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Leaning back into Dima’s body for strength I don’t have right now, I answer my dad. “I do, Father. But he should hear those words from me, not you. I don’t regret marrying Dima. We will have a good life. As for Clare’s House, it wouldn’t exist without me. If the board chooses to cut me from it because of my husband, they should cut you from it too. You were a hit man for the mob.”
“Daughter,” he says, but I interrupt him.
“No. Yes, I’m not good with money all the time. Yes, I’ve made bad choices. But I swear I’m trying, and Dima makes me a better woman.” I pause because this isn’t how I wanted to tell him. “I loaned money to my sisters,” I say, and he stops me.
“Sisters? Why don’t I know about them?”
“They are older than me and aren’t your children. Ainsley thought it was best that I keep them secret.”
“Why?”
“Because their father is Jimmy Duncan.”
“You helped Duncan go after all of us? You did that?” He stands from his chair so fast it flies back and slides across the floor.
I try to figure out how to say this without it sounding too bad.
“Not really.”
“She funded some of it.” Dmitri rescues me. “With your money.” He adds on the last part, and the venom that seeps from my father’s eyes has the whole room coming to attention.
“You used my money to fund the assaults on the businesses? You are dead to me.” He turns to walk out but is stopped.
“Then don’t come see me either.” Sparrow is standing at the entrance to the great room. “She didn’t know what they were using the money for. Plus, you are acting so high and mighty when you killed people for money. These men”—she waves her hand to the Bratva men—“might run on the wrong side of the law, but I’d trust them to protect me over anyone.”
“She could have put the Melody out of business. How am I supposed to forgive her for that?”
I’ve had enough. I push Dmitri away from me and storm over to my father. I must get too close because I feel Dmitri right behind me again.
“The Melody. The fucking Melody. I’m sick of being second to the Melody and Gina. I never had a chance. Why did you even take me in?” The sob comes out and I hate that I cry when I get angry. “I knew my nannies and boarding school friends better than I knew you. You didn’t make it to either of my graduations, but Lyric did. You don’t even know I have a degree in Social Work. That’s why I opened Clare’s House. I did it for my mother and for my sisters. All of them.”
I point at Sparrow. “You rushed to be at her side when you knew she was Gina’s daughter. But before that, when you met her on the street outside the shelter, you told me to stop associating with her because she was bad news and only after my money.”
Sparrow gasps, and Andrei comes to her side.
“I’m done with you,” I continue. “I don’t need your money. I don’t need anything from you. Get out of my house.” I point to the door.
He looks between Sparrow and me. “I didn’t—”
“I don’t care to hear your excuses anymore. Leave.”
He walks out the door. The sound of it closing is ominous in the air around us.
Twelve
LENNON
It’s been over a month and a half of wedded bliss and work. Dmitri does everything to protect me. I know he went to the Triad and told them I was off limits. He takes care of me and still makes me feel wanted and needed.
It’s Christmas time and our house is completely decorated. Dima hired someone to come put lights up and decorate everywhere. It looks like the North Pole threw up in my house, and I love it.
Tonight we are going to Yelena’s for the traditional Morosov Christmas party. Even though most of the employees and family are Russian Orthodox and their actual religious Christmas isn’t in December, they still do this for the employees who aren’t Orthodox.
I’m dressed in a red holiday dress that has a Grecian neckline, a rouged bodice, and hits my knees in a circular skirt. Sparrow is also dressed in a red dress. She went with a more formfitting ensemble. Her dress is high-necked and sleeveless with a draped skirt.
We are both upstairs in the condos our men have, getting ready. My other sisters and I haven’t spoken because they are too busy to return my calls. I’ve decided tomorrow I’ll go to their place and finally talk to them. It will mean that my guards and thus Dmitri will know where they live, but I have no choice. I have to talk to them before too much more time goes by.
My father and I still haven’t spoken, and it’s getting on my nerves. I honestly haven’t gone this long without speaking to him since he took me in. He wasn’t always attentive or there, but he always would send me a message or email to say he was thinking of me. Now here we are, and it’s been over a month since we last spoke.
