Page 177 of Hidden Empire

Apollo notices us first, striding over to our side with large steps while shaking his head. “I told you she’d want to be here,” he tells Dmitri, sounding angry about it.

My eldest brother knows me too well.

“I had to try,” my husband shoots back, equally as angry.

Faster than I can process, Ivan is gluing himself at my side.

“You listen to every word I say, do you hear me?” he asks, his words practically snapping from between his teeth. “Every fucking word, Jade.” Best friend mode is officially off, I think I’m getting my first look at Ivan as a true guard. “Every. Word.”

“I got it,” I reply, keeping my voice steady so he knows I’m listening.

Ivan’s eyes hold mine, and a deep understanding passes between us. I know he doesn’t want me here, and he knows I have to be. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe and happy, no matter what, and I love him for it.

“I need you with me,” Apollo tells my husband, causing my head to spin back to the two of them. The thought of Dmitri leaving my side makes my stomach churn, but if Apollo needs him, he has to go. Ivan’s got my back.

Explaining himself, Apollo continues, “I don’t trust that this cunt is alone, and this property is too vast to cover every inch.”

Dmitri looks like he’d rather cut his own stomach open and eat his organs than leave my side, but Cassio comes over, stepping in to take his place. “We’ve got her. Your skills are needed elsewhere.” Cassio is a strong man, but his skill set lies outside of brute force. He’s a fixer and a strategist. Dmitri… he’s an annihilator.

“Fuck,” he grits out. “Fine, let’s go.” Kissing me hard on top of the head, he nods at Ivan. “You know what to do.”

Of course he does, he was born for it.

Apollo forces Armani and Remo with him, leaving Elio, Matteo, and Nico with us, guarding the exits with trained eyes and extreme caution. They’re all armed and on edge. From across the room, I can practically feel Matteo’s desire to be at my side too. Since he’s likely been instructed to, he stays in his zone, but continues to flick his eyes to me every few seconds.

Cassio and Ivan flank my sides as Dmitri and Apollo disappear, making sure that I’m surrounded before bringing me closer to where all of the commotion is going on. Uncle Cesar is nearby, watching my father’s back as he approaches our prisoner. Only she’s not looking back at him, she’s watching me over his shoulder, having just noticed my presence. Merely looking at her makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Karina cackles, tossing her head back for full effect. “Oh, goodie, look what we have here.” Her eyes feel like hot coals on my skin. Karina looks at me like I’m dirt, and she practically always has.

Refusing to let her see me flinch, I keep my face neutral.

“The whore is pregnant at eighteen,” she sneers. “What a shock?—”

“Shut. The Fuck. Up,” Dad demands, his tone the only warning he’s willing to give. “My daughter is none of your concern.”

My father flicks open a large knife threateningly. The blade is razor sharp, silver flashing underneath the lights. It’s thick and daunting in his capable hands.

“Where is Kim, Karina?”

His voice has a cold calm that sounds more lethal than any yelling I’ve ever heard. He’s perfectly in control right now, using the upper hand to let her know that she’s beneath him. This is his home, and she’s an uninvited guest.

She bubbles with another high-pitched, demented laugh. “Oh, you’ve figured out that I’m not your precious Kimberly, have you?”

The way she says her own sister’s name sends prickles of discomfort up the back of my neck. What Dad said before is true. Karina hates Kim.

How do you hate your own twin?

Any delusions I created that Kim gave me to Karina have entirely evaporated. Theirs is not a sibling relationship built with any sort of trust, admiration, or love. I doubt they’d share pleasantries over tea, let alone a child.

So the question remains, where is my mom?

“Was it the name that gave it away? I mean, I literally named her after the color green. Kimberly fucking hated the color green?—”

She named me Jade just to spite Kim even further?

“No, you think she hated green,” Dad snaps, cutting her off. “It’s just a fucking color, she couldn’t care less about picking one to dislike.”

I have no idea if he’s telling the truth, but I’m going to choose to believe it. I can’t live the rest of my life thinking my mom would hate my name.

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