Page 15 of Facing the Music

“Didn’t get enough of us yesterday, Pav?” Gianni jokes as he picks up the phone. There’s a few moments of silence before he realizes I pressed the video call. In hindsight, that was a bad idea. “What happened to your face?”

“I fell. Not the point. Ada is here.”

The phone is snatched from Gianni’s hands, Rhys’ face taking up most of the screen. Valentyn is standing behind him, my most serious father already forming ideas about my face and the fact that Tia’s mother is hovering around us. “Paval are you safe? Where is Tia?”

“Cairo is running her a bath. That’s not the point, either. Ada is somewhere on campus. Tia was saying she was here. She’s not allowed to be here. You said there was a protection order.” We all know that would never keep Ada away.

Once again, they’re focused on the wrong thing as Dmitri calls out from the background. “Who’s Cairo?” Gianni’s eyebrows raise and then Rhys’ as they catch onto my slip-up.

“Just… someone. That’s not… Ada is here!” A growl of frustration leaves my lips, Valentyn taking the phone and stepping away from my other fathers. I don’t understand how they’re being so playful right now when the woman who’s been threatening to take away my Tia for years is roaming around our campus. I don’t even know how Tia knows but she was terrified. “Dad—”

“We’re on it. I’ve already called a few people to keep tabs on Ada but she’s a slippery bitch and always has been. The fact that you’re calling me tells me that you both are safe. Do you trust this Cairo guy? Is he a friend?”

“Tia’s boyfriend.”

Valentyn chuckles. “You take after your fathers, I see. You can tell us all about Cairo when you visit next.”

My face turns up in confusion. “I said he was Tia’s.”

“And you would never let Tia out of your sight in a situation like this. I get it. It’s probably new. I need you two—three to stay safe. No trying to save the world. Don’t leave campus unless one of us knows. Tia’s grandparents know about the situation. If anything changes, you call me and the police immediately. Then you fucking hide. Donotconfront her, Paval.”

“I won’t do anything stupid.” I’m not agreeing to anything else and Valentyn knows I won’t. Tia’s safety is my top priority and then Cairo’s. He’s important now, too. “I have to go. They need my help.” A knowing smirk plays on my father’s lips and I’m not sure what gave it away but it’s nice to know that they’re just as accepting as Tia.

I blow out a deep breath and then step into the bathroom, Tia staring into space as Cairo helps her into the bath. He turns to me, waving me over. “Sit with her. I need to make some calls.” He taps my shoulder, a much less intimate touch than before. I suspect it’s because of the way I left the elevator and as stupid as it seems to correct now, I feel the need to.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble before dragging him into another kiss, sucking on his bottom lip. He goes rigid and then relaxes, his fingers fisting into my shirt. “Didn’t mean to run but Tia was hurting. I’ll stand still so you can finish kissing me.”

Cairo barks out a laugh, pecking my lips. “I don’t know how many times I’ve said you’re precious but I’ll tell you every fucking day. Give Tia the same attention. I’ll be back after I figure out if that woman is actually on campus.”

Satisfied, I shed my clothes and slip into the tub with Tia, settling her back against my chest. Her body sags against me as I begin stroking up and down her arms, lulling her into the peace she so rightfully deserves. When Tia tries to explain, I just listen, hating Ada a little more than I already did if that were possible.

By the time Tia expels her anger, she’s worn out, falling asleep against me as the warm water surrounds us in a little cocoon.

Chapter fifteen

CAIRO

It’s been an entire day and things have gone from bad to worse. Asking around, I’ve found several conflicting reports, each one mentioning Ada but in completely different parts of the city. However, the few I’m worried about are the ones where Ada was seen on campus, speaking to the administration, or sitting in the courtyard.

Paval and Tia have been holed up in my apartment, stuffed in the guest bedroom, only appearing in between naps. I can’t even fucking blame them. I’m barely dealing with my father’s endless demands to graduate, my phone ringing incessantly since this morning after he found the perfect woman to be my wife.

It’s just after four, my next fight in a few hours, and Tia is currently out of commission. People are getting antsy about their money and while the OGs know that my girl is off limits, it’s only a matter of time before someone tries swinging at her again. Needing a distraction, I head to the gym on the first floorof the building, making sure to lock my apartment behind me. I even turn on the fucking security system that’s been there from day one but I’ve never touched.

We can’t be too careful at this point.

Not even two feet into the gym and my phone rings again. I answer the call, just about to scream into the phone when my father’s voice reaches my ears.

“Why did I just get a call saying that you’re failing one of your business classes? What am I paying for if you’re going to squander the opportunity I’m affording you?”

I’m a fully grown adult and yet my father has to have someone on the down low feeding him my grades. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s one of the deans or if he has an administrative assistant keeping his bed warm. I swallow a sigh, knowing that it’ll only piss him off. “I think they’ve got it wrong, Dad. I’m passing this semester and graduating next year. Everything’s fine.”

Those are definitely the wrong words. “Fine? Everything is notfine, Cairo. You’re a goddamn pitiful example of my legacy at that university. You’ve not won one award or accolade and you always come home with cuts and bruises. Brute force will get younowhere.”

He’s a fucking hypocrite. He uses force everywhere, intimidation, his fists, or loud words to scare his employees into doing what he wants. “I need to study.”

“See that you do. If I find out that you failed a class, repeating it will be the least of your worries. No woman wants a husband without a degree.” He hangs up and I chuck the device across the room before slamming a fist into one of the punching bags. I’m barely passing but it’s enough to get me out the door.

Clapping echoes through the room and I twist around to see the twins approaching. Dark expressions sit on their faces as they stop in front of me, Jax holding the bag I just hit. Aidan folds his arms across his chest, shaking his head. “Caught Tia’solder doppelganger in the registrar’s office earlier. They could be fucking twins. I know you mentioned keeping an eye on the woman but that’s her mother, isn’t it? The one in the news when we were all kids?”

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