Page 87 of Hey, Daddy

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “And you just went along with this?”

She laughed. “Since when has John ever done anything that I want? He broke up with me, Haze. That’s the ultimate proof you need that John did what he wanted and damn the consequences.”

She had a point.

“Do you have any evidence that it was the senator?” I asked.

“Not more than what John was able to record on his cell phone of the conversations. You can clearly make out the senator’s voice. But no solid evidence that would be irrefutable.”

“Do you have anything else to add?” Shasha asked. “Because after you leave this building, you’re done. You don’t have any more to do with any of this.”

The threat was there.

He would not allow her to talk to anyone else.

I was in agreement.

Though, I trusted Sutton.

She’d been good for John, and I’d thought him fuckin’ stupid for letting her go.

But that didn’t mean that I wouldn’t protect Nastya. I would choose Nastya over anyone, no matter what. She would not go down for this crime, and I would make sure of it.

“I’m done,” she said. “If I find anything else, I’ll have it brought to you, but it won’t be by me.”

Shasha and I both nodded.

“Good,” I said. “Be safe, Sutton. Keep your nose clean, and don’t do anything crazy.”

Sutton smiled sadly. “I’m not that person anymore, Haze. John broke her.”

Then she was gone, leaving the office, and closing the door behind her.

“What side are you on, Haze?” Shasha asked. “I can’t go any further than this until I know.”

I turned to my soon-to-be brother-in-law.

“I’m going to marry your sister,” I said. “I’m going to kill the senator. I’m going to find every single person that has put her life in danger, and I’m going to kill them. Slowly. I’m going to leave carnage in my wake, and I’m not going to shed a single fuckin’ tear when I wind up in prison.” I paused. “As long as you promise me that my ex-wife doesn’t hurt my daughter.”

Shasha studied me for a long moment before saying, “I think we can do this in a way that won’t implicate you.”

My brows rose. “Yeah?”

“I think that I’ve had my sights set on that senator since he brought my baby sister into this dangerous game, and I have better uses for you as a police officer,” he said.

“I won’t kill for the hell of it. I won’t give you information on good people. And if you put Nastya in danger, I’ll make sure that’s the last thing you’ll ever do,” I vowed.

“I won’t ask you to do anything you’re not comfortable with,” he promised. “And you’d be welcome to kill me if I ever hurt her.”

I nodded. “Now, tell me about this plan you have in mind.”

Shasha smiled.

I don’t care what you found. I want my oil changed and that’s it.

—Nastya’s secret thoughts

NASTYA

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