Page 56 of Use Me, Daddy

A burst of static, then Sergei’s gruff voice: “Already on it.”

I moved faster, my steps quick and silent as I rounded the corner. That’s when I finally spotted my Amy, standing near the display of a Chagall, her eyes wide with confusion as she tried to calm a panicking guest.

“Stay here,” I barked as I reached her, my hand gripping her arm. “Do not move.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but I shot her a look that brooked no disobedience. She nodded reluctantly, her eyes searching mine for a split second before I released her and turned away.

The backup generator finally sputtered to life, bathing the room in a dim, flickering red light.

“Sergei, report!” I snapped into the earpiece, pushing my way through the crowd.

“Two men breached the storage room.” Sergei’s voice came through, breathless. “I got one, but the other slipped out with a piece. Looks like they hit the Rembrandt and a few other expensive pieces.”

Fuck.

Roman appeared at my side, his jaw set. “We’ve locked down the building. No one’s getting in or out until we’ve swept the place.”

“Good,” I growled, my eyes still darting around the room. “I want those pieces recovered, Roman. Whatever it takes.”

As he nodded and slipped away, I spotted Amy again. She was watching me, her eyes wide with something that looked a lot like fear… and maybe a hint of something else. Concern? Trust?

I crossed the room to her in a few quick strides, my hand reaching for hers.

“Are you alright?” I asked, my voice lower now, more controlled.

“Yes, but—” She hesitated, her gaze flicking to the chaos around us. “What’s happening?”

“Stay close to me,” I ordered, leaving no room for debate. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

She nodded, her fingers tightening around mine, and for a brief moment, the chaos around us seemed to fade. I could feel the heat of her skin, the rapid pulse in her wrist, and despiteeverything, I couldn’t help but be struck by how badly I wanted to protect her.

The Orlovs had made their move, but they’d also made a mistake.

Because now, they had myfullattention. And I was going to make damn sure they regretted it.

I kept Amy close to me as I led her through the darkened gallery. The emergency lights flickered, casting everything in an ominous red glow that made the usually elegant space feel like a battlefield. I could still hear the guests’ panicked voices echoing from the main hall. But right now, my only concern was keeping Amy safe.

Her hand was in mine, her fingers cold but gripping tightly as we moved through the chaos. I could feel the questions burning in her eyes, but she stayed silent, trusting me to lead. It was good—because if she asked me right now what the hell was going on, I wasn’t sure I could give her an answer that wouldn’t send her running for the door.

We reached a quieter hallway, the noise of the main event fading behind us. I glanced back at her, taking in the way her lips were set in a thin, determined line.

“Stay close to me,” I said, my voice low. “I mean it, baby girl. Don’t leave my side.”

“Believe me, I don’t plan to,” she replied, her eyes wide and shining with confusion. “But what the hell is happening, Aleksei?”

I clenched my jaw. I couldn’t exactly tell her that this wasn’t just about the art, at least not right now. That this was the Orlovstrying to push into my territory, to see how far they could go before my family retaliated. But I also knew I couldn’t lie to her—not entirely.

“It’s… complicated,” I said, keeping my voice steady as I scanned the hallway. “Just trust me. I’ll explain later.”

Amy looked like she wanted to argue, but before she could say anything, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. I shoved her behind me, my heart rate spiking. One of the Orlovs’ men rounded the corner, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw us. He was carrying a painting, a priceless piece that I knew had been in the back room.

“Hey!” Amy shouted, stepping forward, but I held out my arm, stopping her.

“Stay back,” I ordered, my voice harsher than I intended.

The man’s eyes darted between me and Amy, clearly trying to calculate his odds. But he didn’t know who he was dealing with. I took a step forward, narrowing the distance between us.

“Put it down,” I growled, my tone laced with the kind of menace that usually sent men running. But this one was either too stupid or too loyal to the Orlovs to back down.

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