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“No thanks necessary. We’re family.”

“Yeah.” He gives me a broken smile. “We are.”

“The three of you aren’t allowed to leave my sight,” I say casually. “But we’ll get through this.”

Some of the tension in the room eases under the weight of my words, and the anxiety that’s been running through me since David’s call slowly begins to dissipate.

This isn’t at all how I wanted the trips to join me in my new life, but it’s a step in the right direction to hopefully get a better life for the three of them.

Hours after the clinic closes, I’m in my office going over paperwork. Without James or Soren here to curb my workaholic tendencies, I can sink into what’s been familiar to me for so many years, even if it’s just paperwork.

The bodyguard Joel sent to replace James isn’t one who’s spent much time on my guard, so he doesn’t know I’m not allowed to stay this late, which works in my favor. Especially since Soren texted to say he’s going to be busy with his friend for a while.

A loud bang has me looking up from what I’m doing, especially when it’s followed by a few thumps. My office is all the way in the back of the clinic, so I can’t tell what’s making so much noise.

When everything suddenly goes silent, I’m on high alert. The only people who should be here right now are me andmy temporary bodyguard. After a lifetime as part of the Amato Family, I’ve learned to trust my instincts.

Cristian and Tennant made sure I was well equipped and trained to their exacting standards. That they saddled me with a permanent guard tells of my importance to the main Family—and maybe my penchant for letting my mouth get me into trouble also led to the decision of giving me a guard.

I can take care of myself, but I’ve never had to because I’ve always had guards. That doesn’t mean I’ve been lax in my training, though.

Silently, I push my chair away from the desk and stand. Pulling the scalpel out of my sleeve, I find the correct grip. Automatically, I want to hold it as if I’m going to cut someone open for surgery. Tennant’s always made fun of my weapon of choice, but as a doctor, no one would question having the blade on me. I’m sure most doctors don’t have their sleeves modified to hide their scalpels, but those doctors aren’t cool enough to need them.

On quiet, cautious feet, I cross my office to the door. Peeking out, I don’t see or hear anything, which isn’t exactly an encouraging sign. As silently as possible, while holding my scalpel beside my hip, I walk down the hall, sticking close to the wall.

It’s been a long time since my attack, since I was in any situation where I had to seriously defend myself, but the feeling in the air, thewrongnessof it all, is exactly the same as before.

When I get halfway down the hall, someone turns the corner and appears at the mouth of the hallway. I don’t let him see my surprise, though my heart begins to race in my chest at the sight of Soren’s father in my clinic.

“Mr. Petrov,” I say in a slow, measured voice, trying to emulate Tennant’s calm and stoic demeanor as much as possible. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

His face twists into an ugly sneer. I try to find something of Soren in his features, but aside from his bright blue eyes, he looks nothing like his son; I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

“Don’t act as if this is a social call,” he snaps.

It takes effort to keep my expression blank, but somehow I manage. “Then what is it? And where’s Anton? I highly doubt he would have let you in without alerting me first.”

Nikolai smiles, and it’s almost as sadistic as Tennant’s can be. “He will not bother us, don’t you worry.”

Fear shoots through me, but I shove it down and focus on the man in front of me as he takes a step forward.

“Soren isn’t here,” I say, trying to figure out what he’s after.

“I know,” he replies with a smile that’s anything but friendly. “My son is taking care of the Novikov brat,” he spits. “It’s disgusting how the three of them fawn over him. I always told Mak it wasn’t healthy to have boys be so close, but he didn’t listen, and now look at what’s happened. I was forced to take care of the problem growing in his house, all because he didn’t have an iron grip on his sons.” He shakes his head, as if he’s saddened by the turn of events.

My breath catches in my throat, and it’s all I can do to not take a step back. I don’t want to believe what I’m hearing, but… “You sent him after his own son?” I ask cautiously.

Nikolai shrugs. “I knew my brother wouldn’t do anything if I went to him.” His face twists. “He is weak, as both a father and a man, but he gets results as Pakhan. Though, aligning himself with the Amatos was not his smartest move.”

Swallowing back my indignation at the disrespect shown to the people I care about, I’m unable to help myself, and say, “So that means you turn someone else against their own child?”

Nikolai grins. “I was doing Mak a favor. He needed to know what was going on.”

My breath catches as dread washes over me. “But to orchestrate something so…cruel…”

“As I said, my brother won’t do anything about his son’s disgusting habits. Mak and I, however, are not so forgiving.”

Fear has my heart racing, and I adjust my grip on the scalpel in my hand. I want nothing more than to lunge forward and sink it deep inside him, to flay him open and bathe in his blood, but…not yet. I can’t show my hand so quickly. Especially not when I have a sinking suspicion he’s more unhinged than he appears.

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