Page 145 of Hidden Empire

“What? What’d you say to him?”

“What do you think?” He arches a thick brow. “I warned him what I was coming home with.”

“You did what?” My heart begins to race. “You said you’d keep it a secret?—”

“And I did,” he argues. “But going in cold-cocked is not how this venture becomes a successful one. Dante Moretti is a reactionary man. I gave him time to digest, you’re welcome. Again.”

“I don’t see how?—”

“You have no idea what rumors he’s heard about your time at Empire. How do you think he’d handle seeing your puffy, crying face while you stand next to a stranger? He’d kill Ivan right on the tarmac before asking a single question.”

“I hardly think?—”

“And another thing,” he cuts in. “Your life was threatened several times, he needed to be informed about that. He’s not just our father?—”

“He’s our capo, right, I get it,” I finish, stealing his unsaid words. “Thank you, Apollo. I know you’re doing what’s best. I’m just scared.”

A single hand on my shoulder is all the comfort he offers. “You’ll be fine. Phase two is simple enough.”

Chapter 38

Jade

When we descend the plane stairs, it takes two blinks before I understand why Apollo called our father before we landed. He looks furious even with the heads up, but I don’t miss the fact that Uncle Cesar has my dad’s gun on his hip. They unarmed him, and he let them. So he’s angry as all hell but not murderous. It’s a start.

The sun strikes down on us so much that I lift a hand to help block it out.

No one moves toward one another until Dad takes a step closer.

Blurry-eyed, I watch as Ivan steps in front of me, separating me from my father’s line of sight. I peek around his shoulder, looking up at him with furrowed brows.

Apollo sighs at my side, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This should be fun,” he groans sarcastically.

“Is this him, then?” Father demands, voice dripping with fury. He doesn’t come closer, standing his ground as Cassio, Elio, and Uncle Cesar flank his sides. “This is the Russian fuck who defiled my baby girl?”

I let out a sound of protest, peeking out from behind my man-shield as much as he’ll allow. “I am not defiled!”

“Fine,” Dad says, correcting himself. “Is this the Russian fuck who impregnated my baby girl?”

“Father—” Apollo starts, only to be cut off.

“And what if I am?” Ivan challenges, clenching his jaw. “Is this how you greet your son-in-law? Your hospitality is lacking.”

I have to bite my lip to hold back a laugh. Ivan is nuts to taunt my father this way, but I don’t think he sees it that way. He’s confident in his ability to keep me safe and himself alive against anyone.

“Oh, so he’s skinny and dumb,” Uncle Cesar jokes, shifting to meet my eye. “Nice catch, sweetheart.”

Before I can give him a piece of my mind, Apollo steps in.

“This is not Dmitri Morozov, this is his brother Ivan. He’s her guard and rather annoyingly good at his job from what I’ve seen.”

“Oh?” Father’s jaw ticks. “Is Dmitri too cowardly to join us then?”

I love my dad so much, but right now, I want to kick off my shoe and throw it at him. How can he say these things about someone he doesn’t even know? How can he not know how hard it is for us to be apart?

“He’s not cowardly,” I shout, holding back tears. I’m all cried out. I can’t possibly handle any more blubbering. Dmitri said I need to regulate my emotions and stress for the good of the babies, and I’m damn well going to try.

“He made me leave early because of a threat, and he’s going to take care of it. He’s not a coward, he’s protecting me.”

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