She’s been in front of powerful men before.
She’s learned how to survive them.
Is that what she’s doing now?
Surviving my father?
The thought of her bowing like earlier to him—to anyone else—makes something in me burn.
What did Kayla see?
“We’ll see what we can do with you,” my father says, quieter now. Then he turns to the door, and just before he leaves, he glances back at me.
“She stays here. Where the men can keep her in clear sight.”
He doesn’t wait for a response. Just walks out.
Mom follows a second later, but not before mouthing,“I’ll talk to him.”
She probably feels my frustration—but she’s not reading it right. It wasn’t because of his behavior…
“She’s not staying with Chris,” Mariano cuts in, arms folded as he glares at his daughter.
“Dad—”
“You want me to call your mom? Go ahead. See if that helps your case.”
He’s trying to sound cold, but we all know better. Chris is his soft spot. One tear and he’d probably punch my father in the face if she asked.
They’re all killers out there.
But in here?
They’re just whipped.
I sigh. “She kicked my ass twice in training last month. She’ll be fine.”
If it were anyone else, I’d be just as cautious.
But Roran doesn’t feel like a threat. Not to me. Not in that way.
She wants her sister. That part is clear. She’s not lying.
“You’ve got some balls, dragging Christiane into your mess,” Mariano says, narrowing his eyes like he’s imagining me in his torture chair already.
“Ma—”
“Shut your mouth. She’smydaughter.”
“She can stay with me,” Chris cuts in, stepping between us before it escalates.
What the hell happened while we were inside? Even Chris volunteers for her?
I glance at Kayla. Her eyes haven’t left Roran once. Roran notices too now, brows drawing together in confusion.
I grab Kayla’s arm and pull her back into the office, closing the door behind us, leaving Chris and Mariano to argue outside the office and Roran to stand there looking like she just stumbled into a war zone.
“What did you see?” I demand. “Talk. We don’t have time. I need to leave for Kolox as soon as Alessio’s back with Bay.”
