Page 33 of Protective Phlox

“Vera, where are you from,” I asked, trying to make conversation. I didn’t really see Vera being Titus’s type from the little time I’d spent with him, but who was I to judge? She ran her fingers through her blonde hair and gave me a cool stare.

“Why do you want to know,” she asked, and the conversations quieted. I glanced around, and all eyes were turning in our direction.

“Just trying to be friendly.”

“Or just trying to pry information from me that you can use to rat me out to the FBI,” she said, and I grabbed Nathan’s hand before he could lose his mind again.

“I wouldn’t do that,” I said.

“Vera has a point,” Ronan added. “We don’t really know where your loyalties lay other than in my brother’s bed.” Nathan sucked in a deep breath, his glare trained on Ronan and as murderous as I’d ever seen.

“Very direct of you, but I think you have your facts wrong, Ronan. I went to Italy to work and keep space between me and this family…for obvious reasons. In all that time, when I could’ve easily spilled details about you all, I didn’t. Maybe you have forgotten, but I also brokered a deal for safe passage once a month to Canada for your shipments. I’m also not the one who chose to bring me here, but since you all seem so concerned…I’m tendering my resignation with the FBI.” I made sure to look both him and Dimitri in the eyes. “Now that that is out of the way, I’d appreciate not being questioned on my loyalty anymore this evening.”

Dimitri smiled and sipped his wine. “That is all fair, but tell me, Savannah, have you been to see your brother yet? I’m curious to know if you’ll have the same outlook once you lay eyes on him.”

“Dimitri,” Helena said, but it was too late. I could feel the shift in the room as Nathan slowly stood.

Dimitri knew what he said was a slap in the face. My half-brother was no better, if not worse, than my stepfather. Instead of rotting in prison, which is where I wanted him to be, he was held captive by the Mikhailovs for what he did to Nathan’s younger sister, Kaylani. I’d never been comfortable with this piece of the deal. My morals screamed that he needed to be punished, but not by being slowly tortured to death. I’d relented, knowing that nothing was going to change Nathan’s mind, and at least he had given me the file he’d gathered on my stepfather so I could have him put away for life.

“You came to my office and said you were holding this dinner to get to know your grandson, but as usual, you lied. This is nothing more than a fishing expedition and a way to throw jabs at my wife and our relationship. I won’t let her fall prey to your twisted games. I warned you what three strikes would get you, and you’ve already crossed one off. I’d be wary, Father. I keep my promises,” Nathan said, and Dimitri’s face turned so red that he looked ready to explode.

“I’m sick of you threatening me,” Dimitri growled.

“That makes two of us. We’re leaving.” The finality in Nathan’s voice left no room for negotiation. He picked Cutter up while Hailey and Holly began to whine.

“I’m so sorry,” Helena whispered as I stood to leave.

“Mark my words, son, one day, this decision will come back to haunt you,” Dimitri said, but it felt more like a threat.

Nathan grabbed my hand and marched us out of the dining hall. His face was all hard lines, and the anger in his eyes was truly terrifying. I didn’t scare easily, but it felt like I was locked in a cage with the hungry polar bear tattooed on his hand.

Goran and Ivan had fallen into step behind us, and no one spoke, not even Cutter, who was usually chatty. I glanced up at our son. Cutter had his arms around Nathan’s neck, but his sad face stared at me.

It was so hard to know how much of that he understood. He was wise beyond his age, but he was still only four. What he certainly knew was that anger and hostility were floating around, and he wasn’t used to that. We’d lived a quiet life filled mostly with laughs and smiles. I wouldn’t leave Nathan because of Dimitri, but I’d be damned if I let that man, and his poisonous ways, touch our son.

Nathan placed Cutter down as we stepped into his room, then turned to look at me. I swallowed hard as his dark eyes searched my face, the power of his stare touching my soul.

“I need to cool off before I can talk, so I’m going to the gym.” He kissed my forehead and left without another word.

“Mommy?”

I kneeled and smoothed out the collar on his suit. “Yeah, Bud?”

“Do we have to live here? I want to go home.”

My heart shattered into a million little pieces.

“I’m sorry, Bud, but this is our home now,” I said, cupping his small cheeks.

“But they don’t like us. I want Marko, and I want my friends,” he said, and my eyes stung with tears that I couldn’t shed.

“I know it feels like that, but your dad loves you. So does Grandma Helena and your Uncle Titus, and don’t forget about Hailey and Holly. They would all be so sad if you weren’t here.”

His head dropped, and he looked at the floor. “He’s not my dad.”

I bit my lip. “Why do you say that?”

He shrugged, his small shoulders lifting and dropping dramatically. “He scares me.”