Page 143 of Hidden Empire

“I love you,” I promise, pulling her face up to mine.

I kiss her until she melts and then nod to Ivan to swoop in. With her relaxed and unsuspecting, he’s able to get my girl off of me and into a safe hold.

“Noooo,” she screams, trying to thrash in his hold to no avail.

My brother holds her just tight enough and in the right spots to keep her stomach safe but the rest of her body in place. He walks away without looking back, knowing we don’t have much time.

Apollo watches me from the side of the plane while Ivan shushes Jade, almost rocking her as they approach the steps. My love may think this separation is going to be awful for her, but it won’t. Ivan has a connection with her, and he knows how to keep her happy. She’ll be safe and distracted, exactly how I need her to be.

Fists clenching, I watch as Ivan and Jade disappear onto the plane. Once I know my brother has got her seated, I offer a nod to Apollo and fucking leave; before I can’t make myself walk away.

Jade

I passed out cold for the first few hours of the flight, falling asleep right on top of Ivan while he soothed me. He rubbed my back and whispered to me, kissing the sides of my face and assuring me that everything was going to be okay. I was exhausted and overwhelmed, finding it impossible to fight off the tiredness.

It was as if the weight of thirty boulders was crushing down on me all at once and all I could do was turn off my brain to escape. I slept dreamlessly, thankfully.

When I wake up and can control my emotions again, Ivan leaves me alone with Apollo to get himself a drink and refresh in the private bathroom. He doesn’t want to leave me, but I cried so much on his shirt that it looks crazy, and he deserves a moment to change and collect himself. Dmitri is his brother, and I’m sure today was terrifying for him too.

Without saying a word, I approach the soft leather seat across from my eldest brother and sit down, releasing a breath.

“Thank you for coming for me,” I tell my brother, feeling a little embarrassed that he saw my breakdown.

I take a sip of my water bottle, attempting to rehydrate what I’ve cried out. Now would be a perfect time for Armani to come to the rescue with some electrolyte juice, but sadly, he’s still at Empire.

Apollo nods slowly, discarding his phone to the side and giving me his full attention. “I’ll always come for you, Jade.”

“You saved Dmitri,” I remark, picking at my nails. “I mean, I know you said they couldn’t kill him, but to me, it felt like I was about to watch him die.”

“I know,” Apollo replies. “That’s why I did it.”

Never one for a show, I believe Apollo did all of this for me. He has no allegiance to Dmitri, or at least, he didn’t before. I have no idea what he put in that marriage contract, but I’m sure we can discuss it later.

“Either way, I’m thankful.”

“Remember that,” he says, and my eyebrows draw in.

Concerned, I ask, “What do you mean?”

Ignoring my question, he asks one of his own. “So, are you with both brothers or what?”

I cough on my next sip of water, barely able to hold it in and choke it down. “W-what?”

“Don’t play innocent with me, little sister,” Apollo drawls. “You were stuck to that man like glue for hours.”

My jaw falls open. “Ivan? We’re not—no, we’re friends.”

He lifts a dubious brow. “Are you sure about that?”

“More than sure,” I scoff. “We’re just… close. He makes me feel safe.”

“And Dmitri,” Apollo says slowly. “Does he make you feel safe?”

“More than anyone else in the world,” I admit.

It’s sort of hard to say since Apollo used to be the only person who I felt that safe with. But Dmitri is my person. My husband now, and he makes me feel like no one can ever hurt me again.

“And he’s fine with you attaching yourself to his brother like that?”

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