Page 7 of Dangerous Promises

I frown. "What the hell does that mean? You're talking about-"

My dad.

"Yes," Angie confirms. "There was a breach last night. It was not good."

My head spins, blood draining from my face as I run through worst-case scenarios, horrible fates, and the most devastating outcomes my thoughts can conjure. All just from the mention of something happening to Dad.

"I need to sit down," I announce, crouching into the ground and letting the gravel dig into my butt at the same time that my monitor starts beeping obnoxiously.

"Calm down, Miss DeMarco," Angie says, shaking her head as she regards me. "Two men got into your father's room. They were dealt with. Even so, I had to move him."

Anton watches me with only mild concern as I note the dose and shut down the monitor.

"You've run out of secure places to manage this," Anton concludes, nodding like that makes perfect sense. Which it doesn't. Even though I can see the movement behind his eyes as he chews on his lip, unsure what to do.

As I look between him and Angie, the pieces start falling into place. "This isn't the first breach," I guess.

Angie shakes her head. "No. But this is by far the worst. It's clear these men have been looking for something. Probably Dimitri. And now they've found him."

I expel a breath, knowing exactly what this is. My hands shake as I wrap them around my legs, feeling small and pathetic but knowing if I stand up right now I'll faint for sure.

"It's Alexei. It has to be," I say. "He's got it out for me. He's resourceful. Somehow he knows."

"Sage-" Anton reaches out to unwind my shaking hands, but I swat him away. He folds his arms as he, too, looks down on me. "It's not him, Sage."

"Like hell it isn't," I say, grinding my teeth and mimicking a gun with my fingers. "I'm going to take my gun right now and go and shoot that fucker right between the-"

"It's not him, Miss DeMarco," Angie says, her calm tone bordering on condescending.

I pause, eyes darting between her and my uncle.

"It is Chet," Angie announces, raising her chin in surety.

My heartbeat quickens at the same time sweat beads at my forehead. Any measure of calm I'd clawed back goes flying away with the mention of his name.

Chet was a threat that hadn't surfaced in years and one that was meant to die with Victor. Denial hits me like a bus. "It's... it's notChet,"I reason, my voice catching around his name.

"Unfortunately it is," Angie says. "His men have been sniffing around me. How he knew what he would find, God only knows, but he did."

"But-but-"I stutter. "He had Victor doing all his dirty work, and it's all stopped since. Chet hasn't been a threat in a long time."

"It definitely hasn't stopped," Anton admits, unable to even look at me.

I'm surprised at how quickly guilt and sadness wash over me. Dad is only lying helpless in that hospital bed because of me. Because of mistakes I made, keep making, and can never seem to undo. Given how easily I burn the lives near mine, I can't help but wonder if everyone would be far better off staying the hell away from me.

"I am holding Dimitri for now but I would suggest you bring him back here. There's no point in me continuing to hold him when you no longer need him away from Victor and he is much safer in these walls than he would be with me," Angie says.

"I understand," Anton agrees, nodding. "Dimitri should come back here. Immediately."

"I'll arrange the transport," Angie says, turning on her heel.

"Do it now, please Angie, whatever it costs," Anton demands. "I want him back here within the hour-"

"Wait-wait-wait," I say, holding my hands out and stopping everyone. "Back to Chet, it cannot be him. There is no way Dad is safer here-"

Angie grabs me by the arm and stares into my eyes. "It is not safe for your father anywhere but here, girl. You may think he's left you alone because he's been quiet. But he's not like Victor with the showboating and the displays of power. Chet will sneak through your defenses before you know he's even been nearby."

Anton gives Angie a foul look, shaking his head while she slowly releases my arm. It's only inside that I can admit what she says terrifies me.