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"What can I do?" Dimitri clasps a hand on my shoulder, his expression full of empathy and understanding. "Whatever you need, you've got it."
"Help me find the motherfucker," I growl.
Fifteen minutes later, I pull the mayor into my office to discuss the issue with him. Dimitri keeps Aurora company. Keeping the truth from her doesn't feel right, but frankly, I'd rather cut out my own goddamn heart than break hers.
"My daughter is in love with you," Chris says as soon as the door clicks closed behind us. "What the fuck am I supposed to do about that, Attias?"
I glance him over, assessing. He's an older, harder version of his daughter, with the same damn eyes and golden hair. It's not hard to see why the people in this town overwhelmingly support him. He's the exact kind of man you want in charge--honest, hardworking, patient, with a spine of steel.
"Frankly, I don't care what you do about it as long as you don't break her heart or make her choose," I answer with a shrug. "Hate me because she chose me if it makes you sleep better at night. But don't disappoint her. She's been through enough."
"We both know having you in the family is going to be a problem."
"And we both know her happiness means more to you than being re-elected," I retort, not denying it. Chances are, having me in the family will fuck up any future political plans he has. He knows it as well as I do. Being related to the mayor isn't exactly ideal for me, either. But I'll be damned before that stops me from putting my ring on Aurora's finger. "You have bigger problems than me right now anyway."
"Millie," he growls.
Guess he talked to Dillon.
"And your brother."
Confusion furrows his brows. "My brother is dead."
"Not yet," I mutter. "Your advisor told Dillon that your brother took the ransom money. He's alive."
"Jesus Christ." Chris stares at me in genuine shock. "Brady is alive?"
"For the time being."
I don't have to spell it out for him. He reads between the lines just fine. Implacable, lethal satisfaction fills his expression, turning him from an exhausted father to a cold executioner.
"I bailed him out for years. Burned a lot of bridges trying to clean up his messes before I finally told him that he needed to sort his shit out himself." He shakes his head, weary. "When he disappeared, the guilt ate me alive. I'd have given just about anything to have him back home. But putting my daughter in danger?" He lifts his gaze to mine, rage burning in the depths of his eyes. "I won't forgive that. Let the miserable son of a bitch rot," he growls. "It's less than he deserves for what he put her through."
"Fair enough." I pause. "No disrespect to you, but until the situation is handled, Aurora should stay here."
Chris narrows his eyes at me.
"They kidnapped her from your house," I remind him, matter-of-fact. "Look around. It'll take a goddamn army to get to her here. And, if by some miracle someone does get through our defenses, the motherfuckers will have to kill me and every single man on this property before he even breathes the same air as her. Can you say the same about your staff?"
"Point taken," he growls, and then shakes his head. "She would fall for the only motherfucker in this town who doesn't give a flying fuck that I'm the mayor."
"Oh, I care," I mutter dryly. "Having you in the family is bound to be a fucking problem for me."
He cracks a smile, the first of the night. "At least we agree on that much, Attias."
"My dad likes you." Aurora curls up against my chest, yawning.
I run my hand down her back, holding her close. "You think so?"
"I've been on four dates in my life. He threatened all of them." She peeks up at me through red-rimmed, sleepy eyes. "He didn't threaten you."
Oh, he threatened me, but I don't tell her that. He said he'd rip my balls out through my throat if I even thought about treating her with anything less than respect. He may be a politician, but I don't doubt he'd do it. His daughter means the world to him. I don't fault him for that. She's become my gravitational center faster than I thought possible. She deserves a father willing to go to war to protect her and a man willing to die to defend her. Now, she has both.
"Oh my gosh." She blinks up at me with owl-like eyes that see far too much. "He did threaten you, didn't he?"
"He's your father."
"You didn't break up with me."
"What the fuck?" I flip her over onto her back, glaring down at her. "You think I'd leave because your dad threatened me?"
"My dates did." She scrunches up her nose. "One actually said he was going to the bathroom and snuck out during dinner. He texted me from the car to tell me that he just couldn't date the mayor's kid, but no offense or anything." She rolls her eyes. "High school was so much fun for me."
