Page 120 of Mile High Daddy

“No,” I say, gritting my teeth. “I need you to bring her mother to town.”

That finally gets his attention. “Why the hell would I do that?”

“Because Lila asked for her.”

He makes a dismissive noise, like this is an inconvenience. “Since when do you take orders from her?”

I grip the phone tighter. “I don’t want her to be in unnecessary distress when pregnant.”

There’s another pause. “She’s expecting?”

“Yes,” I say.

“You’re dragging me into your mess, Mikhail.”

“She’s your mess too,” I remind him.

He laughs—cold, sharp. “Is that what you think? I did my part. I gave you my daughter, I held up my end of the deal. What happens after that isn’t my concern.”

It takes everything in me not to put my fist through something.

I roll my shoulders, keeping my voice controlled, even. “You’re bringing her mother here. Quietly.”

Evans huffs, like he’s already regretting picking up this call. “You think you can just snap your fingers and I’ll make this happen?” he mutters.

“Yes,” I say flatly.

“Where is she?” he asks, voice sharp.

“Not in New York,” I reply.

He mutters something under his breath, clearly frustrated. “And why me? You have plenty of men who could handle this.”

I exhale slowly, forcing patience. “Your ex-wife knows you. Not my men. She won’t try to do anything stupid with you around.”

He scoffs. “You think she trusts me?”

“I don’t care if she trusts you,” I say flatly. “I just want her to be safe. And I know she’s being watched.”

Evans goes quiet for a beat, but I know he’s putting the pieces together.

Because he knows what it means when I say she’s being watched. And he knows exactly the kind of people who could be doing it.

I don’t say anything about my mother, but I think of her anyway.

Lila’s mother needs to be brought in carefully. No noise. No attention.

“You’re the only one who can do this without drawing too much heat,” I say. “Get her to Camden Hill. Quietly.”

Another pause. Then, begrudgingly?—

“I’ll handle it.”

“Good.”

“I don’t understand,” Evans continues. “Why are you doing this?”

I inhale.Because I love her.Goddamn it, I know the truth in my bones. I’ll go to any lengths for her. But her dirtbag father doesn’t need to know that.

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