Page 210 of Merciless Daddy

“Yeah, that’s usually the case.”

Serafina leaned forward. “The examiner cannot order you to return to Gianni. She cannot remove your companies today. But a bad report gives him leverage.”

“And if I refuse?”

Angela’s face went grim.

“Then he says Sal kept you from independent review. He says you are isolated. He says his claims are justified.”

I looked toward the open doorway.

Sal stood there. He had changed into a dark suit. No tie. His face had gone still in the way that meant he was furious and refusing to use it as a weapon.

“I’m going,” I said. “I need to do it.”

“No,” he said.

The screen went silent.

I stood slowly. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me, Little one.”

“I did. I am deciding whether to be insulted or impressed by the audacity.”

“It is not safe.”

“Of course it’s not safe. Nothing is safe in this city. With these men.”

“Yelena.”

The use of my full name made my spine stiffen.

“You do not get to decide that I cannot speak for myself because Gianni might use the room against us.”

His jaw flexed.

“I know.”

“Then do not say no like you are my father.”

The words landed. I hated them as soon as they left my mouth.

Sal’s face did not close.

He came into the room and stopped an arm’s length away, leaving the choice visible between us.

“I am not your father,” he said. “And I will never be.”

My throat tightened.

“But I am allowed to be afraid,” he continued. “I am allowed to hate sending you into a room designed to make you defend being loved. I am allowed to protect you.”

I looked down at the firebird notebook.

“I have to go,” I whispered. “If I don’t, he gets to call me a frightened little girl who cannot make a choice without a man beside her.”

Sal waited. Then he nodded once.