Page 158 of Hidden Empire

“Dad,” she says more forcefully. “I’m telling you, I’ve never seen this woman before.”

A sick feeling of unease creeps into my gut. “What did you say she looks like?”

“Brown hair, gap between her two front teeth, straight shoulder-length hair, fake tanner, she has a little scar on her lip where it used to be pierced.”

No. Fucking. Way.

My face must shift with the realization because Jade starts to look scared.

“What is it? What are you thinking about?”

“Kim didn’t raise you,” I let the words leave me, unable to lie. “Karina did.”

“W-who?”

“Kimberly’s sister,” I grit out. “I don’t know how or why, but Karina is exactly who you’re describing.”

Jade blinks, digesting the information.

“Kim and Karina hadn’t spoken in five years when I met her. They were best friends as children, but Karina has always been insatiably jealous of Kimberly. I don’t know how since they’re twins.”

There are so many fucking twins in my life. How does that even happen?

“Do you think Kim gave me to her?”

I really fucking doubt it.

“You don’t,” she mutters, expression falling. “Do you think Karina hurt her and took me? She took Kim’s name and just… took me?”

“That seems like the most likely scenario, yes.”

My control is hanging on by a thread, but I refuse to let Jade think she’s the one upsetting me. She’s done nothing wrong, she’s just been lied to her entire life.

“So, my real mom could still be out there, right?” she asks, tucking her lip between her teeth. “Maybe?”

“I don’t want to get your hopes up,” I warn. “But I can tell you this much, I’m going to find out everything for you, Jade. I’m not going to stop until she pays for what she’s done.”

I’m going to have Karina wishing she was never born.

Chapter 42

Dmitri

If you told me even a year ago that two Moretti sons would be accompanying me to hunt down my mother, I’d have laughed in your face. The Morozovs and The Morettis tolerate each other at best. We aren’t allies, but we know the idea of a war between us would be detrimental to both of our organizations. Being sort of friends with Nico is as far as I thought our connection would grow. Now, we’re family.

After getting Jade to safety, I had to spend a week on campus, using every resource available to track Nina down and end this for good. I know she’s responsible for sending those pictures to the Lord, and she’s going to regret giving me even a hint to work off of.

I had to resort to hiring Thiago’s family for a hefty fucking price, but at this point, I’m willing to do anything. Including trusting two men who really don’t fucking like me right now. I still have a bruise on my jaw from when Armani slammed his fist into it, demanding to know where his sister was. If he would have waited for three seconds, I would have told him.

Nico pulled him away from me before his brother could do more than punch, but demanded that I talk. I understood it, I’m not stubborn enough to pretend that I didn’t. They went away for one day into the mountains and they came back to their little sister being gone.

Matteo was guilt-ridden as hell, having known about her friendship with Ivan, and he felt responsible until I started explaining. Their sister was pregnant, she was mine, and she went home. I thought Armani’s head was going to explode when I said that Apollo married us. I confessed that Jade wanted to tell them so badly, but she could never find the right words or the right time.

She adores her brothers, but handling their overbearingness isn’t easy for her to navigate yet. Jade grew up with no one caring about her, and having so many people caring so deeply for her and her safety is still new for her.

As the dust of our secrets being spilled settled, I explained that I was going to leave after locating my mother. I told them that I know she is capable of being a threat to not only me but everyone who matters to me. The mood instantly shifted there.

Armani and Nico glued themselves to me, refusing to let me do this alone. Armani still doesn’t particularly like me, that much is clear, but Nico has trusted me for years now. Well, as much as Nico Moretti ever trusts anyone.

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