Page 115 of Dmitri

“D, we need to talk.”

I pop a grape in my mouth and turn to Ryker. “About?”

Oh fuck. It’s not just Ryker. Vault’s here too. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “What’s going on?”

“I think you better sit down,” Vault says.

“I think you better tell me what the fuck you two are doing coming at me like this.” It makes me feel cornered and caged, and I don’t appreciate it.

“I did some digging on your girl.”

“Okay.” I cross my arms and lean against the stainless-steel counter, giving Vault my full attention. “What did you find?”

“She’s been in the foster system since she was seven. She was rehomed several times until she stuck with a family and turned eighteen. Has a degree in—”

“We already went over her AA degree and medical coding job.”

Vault glances over at Ryker, then back at me. “She’s fostering someone.”

“Yeah. Addie.”

Ryker’s brow digs down. “You know about Addie already?”

I shrug. “Daelyn’s gotten into something she’s trying to work her way out of. Addie’s a big reason for it.”

They both look crest fallen. “Do you know who Addie is?”

“No.” And I don’t care. If she’s important to Daelyn, that’s all that matters.

Vault steps a little closer. “Addie’s been in the foster system since she was two. She landed with Daelyn after her last foster’s house burned to the ground.”

“Okay.” I don’t get why they’re acting like this is terrible news. “Daelyn’s busting her ass to take care of her.” I’m not about to go into the details with these two yet. I’m still gathering my intel.

Vault’s tone grows even more serious. “Addie’s parents died in a murder suicide.”

Ryker looks down. His jaw clenches and body language is too stiff. I don’t like it.

“The dad beat the shit out of the mom a lot,” Vault says cautiously. “The cops were called to their house often, but no charges were ever pressed.”

That’s awful. I feel sorry for the woman, but she’s not my problem. “I’m not following what this has to do with Daelyn.”

“Matthew Kenzel is Addie’s father.” Vault’s brow pinches. “Annie was her mother.”

“Okay.” I fail to see the problem. I don’t know a Matt or Annie Kenzel. “What’s the issue?”

“Annie was short for Anya,” Ryker says. “Anya Petrov.”

I… I must be hearing things. Did he just sayAnya Petrov? “What?”

“We found the paternity test she had taken, along with her medical records.” Ryker steps closer, knowing what this news is doing to me. “Addie is your half-sister, D.”

Chapter 32

Dmitri

I wait impatiently for the guards to bring my dad in for visitation. I’m so nervous, my knee won’t stop bobbing under the table. It’s been two years since he got locked up and I’ve been on my own. He refused to see me prior to now but called me yesterday and said a visit was needed.

I have a million questions, all of which die on my tongue when he enters the room.

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