I take in how powerful and attractive he looks, wearing an emerald green silk shirt and dark gray chinos.
He presses a hand to his heart and calms down before coming closer and stealing Simi right from under me.
“You gave me a heart attack,” he tells her, his tone playful as he taps the tip of her nose.
“Mama tickled me,” Simi replies, a happy smile on her face.
“Like so?” he asks, right before he tickles her side. She squirms and laughs, the sight food for my soul.
Georgi presses a kiss to her head before he sets her down on the bed. “Get ready so we can go.”
“I already ate. Georgi gave me an egg in a cup. And toast.” She jumps on the bed, too excited to stay still. “Come, Mama. Hurry!”
I quickly get up, patting a hand over my disheveled hair.
“Remember to get pajamas today,” Georgi says, drawing my attention to him. “I want to burn that outfit.”
Then he turns around and leaves.
For the next twenty minutes, Simi talks my ear off while we get ready. Well, as ready as we’ll ever be. She’s wearing another tracksuit, and I’ve just put on a clean T-shirt.
I’ve braided both our hair so it won’t get in the way, and as we leave the bedroom, my daughter’s hand in mine, I feel excitement beginning to unfurl in my chest.
“Why did you sleep so long?” Simi asks as we slowly take the stairs down so she doesn’t fall. “Georgi said not to wake you. Will the big bear still be at the store? And the castle?”
Georgi gave her breakfast and wanted me to sleep in.
“I think so,” I answer her last two questions.
It’s only been days, Nina. Things could change. You need to be careful.
As soon as I see Georgi, standing in the middle of the foyer and talking to Santino, the warning to be cautious falls on deaf ears.
Just like my daughter, I’m so desperate for everything he said to be real, I can’t keep up my defenses.
I just want one person I can trust to protect me, and I want that person to be Georgi Torrisi.
He glances in our direction, and while still talking, he gestures for me to come closer.
“Just make sure they all know. I want this day to be perfect.”
“On it,” Santino replies before smiling at us. “Morning, ladies.”
“Morning,” I reply. “My daughter doesn’t speak English.”
“Shit,” The guard mutters before waving at Simi. She returns it with a big smile.
“That’s something we have to rectify. I’ll find someone who can teach Simi English so she’s ready when it’s time for her to go to school,” Georgi says, as if it’s the simplest thing on earth, and he’s not talking about way into the future.
He’s really serious about us staying with him.
The thought hits me over the head again.
I’m still processing the emotions Georgi evokes in me when he wraps his hand around the back of my neck and leads me to the elevator.
“Are you ready to get all the toys you want,malkata mi printsesa?” he asks Simi.
“Yes!”