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He laughs. “I’m sure you are. I wouldn’t be able to be sidelined for so long.”

“Which is why I’m looking forward to our appointment.” I study him for a moment before asking, “How are you three settling in? Do you need anything? I’m sure Soren has been taking care of you, but I feel like a shitty host.”

Dmitri rolls his eyes. “You’ve been recovering from a bullet wound, you’re far from a bad host. We’re fine, thanks. Dominic is enjoying getting to work with Jayden, so thanks for putting in a good word for him. And Donovan is looking forward to working with you, if Dr. Murry doesn’t kill him first, but even that internship is going pretty well, as far as I can tell.”

“You’ll teach me RSL, right?”

He grins. “Of course, we already discussed it and are happy to teach you. Though, Sory says you know ASL, which is enough. Plus, Vonny wears his implants when he’s working.”

“Yes, but I want to learn. I’m trying to get Soren to learn Italian. I don’t speak it much, but Cristian taught me when I lived with him. He thought it’d be useful, and of course, he was right. I think it’s something Soren should learn as well.”

Dmitri laughs. “Good luck with that. He knows ASL and RSL because he’s not an asshole, and knew he needed to learn if he wanted to communicate with Vonny, but his parents never prioritized Russian, and he has no interest in learning now as an adult. If you can get him to learn Italian, I’ll buy all your books for a year.”

I grin. “Deal.”

Soren will kill us both if he finds out what just happened, but it’s fine, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, and he’ll get to learn a new language on top of it. Unfortunately for Dmitri, I don’t think he understands just how much I read. Ah well, too late now, choices were made.

Before more trouble can be had, Daddy walks into the room and I sit up, too fast if the spinning in my head is any indication. “I’m scared to ask what you two were talking about,” he says, crossing the room and lifting my legs so he can sit.

“I’m offended you would think so little of us, Daddy,” I say, trying to sound indignant.

Daddy rolls his eyes. “Like I believe that.”

“I’m on my very best behavior, thank you,” Dmitri replies with a sniff.

“Sure you are,” Daddy replies.

Laying back down, but propping my head up on the armrest so I can watch Daddy, I ask, “How’d it go?”

He makes a face and sets a hand on my foot, wrapping his fingers around it as if he needs something to hold onto. “Could have been better, but all in all, we got what we wanted. There will be no retaliation from the Bratva because it was self-defense. Uncle Ivan agreed that the trips will be better served working for the Amatos, and the peace treaty was fine-tuned once more, to make sure both sides are getting a good deal.”

“Are you okay, Daddy?” I ask.

He gives me a small, sad smile. “Yeah, baby. I’m fine. It’s just…weird, knowing he’s gone. I spent so long waiting for the day someone would put him out of his misery, and now it’s… It’ll take time believing it’s real, I think.”

“That’s understandable,” I tell him softly. “Are you upset that I killed him?”

Daddy moves quickly, sliding out from underneath me to kneel at my side. He cups my face and forces me to look athim. “No, baby,” he says insistently. “I am upset you had to deal with it, and that you went through so much pain because of me. But I’m glad you were able to defend yourself against him.” He leans in and kisses me softly. “I love you, so fucking much, Ashby. Sometimes it’s hard to breathe with how much I feel for you. That it came down to you or him hurts me, but it’s poetic, almost. The person I love most in the world put an end to the one I hated so much.”

“He was your father,” I say softly. “Yeah, he was an ignorant piece of shit, but my father isn’t much better; I would still feel some type of way if he died.”

“True, but I highly doubt your father will try to kill me.”

I laugh a little. “Fair point. As long as you’re okay, then I am too.”

Before he can respond, we’re interrupted by one of the maids, who technically works for the Amatos, but is employed here because Cristian doesn’t trust me or my housekeeping skills. “Mr. Knightly, there’s someone here for you. She says she’s your mother.”

Daddy groans. “I’ll be right there.”

Dmitri speaks up. “Ilyona is here? I haven’t seen her in forever.”

“No,” Daddy says sardonically. “You fuckers only text one another.”

“Can you blame us?” Dmitri asks.

Daddy doesn’t respond, he just sighs and leaves the room. Sitting up, I pat my hair, trying to control the messiness. Considering I haven’t brushed it today, my efforts are in vain.

“You’ll like her,” Dmitri tells me. “Ilyona is great, nothing like her ex, and the best part is, she knows how to get under Sory’s skin.” He says the last part with a grin.

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