Page 108 of Ruling Scar
She scoffs. “Hidden affairs in our line of business never go well. What if this had been dropped on your father at a bad time? This affects our family, Lennie.”
She’s never placed that on Nat who’s dating the daughter of another mafia lord. She welcomed Adeline’s boyfriend when they were together. But my relationship might endanger our lives?
“That’s not fair,” I start to say when a figure appears in the doorway.
“What about our family?” Dad has no idea what he’s stepped into. His tie is gone, the first few buttons open to reveal a white undershirt, and he’s got his nightly glass of vodka in one hand.
Mom drops the knife, the metal clattering, and waves at me. “Your daughter got herself a new boyfriend.”
He looks between the two of us and I think he’s wondering why it’s me and not Adeline. She’s normally the only person to ever make Mom this mad.
He waits expectantly for my answer, his demeanor calm in a bid to de-escalate the situation.
“I’m dating Elijah.”
His brows lift but there’s no outward sign of emotion. This is the calm negotiator, the wise businessman appreciated by the bloody bratva.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away.” It feels right to apologize, to acknowledge I’ve kept things away from them, even though, I have a right to privacy. “But it was new and I knew it might upset some people.”
“Then why?” Mom’s dark tone vibrates.
Dad lifts a hand, stopping her. “Our relationship upset some people too, Gia.”
He doesn’t move his gaze away, though, as he studies me. I’m standing in a hoodie and mismatched socks. My hands ballinto fists at my side. Not because I’m ready to fight. It’s a way to anchor myself, to root my body to the floor instead of running away.
“So long as he respects you,” Dad says, “and respects our family, then I’m happy if you’re happy.”
“Boris!”
“She’s twenty-seven next month and he’s thirty-one. They’re adults. And at least we know the Zimins.”
“Oh, of course. The Zimins!” Mom throws her arm up in the air, rolling her eyes.
Gesticulating runs in the family because Dad reaches his arms out, his vodka sloshing around. “We know them. They’re already like family. It’s not like you and me.”
The star-crossed lovers. The Russian mafia prince and the Italian mafia princess.
Mom’s not giving up the fight, though. She pulls out the one card that normally works. “She’s been going out without her guard.”
Dad’s face darkens, but his thin lips hold back a sigh. “Now that is something I don’t like, Lennie. You shouldn’t be using your sisters to cover for you.”
Mom gasps, figuring out Nat and Adeline have covered for me.
“I will speak with Lev,” he declares, holding his hands up. “We’ll sort the guards out.”
“Please don’t.” Dad’s my only ally, but if I continue to let him call the shots with my security team, I’ll never learn to speak up. “I don’t need two overprotective dad’s.”
Mom agrees, but only because she hates Lev in this moment. “Two overprotective, matchmaking fools!”
Guess she knows Lev and Dad always wanted us kids to marry. Honestly, the pair are more sentimental than most of the women I know.
She waves a threatening hand, stomping a foot. “That boy is nothing but trouble. And now she’s sneaking around, lying. Getting rid of her security team. I can already tell this is his bad influence.”
“Mom!” I jump to defend Elijah.
She ignores me. “I didn’t raise my daughter like this. I didn’t raise her to?—”
“You raised me to hide!”
