Page 162 of Hidden Empire

“The happiest,” she confirms, warming my heart.

“Then your husband can continue to live,” Nico informs her.

What a winning endorsement.

“His life is still up for debate,” a deeper voice rumbles.

And my father-in-law walks in.

Chapter 44

Jade

“Dad, no, it isn’t,” I clip right away, nipping his threat in the bud.

“It’s okay, Krasotka,” Dmitri reassures me, patting my shoulders reassuringly.

“No, it isn’t,” I insist. “If anyone tries to hurt Dmitri, I’m going to tell Martha, and if that doesn’t scare you enough, I’ll leave with him.”

I don’t want to threaten it, but I have to. I could never hurt my family, and leaving would just about break me. And I’d still do it, for my husband and for my babies.

“Jade,” Dad questions, devastated.

“I don’t want to,” I say firmly. “I could live here for my whole life and never want to leave. But I will leave if you force my hand.”

My chest aches just saying it, but I won’t take it back.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” a playful voice rings out. “What’s all of this about leaving? I just got here.”

The mood lifts instantly as Matteo swaggers into the room, Remo following close behind. A splitting smile breaks on my lips, and I squeal. “You’re here! How are you here!” My grinning brother meets me in the middle as I rush over to him, scooping me off of my feet and spinning me around in a hug.

“I missed my favorite sibling,” he answers, hardly explaining how he’s home before the semester has ended. He sets me down and shoots Apollo a nod. “Thanks for the Jet, fuckface, could have used a lift from the airport too.”

“You knew?” Dad and I ask in unison.

Apollo shrugs nonchalantly. “He asked for a flight out.”

“What about graduating?” Dad asks Matteo, looking concerned.

“Don’t worry, I’m a master negotiator now. We’re good to go for next semester, all of us, if we want.”

I’m definitely not going back, not with two babies who need me.

“How’d you swing that?” Armani asks, surprised as everyone else.

“Easy.” Matteo shrugs. “I got shot.”

Mayhem ensues.

“You got shot?”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Dude, what?”

“What the hell happened?”

“Not all at once, damn.” Matteo chuckles, holding his heart. “I’m really feeling the love, though, that was nice.”

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