His Ward Read Free Page B

edge. “Not everything.”
    “Is that so?” His words were a challenge she wasn’t quite sure she understood the rules to. So to be safe, she kept quiet. “Since you prefer to remain unclothed, gentlemen, please wait outside.”
    As one, the men began to make their way toward her front door. Even though the door only led to the hallway, Tionne didn’t feel right forcing them out of the apartment over something as silly as her clothing. She didn’t have a problem changing; she just had an issue with the way he insisted she do as told. Despite her desire to rebel against him, it just wasn’t in her to put others out. “Misha, they don’t have to do that.”
    “I disagree.”
    “The neighbors already think I’m connected to the mob. Having them stand point outside the door isn’t going to help me.”
    “Then maybe you should put some clothes on.”
    “Are you telling me that it’s perfectly okay for you to sneak into my bathroom when I’m undressed, but it’s somehow unseemly for them to see me in a robe even though I’m fully covered?”
    “I didn’t sneak, and yes,” he said firmly. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
    “You are such a bully.”
    “The decision is yours, Tionne,” he said in a calm and reasonable tone. “You can remain comfortably clothed, or they can stand outside. Whatever you desire.”
    Tionne wasn’t a fool. It was barely a choice. “Fine. I’ll be back.”
    He nodded solemnly. “As you wish.”
    Irritated, she flipped Misha off, earning a scowl from him for her effort. As far as comebacks went, she knew it was a weak one, but damn, it felt good.

Chapter Two
    She was keeping something from him. Misha knew that as surely as he knew the sun rose in the east and set in the west, and he didn’t like it. Not one little bit. Things had changed between them. He didn’t know when, and he didn’t know why, but they had, and it wasn’t for the better. Far from it. There was a time when she’d come to him for everything. Now he couldn’t get her to answer a simple question.
    The fact that she said she wasn’t his responsibility didn’t sit well with him at all. It was utter nonsense. The debt he owed her father could never be repaid, not in this lifetime or the next. Making sure Tionne had everything she needed and everything she wanted was not only his responsibility but also his honor. And the fact that she said otherwise bothered him more than he cared to admit.
    “What do you know?” Nicholi asked the second the pretty African-American woman was out of sight.
    Misha held up one finger, then glanced at his bodyguards. “Gentlemen, please wait outside.” Without a single word being uttered the two men turned and filed out into the hallway. As soon as the door closed behind the last guard, Misha lowered his hand and his voice. “Not a damn thing,” Misha replied, answering his cousin’s question. “She refused to tell me what had upset her.”
    “So what are you going to do?”
    “Get answers.” Now the only question was how. “I think I saw her phone on the floor in the bathroom.”
    Nicholi nodded thoughtfully. “Good place to start.”
    “Very.” Even if she hadn’t left her phone in there, they could still use her cell to get information. The plan was in his name. It would take only a few minutes to pull up her call and text history.
    “But before we start snooping, let’s talk about the obvious. She doesn’t look hurt. If we take this step and invade her privacy, there’s no going back. Are you sure you want that on your conscience?”
    He stared blankly at his cousin. “What conscience?”
    Nicholi smiled. “Okay, good point. I’m just saying if Tionne finds out about this—and she’s a woman, so that pretty much means she will—are you going to be fine with the fallout?”
    “Her anger I can handle. Doing nothing when I could have done something, I cannot.” Misha glanced in the direction Tionne had gone. “Something happened