The Bandit (The Stolen Duet 1)

“Have these bad men mistreated you?” Though her tone was light, I noticed how she subtly checked him for signs of abuse as soon as he was in her arms.

“Mian.”

“It never hurts to ask,” she grumbled. She looked up and met my gaze, which had turned hard and cold again. “Why are you hanging around anyway? You don’t trust me with my own baby?”

“Just satisfying a curiosity.”

“I see.” She lowered her head again to stare at her son. “And whatever business you have waiting for you isn’t more important?”

“Business doesn’t happen without my say so.”

“Fascinating.”

“What is?”

“How proud you are to be a criminal.”

I felt my gaze narrow. “I thought you said you were going to behave.”

A tiny smile spread her lips, but she turned away before I could see it form into a full-blown smile. She had no idea her smiles weakened me or else she would never deny me them. Mian had never been the type to tempt, but I was sure she was willing to do just about anything to rescue her son.

“Can I ask you something? It requires honesty.”

She faced me with suspicion in her gaze. “Okay,” she conceded with hesitation.

“Your father’s eyes are green. Yours are green.”

“Where is the question?”

“Does Caylen’s father have blue eyes?” She looked alarmed confirming only half of what I knew about the father.

“Why do you ask?”

“Answer me.”

She thought it over before she answered. “Yes.”

“I’ll leave you two alone then.” I caught her frown before I turned and headed for the door.

“Angel.”

I turned at the sound of her call.

“Yes, Mian?”

She seemed to struggle with something before she moved to the chair and took a seat. “Nothing.”* * *The sun wasstarting to set when I returned to Mian’s room. I found her stretched on her side next to a sleeping Caylen.

“He fell asleep.”

“Babies do that.”

“Maybe he’d be more comfortable in his crib.”

She snorted. “Come on, Angel. Be a man. You’re taking him from me.”

“Yes, Mian. I am.”

She was silent for a while but then she said, “Can I see?”

“See what?”

“I want to see where you’re keeping him.”

I started to ask why, but then it occurred to me that, as his mother, it was important to her. “Sure.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Yeah. Really.” I held the door open and waited. She watched me for a few seconds longer and then scooped the baby in her arms.

I led the way to the other side of the house with her close on my heels. When we reached the nursery, I let her pass and tried to ignore the guard Lucas insisted we put in place. His attention was locked on Mian. “It’s the door right in front of you.”

“You aren’t coming in?”

“No.” She must have sensed my anger because she entered the nursery without a smart retort. Once the door closed, I pushed into the guard’s space. “Something wrong with your focus?”

“Sir?”

“I know an eye fuck when I see one. Do I pay you to eye fuck?”

“No, sir.”

“So next time, what will happen?”

“I… uh—”

“You’ll keep those thoughts to yourself, or I’ll take care of your eye problem with my favorite knife. Get me?”

He gulped and wouldn’t meet my gaze for shit. “Yes, sir.”

I made a mental note to send him packing in the morning and entered the nursery. Mian already had Caylen in his crib where she stood over him. Her attention, though, was shifting around the room. She looked confused.

I tried to see what she saw but couldn’t see past the comfortable crib, soft lighting, and changing table stocked with pampers and wipes. On the shelves I had brought in were onesies and caps, bibs and binkies, and blankets. Her precious Caylen wanted for nothing.

“Something wrong?”

Her gaze finally locked with mine and there was nothing but disdain in her green eyes. “It’s not what I expected.”

“Meaning?”

“You’re going through a lot of trouble to pretend you aren’t a monster.”

My gaze narrowed. “Would you rather I dangle him over a tank of hungry sharks?”

“I’d rather you let us go, but since that isn’t happening, then yes,” she hissed. “I’d like you to stop playing games, but by no means do I want you to hurt my son.”

I moved in until she had no choice but to retreat. “If you’re looking to be hurt, I can accommodate you.”

“I want to know what game you’re playing.”

“We’re at war, Mian. Enemies don’t flash each other their playbook.”

“What does it matter if you’re already dead? It’s just a matter of time.” The venom in her tone was chilling, but I had years of conditioning and wouldn’t tremble so easily even if I did believe she meant it.

“I could say the same for you.” She bared her teeth, and I could almost feel them sinking into me as I drove into her.

Damn.

“Have dinner with me.”

Instantly, she changed from angry tigress to scared doe. “What?”