Page 23 of The Pakhan

“A father knows, sees, and hears everything. Something you should keep in mind. I need to chat with you for a couple minutes in my office. Have the time?”

“Sure.” She looked at me quizzically, following along behind as I headed in through the patio doors.

Once closed, I turned to face her, sitting on the edge of my desk. “I know you’re wondering why Caroline is here.”

“Yeah, and she told me shit.”

I lifted a single eyebrow. The girl could cuss like a sailor. “Well, she got herself into some trouble and came to me for help.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“We’ll just say the kind that could destroy her life. In fact, it already has.”

“What the hell? What happened?”

“I’m not going to go into details right now, but I need a favor. I need you to take her shopping, with the bodyguards. I’m giving her my credit card. She can buy anything she wants, but I need an entirely different wardrobe for the girl. I also need you to have her hair done.”

“What’s wrong, Pops? Are you too old for pink hair on a pretty girl?” She was laughing until she took a good look at my face.

“This is serious, baby. Some very bad men are after her and know what she looks like, partially because of her hair color. I need her unrecognizable. Plus, I’ll need a very nice ball gown or two.”

“For what?”

“For some covert operations. Nothing more.”

“Just what are you up to, Dad?”

I chuckled. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

“Right. You are a terrible liar, Daddy. But I will enjoy shopping with my bestie. It’s been a long time. So tell me,” she cooed as she batted her eyelashes as she always did when she wanted something. “Does that credit card privilege extend to your sweet, intelligent, highly loyal daughter?”

I pinched her cheek. “Absolutely. Within limitations. You have a decent job. You can afford anything you want.”

“I know but I’m making less than sixty thousand a year. I need to pay rent and electricity and purchase food.”

“And you don’t have any student loans or a car payment. You also have a huge trust fund.”

“That I don’t have access to yet.”

“Like I said, enjoy yourself, but do remember I’m not made of money.” I pulled out my wallet, handing her my American Express. The way she snatched it from my hand made me laugh. I’d tried not to spoil my daughters completely but there were times I was certain I’d failed.

She rose onto her tiptoes, pressing a kiss against my cheek. “You are fabulous, Daddy, and you have more money than God.”

As she scampered off, I sighed. I remained on heightened alert. I had a very bad feeling about the next few days.

I watched the girls as they laughed, finally jumping into the pool and wondered for the first time in as long as I could remember what my life would be like if I was a regular Joe, the kind of guy who worked eight to six, five days a week, bringing home just enough to keep the household floating.

That wasn’t me. That had never been my life. I laughed as I scanned the massive tropical pool. Maybe I was the one who was spoiled.

The knock on my open office door made me sigh all over again. When I was interrupted in the afternoon, that usually meant something was wrong.

I turned just as Nikolay walked in. Instead of the usual grin he wore, he had a pensive face, a file in his hand. “Sorry to bother you, Pakhan. But we might have an issue.”

After glancing down at the file, I could feel my muscles tensing. “What are we talking about?”

He walked closer. “I think one of our most trusted men may be cooking the books.”

“Meaning what?”

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