Page 114 of Wicked Knight

Dad straightens and glances back at me. "I have to go. I have a meeting with Vlad Konstantin and Alexander Ivanov. I have to explain my reasons for destroying Ryan’s hand and justify my argument for his expulsion from Raventhorn."

I walk up to Dad now and give him a hug. "Thank you for defending me," I whisper against his chest.

He taps the top of my head. "I'm sorry it happened. It's my fault. All of it is my fault. I should have known better than to approach the Konstantins."

We pull apart, but he lowers to kiss my forehead. "Hope for better."

"Yes," I nod.

"Your mother and I would like you to stay here for a few days. I hope you'll agree."

Again, I nod. "I'd like that a lot." I was actually thinking of staying. I'm not sure if I can be around anyone at the moment outside the walls of this house.

"Good, then I'll see you both later."

Mom gives Dad a quick kiss before he leaves then she turns to me with a knowing smile already seeming to guess that I'll have questions about that secret conversation they had..

"Grandpa didn't like Dad?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "No, not one bit."

"Why not? I thought your marriage was arranged. You knew each other from when you were kids."

She chuckles lightly. "We did and that's probably why my father didn't like yours. He wasn't always as put together as he is now. He loved getting himself in trouble and me too. Eventually my father stopped us from seeing each other. But by the time we got to Raventhorn, we knew we wanted to get married. Your father found a way to make your grandfather respect him when he won the media company in a card game."

I smile, fascinated. "He won it in a card game? That doesn't even sound like Dad."

" That's how the media company started. Didn't you ever think it was strange how it just flourished without the connections and roots most people have?"

"Yes, I did, but I just thought Dad was great at his job."

"He is great, but that's because he has a sort of street smart and wit about him that makes him come up with all these innovative ideas."

I appreciate the story. Most families in the Knights come from old money, but ours was new so as to speak.

Mom comes closer and touches my cheek. "Let me make you some breakfast. Then we can spend the rest of the day together doing whatever you want. Let's just forget about all the horrible things that's happening and stay positive. I'm hoping that you and Dimitri get your chance to be together."

"Thanks, mom. It means a lot to hear you say that."

"I know, sweet girl. I also know it's been hard for you over the years. Let's hope we find a way out of this mess. You deserve to be happy. I'm so sorry for what happened last night."

"That's okay. At least I don't have to marry that creep."

“No you don’t.”

At least something good came out of last night. Dimitri spoke to my father. And he was here in this house and he can come back.

We don’t have to sneak around here.

That’s something positive for today.

Monday night comes around quickly.

It's been good spending the last few days with my parents.

Today I had the place to myself because my parents had a business trip.

They'll be back on Wednesday.

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