Page 24 of My Ex’s Dad

“Are you implying it’s my fault that he cheated?” she asks as she sets her glass down hard. It doesn’t break, but some spills out.

“Not at all.”

“Because that’s the way you’re making it sound.” She narrows her eyes.

It shocks and excites me—this woman thinking she can talk to me like I’m just anyone. This gorgeous bombshell showing no fear or hesitation because I’m a ruthless Bratva boss.

All through the meal, she’s treating me as an equal, as though I’m just another man, no one special. And it gets to me.

I’m sick of people putting me on a pedestal. Of others seeing me as someone to use. And of many changing their attitude and behavior to what they think I want to hear and see.

Liliana’s got spunk, though. Gumption. And I can’t get enough of how riveting it is to have this privacy to talk. Not just to listen, but to really connect.

“Boss?”

Liliana pauses mid-sentence, in the middle of whatever she’s about to argue about, some trivial difference between us over how she read what I said.

We both turn to face Viktor as he comes in with his phone. He’s still in his gym gear, but that doesn’t ever mean he’s not on the clock.

“I received a call about Roman.”

I stare down Liliana as she smirks and looks to the side.

“What now?”

Fuck. That’s always my reply. Always waiting for something worse to come up with him.

I watch Liliana and try to understand why she gave him a chance to impress her for so long. I have been waiting since he passed boyhood and should’ve started acting more like an actual adult. And I’m still left waiting for that.

“He contacted someone in the Roncelli Family and⁠—”

I slam my fist on the table, not hard enough to make the plates jump. Liliana doesn’t flinch. Her eyes only widen in alarm.

“The Roncellis? Why the fuck would he ever have a reason to talk to the Italians?” I growl. It’s a rhetorical question, one I’m not afraid to air in Liliana’s presence. She’s not so much of a stranger or an outsider now but I won’t be sharing state secrets with her.

“He thought he could…” Viktor shakes his head and shrugs. “I’m honestly not sure. The reports I’ve gotten so far from the men who were present don’t make a complete conclusion.”

“Did he say something that’s making Roncelli rethink the agreement I negotiated with him?” I demand. I spent too much time and energy, my blood, sweat, and tears, getting my oldest rival to fall in line on a drug trade deal. If my stupid son thinks he can talk shit and blow up the terms of that agreement, I’ll have a lot more problems on my hands.

“No. Not yet,” Viktor replies. “We have several men handling the situation and speaking with the Roncelli liaisons now.”

I nod. I’ve got too many irons in the fire to slow down and babysit whatever Roman might fuck up next.

“Elena is concerned though,” he continues.

“Oh. That’s fucking rich,” I growl at my ex’s name.

“The Roncellis are threatening to make Roman pay personally for causing trouble and sowing seeds of doubt about your intention to honor the agreement.” Viktor glances at Liliana, seeming concerned about discussing even this much business in front of her. That’s the kicker though. She knows Roman. She isn’t a stranger.

“Too fucking bad,” I reply, furious and annoyed. It’s not only that Viktor is coming to bear the same old bad news of Roman fucking up. It’s extra irritating that he’s interfering with my time to spend with Liliana tonight.

“She’s begging for you to call her back,” Viktor adds of my ex-wife. “To step in and smooth things over between the Roncellis and Roman.”

I stare at my plate, pissed.

This is just like Elena. And Roman. Never taking responsibility, always expecting me to wipe away their messes.

Liliana huffs, and I look up to see her making an expression as she studies the wall.