Page 46 of Sinful Promise

I sit pensively. I’m not happy with what he’s telling me, but it makes sense. Even though I want to be upset with Dasha, this is my own doing.

Now, I have to figure a way out of this mess without starting a war that could weaken us or eliminate us entirely. The weight of this is almost too much to bear. We have to assume that Andrian wants us dead, and now I’ve given him justification to come after us. He’s probably been sneaking into our territory for years, and we had no idea the danger we were in until now.

“If I hadn’t stumbled into this mess, we’d never know Andrian targeted us.”

“True, but if we had more information, we’d be better prepared to make educated decisions. This is why we don’t rush in.”

My blood boils. Granted, I was impulsive. I need to fix this, and I’m not sure how. I’ll need my brother’s help.

I stand abruptly, tipping the chair backward, and storm toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Alex asks.

“To get answers,” I snap, shooting him a look that could stop a charging elephant.

Using long strides, I walk through the passageways, my fists clenched at my sides. How dare she not tell me the truth? I’m still fuming when I reach the girls.

Alex follows closely behind, carrying a wand designed to detect tracking devices in his hand.

I grab Dasha’s wrist and pull her from the couch. Her eyes are wide with confusion and fear. “What?” she asks defensively.

“Why didn’t you tell me your father is Ratmim, not your fiancé?”

“You never asked, you assumed. And you seemed content with your assumptions. I thought it was safer being his daughter,” she yells back at me. “You made the assumption. I didn’t correct you at the time.

Alex hands me the wand. I scan her body, starting with her head. I move the device down her body and try to forget how incredible she looks naked and out of these clothes. The wand makes a beeping sound near her hand.

“The ring. Who gave it to you?”

“My father. He said it belonged to my mother.”

“When did he give it to you?”

“When I was thirteen. I’m twenty-one, so that was eight years ago. Why?”

“You were a teenager.”

“Yes. Why?”

“Give me the ring.”

“No. It’s the only thing I have of my mother.”

How dare she say no to me?

“You are not to talk back to me. I need the ring. Now!”

“No.” Tears fill her eyes. “It’s important to me.”

“You will give it to me if you want to stay alive.” My eyes narrow in anger because she won’t obey me. “That ring is a tracking device. Your father’s been tracking you since you were a teenager.”

Her face turns pale as the blood drains from it. She said her father didn’t treat women well, and now, she learns he’s been tracking her like human chattel.

“My father tracked me?”

“Yes. That ring never belonged to your mother. Back then, we didn’t have the technology to make microchips. It would have cost a fortune to make a tracking device. Think about it. Your father gave it to you when you were a rebellious teenager to keep tabs on you.”

Her eyes flash at the revelation. “So, he knew every time I sneaked out when he was away and never said anything that would show his hand…”

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