they want to keep you needing them for a little longer. It’s sweet,” Malayna said.

“Hmm. I guess it is. I do love them so much. They haven’t gotten over the fact that I was taken from them and abused.”

“They have you to hold and love so it will get better.”