Page 12 of Depraved Royals

Mel squeezes my fingers. “Dani. Does he know whoyouare?”

I never thought about that.

“Yes. He read my name off my passport.”

“He screwed you, knowing who you are. That’ssick.”

Itissick. I have never had sex with someone who hates me. He hid it so well, but the Antonov family is the biggest threat to my happiness. Just the name tastes foul in my mouth.

Mel is still speaking. “Mikhail’s stepfather hand-chose him to claim his so-called legacy, even pushing aside his own blood. What a ruthless shit must he be if his stepfather would rather have him exact revenge than his own birth son?”

I don’t want to think aboutthat.

Even though I wanted Kal, even though my body was on fire for him, I now feel violated.

I slept with a man who wants to see me and mine dead. A man who, if he got the chance, would laugh with glee as my world burned down before my eyes.

Now I’m safe with my sister, the tears fall. Mel pulls me into her arms, and I rest my head on her shoulder.

“Come on, it’s okay,” she says, stroking my hair. “You made a mistake. But you can’t tell Papa. He’d be broken if he knew an Antonov had ravaged his little girl.” She pauses, stifling a giggle. “But I want to know. Was it good?”

I can’t help but laugh. “OhGod, yes. Why is it always the bastards who are amazing in bed?”

Mel’s late husband was a swine, but he hadthatgoing for him. Mel said his shitty personality was almost worth it for the sex. Unfortunately, other women agreed with her, and eventually, one of their husbands took offense and settled the matter at the end of a twelve-gauge shotgun.

Mel has no kids, and, as far as things go in our world, she’s someone else’s property, damaged goods. A Bratva widow isn’t a tantalizing prospect, so she’s been alone for a while now. No wonder she’s interested in my escapades.

Mama appears in the doorway.

“Well, this is cozy,” she says. “I won’t ask what you’ve been up to. Dani, we need to talk to you.”

Mama leads me back into the lounge, where my father is standing at the window. He’s looking outside. He doesn’t turn around as he speaks.

“Dani, you will not be returning to Europe, or even leaving this city, for some time.”

No.No.

“Papa, I’m due at the Sorbonne next week. I’m booked onto a series of lectures, and I’ll be doing some teaching too.”

“No, you won’t. You’re staying here. Your exhibition is here in the city, so that’s fine. You can keep that commitment. But otherwise, I’m keeping you close.”

I shoot a look at my mother, and she just shrugs. I know I don’t have the right to protest - after all, I’m being evasive, and it’s not a good look - but I cannotbearto be locked down.

“Don’t do this. I’ll be fine. I’ll check in every day.”

Papa turns to face me. “You’re acting like this is a debate. It isn’t. Normally I give you as much freedom as I can, but if you’re going to abuse that privilege, then I’m going to withdraw it. Surely that isn’t so surprising?”

Of course it isn’t. But ithurts.

“I understand,” I say. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for letting you down.”

“Go home, Dani,” Mama says. “Go be with Pippa for a while, and let your father calm down.”

* * *

I walk through the streets, fighting the wind. New York is home, and I usually love it, but it feels like a prison now.

Kal fucking Antonov.I can’t believe I let that bastard touch me. I can’t believe he made me feel the way he did. Even now, knowing what I know, I couldn’t swear that I’d be able to resist him if he put his hands on me again.

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