Page 134 of Dance of Madness

“Who were youreallywith last night,solnyshka.”

I swallow tightly. “I thought I was a grown woman. That my personal life was my own business.”

“Well, it is,” he says in a steady tone. “Except on nights when you go out with Leo Debolsky and then he vanishes without a trace.”

I’ve never been one to lie to my father. We’re too close for that: we’ve always been there for each other, and he respects me as much as I respect him.

“Milena…”

I take a slow breath before I drop my eyes and lift the coffee mug to my lips.

“Nero De Luca.”

Papa is silent, his face a mask as I slowly take a sip of my coffee.

Then another. And another.

Finally, he nods. “Interesting,” he murmurs. “Very interesting.”

My cheeks warm and my lips curl despite my best efforts. “It’s…”

Papa chuckles quietly. “Isee. I take it from your smile that this is a good thing?”

I glance up at him sheepishly and nod. Papa sighs.

“Well, know this: if he treats you poorly, if he harms you in any way, I’ll fucking cut his head off.”

He doesn’t always give me all the gory details, but nothing about my father’s life is hidden from me. So when he says that?

I know he means it. Literally.

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” I flush, smiling like a goofball.

“For his sake,” Papa sighs, “I hope it’s not.” His brow furrows. “Did he…help…last night, concerning the problem with Leo?”

I nod. Papa’s mouth purses.

“Did anyoneseeNero—more importantly, did anyone see youwithNero when he was…helpingwith this problem?”

I shake my head firmly. “No. Why?”

“Leo Debolsky was declared missing by his father this morning when he didn’t come home last night. His cell phone was traced to a sewer drain near the Metropolitan Museum.”

“Oh,” I say quietly.

“Indeed,” Papa growls, peering at me. “Milena… Will we be seeing Leo again?”

I swallow and slowly shake my head. “I don’t think so, Papa,” I whisper. My fingers twist together as I look at him. “Is that going to be a problem with Vladimir? He knows I was meeting with Leo?—”

“Vladimir Debolsky is not a stupid man, Milena,” Papa grunts. “I would assume he’s well aware of his son’s demons, not to mention his ability to make enemies.” He clears his throat again. “From what I know about Mr. De Luca,” he grunts, “can I assume Leo won’t bepopping upanytime soon for someone to find?”

I tremble a little as I hug my arms. “I…don’t think so.”

Papa nods. “Good. Let’s agree to move on and never speak of this again.”

I smile weakly at him. “Let's do that.”

Papa smiles as he picks up his coffee mug and taps it against mine. He takes a sip, turning to look out the window into the back garden as he exhales slowly.

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