Stravinsky looks up and whines like he can read my thoughts.
“What project are you working on?” Angelika asks.
“Some security matters.” I keep it vague. She doesn’t need to know everything I do to ensure her safety. No unworthy boys bugging her. No pests like Eric, who will now never work for any organization affiliated with the Pryce family.
I put the tablet away and stand. “Want a snack?” It’s about time I interrogate her—without her realizing I’m doing so—to see if anyone’s been annoying her.
“What do you have in mind?”
“Greek yogurt?”
“Ooh, my favorite!”
I smile and hand her a strawberry-flavored yogurt along with a spoon. She takes it with eyes large in anticipation. “Love you.”
She’s gotten used to saying that in the last several months. Not only that, she says it at the most random times, like she’s stating it every time it pops into her head. I find that I like it.
I place a tender kiss on her forehead. “Love you more, little fawn.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Tolyan
Something’s up with the little fawn.
She’s been gazing at nothing for a while. When the dogs came out to greet her, she petted them, but I don’t think she can recall which dog she touched first. Or which one begged for his treat extra hard today.
Now she’s opposite me at the dining table eating her dinner. Her movements are mechanical, her eyes unfocused. If I ask her what she just swallowed, she probably won’t be able to answer.
She had a calculus midterm in the morning and spent a few hours at the Pryce Family Foundation. She was fine when she arrived in the office, so I doubt it’s the midterm that’s bugging her.
So. Who at the foundation upset her?
More importantly, will I need to hurt them?
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She swallows, then places a small bit of pot roast into her mouth and starts chewing again.
I exercise what’s left of my patience. “What’s wrong?” My voice is still calm, but louder.
“Huh?” She stares at me, then blinks. “Oh, sorry. Uh. Nothing.”
“Honesty, remember?” I gesture at her with my knife.
Her cheeks turn red. She lowers her gaze for a second in embarrassment. “I was just thinking about stuff.”
“And? Let’s be honest about this ‘stuff.’”
She sighs. I’m certain she didn’t expect her insistence to come back and bite her in the ass. I’m not letting it slide, though. I want to know who’s been distracting her.
“It’s Elizabeth.”
Lizochka? I don’t recall her sayi
ng anything to the little fawn today. Lizochka’s been quite busy recently.
“And Dominic.”