Victor Wilhelm watched as Helena, he had taken in and adopted as his daughter, stood in the middle of her room, her back turned to him, looking at the framed picture of his father he had hung on one wall.

Her back was still slightly hunched as if trying not to attract attention from any possible enemies. She didn’t turn around when he came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, he whispered.

“How long have you been watching us?” in her ear before pressing a soft kiss against her skin, right behind her left earlobe. Her back was still stiff as steel and even though...