Blood of My Monster (Monster Trilogy #1 ) by Rina Kent

Why did he bring them here…?

Not coming up with a logical answer, I wrap a bandage around my chest and get into a suit.

Since this is the perfect chance to try and find something in Kirill’s belongings, I do the most logical thing for someone in my position—go through his closet. Ninety percent of his tailored suits are black, but they have different cuts.

The remaining ten percent are either navy blue or dark gray, but I’ve rarely seen him wear those.

He has drawers upon drawers of luxurious and special edition watches. Ten of the same set of black-framed glasses. Some sunglasses that he almost never wears. Italian shoes and leather belts, but that’s about it.

There are no personal items or anything that helps with my search.

I’m about to put a bag back on the top drawer, when a picture falls. I grab the frame and pause.

There’s no picture inside, just…a handkerchief with his first name embroidered in the corner.

My fingers tighten around the frame, and an alien feeling drops to the base of my stomach. Kirill is anything but a sentimental person. He’s methodical, practical, and manipulative to a fault.

Actually, he uses people’s emotions against them, so the fact that he kept a handkerchief, framed it even, goes against everything I know of him. This was obviously done by a girl. But who? An ex-lover?

“Sasha! Are you in here?”

Karina’s sudden voice nearly causes me to drop the handkerchief. I hastily put the frame back exactly where I found it and step out of the closet.

Karina stands in the middle of the room, wearing an ample tulle dress, its black color contrasting against her skin.

Her face has some makeup on it, and she’s let her shiny blonde hair fall to the middle of her back. She’s crossing her arms and tapping her Louboutin heels on the floor. “Where were you? I was calling you for the past ten minutes.”

“Oh, sorry.” I grab my phone from the nightstand. “I left it here.”

“Whatever. Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“To have breakfast in my room, of course.”

“I already had breakfast.”

“Then you can just accompany me. What’s so hard about that?”

“I’d love to, but I have work to do.” Or, more accurately, I have to try to find Kirill. While we do stay overnight at the club sometimes, I’m usually there, so I know he’s safe.

Now, I’m not sure. Even with Viktor and Yuri by his side.

Is it weird that I’m starting to genuinely care about his safety? But I’m only doing this because I can’t get information if he’s dead, considering he’s the only one who has access to what his father left behind.

…Right?

“Liar, liar. I know you have the day off and don’t have to work until this evening.”

“Well…”

“Nope, not hearing it. You’re coming with me.”

She all but drags me and tells me to carry the breakfast tray, too, because it’s apparently better than the one she got.

Her room is dark and gloomy, as usual. She has the candles lit and some dim lights on, though.

“It’s breakfast, Miss. We should maybe have it on the balcony.”

“I told you not to call me Miss. My name is Karina.” She blushes. “Or Kara if you want. And nope, there’s no way in hell we’re going outside.”

“The balcony is still attached to your room. It’s not exactly outside.”

“Still no. Nope. I’m not hearing you.”

“I won’t force you, but you look so beautiful today, and I thought the sunshine would make you look even better.”

“I…” She purses her lips and studies her perfectly manicured nails that she does herself, as she told me. “Okay, I guess. Just fifteen minutes, though!”

For a sheltered princess, she really is adorable. And Kirill is right, she’s neither violent nor messy. She’s just scared of the world and prefers her little cocoon.

I pull back the curtains before she changes her mind, and she physically winces at the light. I clean the chairs and the outside table and then place the tray on top of it.

Karina remains in the shadows of her room until I gently pull her out. She holds on to my hand with her sweaty ones and watches her surroundings like a trapped animal.

“The food is so good. Anna is definitely talented.” I bite with passion into the toast, trying to make her forget about where we are.

Her leg bounces on the floor, but when I offer her a cup of coffee with cream and sugar like she prefers it, Karina accepts it, her stance relaxing.

“Are the fifteen minutes over?”

“It’s only been three minutes, Miss…I mean, Karina.”

Her expression lights up, and she smiles. “You should totally become my guard, but that stingy Kirill was like, no,” she mimics his dispassionate tone.

“You asked him to make me your guard?”

“He didn’t even let me finish asking and flat out refused.”

I didn’t know that.

“But you don’t need a bodyguard, since, well, you’re always in your room.”

She purses her lips. “Of course I do. I can, like, try on clothes I order online, and you tell me what you think. I can do your nails and we’ll have meals together like this.”