Page 38 of Fierce Protector

“You go and talk to my father. I’ll be back in a minutewith supplies to set your nose,” I order, patting him on the shoulder and feeling like I’m sending a lamb for the slaughter.

It’s beenover an hour of explaining exactly when I started getting notes, why I thought it wasn’t serious, and how it escalated. The whole time my father has given me the same look. One that’s starting to pierce my resolve. I’ve never seen that look on his face, not directed towards me at least. It’s disappointment.

“How could you keep this from me?” It doesn’t seem to matter how many times I explain that I assumed it was someone else, he’s taking my silence as a betrayal.

“I made a mistake.” I hardly recognise the sound of my own voice. I feel so small and the longer I meet his eyes, the more I know he’s right. Not just that I should have told him, but that I should have taken it more seriously from the start. My hubris has put me, and those I love, at risk.

I finish placing the last butterfly strip over the cut on the bridge of Stefano’s nose and pack away my kit.

“Come here, Katerina,” my father says, pushing himself out of the armchair and holding out his arm to me. I walk over to him on autopilot, letting out a contented sigh when he squeezes me tightly against him. Before I even know what’s happened, tears are flowing and I’m sobbing into my father’s chest.

I can’t remember the last time he held me like this. It must have been when I was a child. It’sbeen so long since I’ve fallen apart in front of anyone, it takes me by surprise and draws out every feeling I’ve been bottling up for so long.

He doesn’t say anything, simply strokes my hair and holds me firmly until I’m cried out. Holding my head in his hands, he pulls my focus back to him and runs his thumbs across my cheeks, drying my eyes.

“No one’s denying that you’re more than capable of looking out for yourself. But my darling, when it comes to your safety, your family has the right to protect you. It’s not a sign of weakness to rely on those who love you,” he says firmly but laced with more care and consideration than I deserve from him right now.

“I swear I didn’t know how serious it was,” I try to explain, but my excuses sound weak even to me.

“That’s not an excuse. You’re an intelligent woman, and you know better than to underestimate the threat of a situation like this. Or are you so jaded by my world that you underestimate the dangers in yours?”

His words are harsh, but the more I consider them, the more I appreciate the full scale of my mistake. By comparison to what Aurora went through, what Enzo endured, the death any family member faces on a daily basis my problem seemed so insignificant.

“I’m sorry, Dad.”

I should feel like a failure, but when my father pulls me to hug me again, it’s like a weight has been lifted. I’m safe in his arms and he’s still here for me. Even if he does want to kill his best friend right now.

“I’m sorry too, Dante. I should have come to you theminute Nico told me.” Stefano’s tone is grave as he holds my father’s stony glare.

“I don’t even know where to start with you,” my father spits out. “How could you touch my daughter?”

I pull back from my father’s embrace and now it’s my turn to voice my disapproval. “I accept that I’ve handled this whole thing badly, but don’t for one minute think I’ll stand here and let you reduce the feelings I have for Stefano to something cheap and tawdry. We’ve avoided each other for years, trying to deny our feelings for each other. Because of our love and loyalty to you.”

I don’t intend for my words to wound my father, but I can see the force they land with when he recoils under the weight of them.

“It’s true, Dante.”

“Is it supposed to reassure me that you’ve wanted her for years? How many years? Exactly how old was she when you stopped thinking of her as your best friend’s little girl and started thinking of her as a piece of ass?” My father’s outburst is vicious, slicing into me like a dagger to the heart. It’s cruel and filled with unbridled rage and while I know deep down he’s coming from a place of shock, it’s too much.

“Get out,” I say, pushing my father away from me. “Until you can speak to him with the same respect you show me, I will not have you here.” It takes every ounce of energy I have in my body to hold myself strong when inside, I’m about to crumble into pieces.

“You’re kicking me out of his house?”

“She’s kicking you out ofherhouse,” Stefano says,moving to stand behind me and squeezing my arm in support.

“I love you, Dad, and we didn’t plan this, but I can’t and wouldn’t want to un-ring this bell. I won’t spend another decade pretending I’m not in love with him to protect your feelings.” Truths tumble out of me like rapids over rocks. “I will never be able to apologise enough for disappointing you. But don’t you dare stand there and question the intentions of a man who’s closer to you than a brother ever could be.”

My father takes a step back, flicking his gaze between me and his oldest friend.

“I love her, Dante. And I won’t give her up, not even for you.”

It’s impossible not to see the conflict in my father’s eyes. I don’t know what I expect to happen, but it’s not him turning and walking away. When he reaches the door, he places and hand against the frame and pauses, looking back.

“I love you, Katerina. You could never disappoint me, but I’m going to need some time.” I’m nodding when he focusses his stony gaze on Stefano. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you myself.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

KATERINA

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