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“How’s the situation on your end?” Declan asks Andrei.
The Bratva boss shakes his head. “I have men in Russia and here working to find this Smoke individual. So far, it seems no one knows who he is.”
“Cage has a few men from his team on a jet right now heading to Russia. Can your guys assist them?” Killian asks.
“Of course. Anything we can do to stop this disgusting piece of shit from hurting women, we’ll do it.” Andrei looks at me. “Did you find your Little girl’s father?”
I shake my head. “No. He left his house in a hurry. We did learn he’s broke, though. Could be why he’s involved. Either way, as soon as I find him, he’s dead.”
23
CHLOE
My eyes are so dry from taking tests all day; it feels like my eyelids keep getting stuck when I try to blink. Finals are always intense, but today felt like a lot. Maybe I’m exhausted from getting fucked too deliciously last night. Or maybe I’m just antsy to get home to my Daddy.
After a much-needed trip to the bathroom, I head outside to the courtyard. Even though I’d argued that I could’ve driven myself today, I’m glad Bash didn’t let that happen. I might take a nap on the ride home.
I’m about to cut through the Sciences building to get to the parking lot when a bouquet of flowers appears right in front of me.
“Dad?” I’m not sure why I’m asking. He’s definitely my father. But I’m confused.
“Hi, honey,” he says. “I knew it was finals week, so I wanted to wish you good luck.”
I stare at the pink and white daisies before taking them from him. This is weird. He’s never given me flowers.
“I, uh, I also wanted to apologize. You know, for the whole Bradley thing.” His voice is wobbly, and my heart constricts.
What do I say to that? It’s okay? No. Because it wasn’t okay. But he’s here, bringing me flowers and apologizing. That means something, right?
“Thank you, Dad.”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Do you have time to talk for a few minutes? There’s a bench over there we can sit at.”
Glancing toward the building, I look back at him and there’s hope gleaming in his dark eyes. “Um, sure. Just for a few minutes.”
In awkward silence, we cross the courtyard to a cluster of benches. Since it’s so late, and the only stuff that’s going on this week is finals, the campus is mostly empty, giving us some privacy to talk.
There’s something about my father that seems off. Like he’s sad or nervous. I’m not used to seeing him express any emotion, so I can’t tell for sure what it is. I also kind of hate myself for caring. He’s treated me horribly over the years, and yet I’m worried about him. I’m not sure why I’m giving him the time of day. His apologies don’t mean anything. He’s told me he was sorry for his behavior before, but it never changed.
Instead of filling the silence with my own nervous chatter, I sit down and wait for him to speak. He came all the way here to see me, and obviously, he has something to say. The sun warms me down to my bones. In a place that gets way too many rainy days, I don’t take these nice days for granted. Especially since the weather forecasts a downpour tonight.
“I got into some money trouble.”
His voice startles me, then the words sink in. “What do you mean?”
He lifts his shoulders and runs his hand over the back of his neck. “I made some bad investments. Gambled a bit. Used some money I shouldn’t have.”
My head snaps toward him. “Money you shouldn’t have?”
“Some clients’ money. I thought I’d be able to pay it back before they noticed but?—”
“You stole money?” I bolt up from the bench, my heart racing, and my skin prickling. “How much money? From who? From Bradley? Is that why you forced me to go out with him?”
My dad stands and shakes his head. “No. It’s not like that. I didn’t take money from Bradley. But, uh, I’m in a lot of debt.”
Putting my hands on my hips, I glare at him. “What does a lot mean?”
Why do I care? His debts aren’t my responsibility. I’m a grown woman. Kieran or Bash—or both of them together—have already paid my tuition for the rest of law school, so I don’t have to worry about that. I don’t have any savings to help my father out, so why is he telling me all of this?
