I shake my head. “No. Maybe he wants you tothinkhe slipped up. The thing is that you have a very powerful family. Known. Your name is known. Everyone knows your methods, the things you are feared for. You have power that is out in the open. My father has power that no one has seen yet. But it’s there.”
“We’re stronger than him,” Matvei snaps.
“I’m not saying you are or you aren’t. What I am trying to say isdon’t underestimate him.There is so much you don’t know. There is so much thatIdon’t know. My father doesn’t make mistakes. He plans far too meticulously. He is obsessive about it.”
Matvei sighs and sits down again. He looks gruff when he turns to me. “Thank you for answering our questions. If we have more…”
“I’ll answer again. I have nothing to hide, and I want this to end as much as you do,” I answer quickly.
He nods, satisfied for the moment.
Simon is already on his feet; his hand wrapped around my arm to pull me to my feet, too.
“Can we go now?” he asks in a huff.
“Yes, we’ll chat soon.”
He drags me out of there before anyone says anything more. He’s quiet until we get to the car. “The driver already took your car home, so you can ride with me,” he says as he opens my door. I can’t quite read his expression. He looks furious, but I’m not sure at whom.
Ducking into the car, I decide to keep quiet and let him voice his thoughts before I make assumptions.
We drive for a few minutes before he lets out a heavy sigh and turns his head towards me, glancing at me with strain in his eyes. “I am so sorry you had to go through that, Selene. I never wanted you to have to go through that…”
“Simon, no, don’t besorry. Iwantedto help. It wasn’t an issue for me,” I say quickly, gently placing my hand on his leg.
He looks down at my hand, then back at the road.
“You did really well. You were calm, straightforward, speaking clearly and… I think you did the right thing. I know it was hard and maybe felt like you were betraying your father, but you did the right thing.”
I nod, pulling my mouth to the side and biting the inside of my cheek—a nervous habit I often had when I was in my father’s house. Sucking my cheeks in, I let out a heavy sigh and shake my head. “It’s not easy to betray him. But in so many ways, he betrayed me first. But I’m not like him… so it weighs on me.”
“Don’t worry, princess, he doesn’t stand a chance against us. We’ll take him down quickly.”
I snap my head towards Simon, frowning deeply. “Quickly?” I huff, annoyed.
“Yes, he is going to feel the full wrath of the Volkov clan.” Simon sounds self-confident to the point of being arrogant.
“Did you hear a word I said in there?” I blurt out, my agitation growing by the second.
Simon knots his brows. “Selene, I’m just saying that we are a strong family, and he doesn’t stand a chance against us. He’s bitten off more than he can chew this time.”
“Simon, just stop. You are being far too arrogant. You didn’t hear a damn thing I said. He is far more powerful than people know because everything he has done for decades hasbeen in secret. I told you… Your name is known. People fear you because of what they know about you. You shouldn’t assume my father is not to be feared simply because you don’tknowwhat he is capable of!” I hear my voice rising as I speak. How can he not understand this?
“Selene. Take a breath, I’m just trying to reassure you that I will, my family will, keep you safe. We have connections, we have allies, we are the strongest alliance in the city… You don’t have to worry about anything, Selene.”
“I do have to worry!” I huff.
“No, you don’t. You have no idea what we are capable of,” he chuckles.
“Don’t laugh, Simon. This isn’t a joke. This is my children’slives.”
“My children, too! Why would you say it as if you were the only one who cares about them? I am telling you I will keep them safe. Why does that bother you so much!” he asks, angry and combative. “I don’t understand why you are worrying so much when I’m sitting right next to you, telling you not to,” he says sternly.
“I have to worry because you aren’t. Don’t you get it? If you aren’t worried… if you aren’t scared of what my father is capable of, then youareunderestimating him, and that will not have a good ending.”
He scoffs, shaking his head. When I glance at him, he has an amused, arrogant smile on his face.
It infuriates me. I clench my fists and bite down hard to stop myself from saying something really nasty in a moment of anger.
