Page 82 of Savage Little Secret

“For the brothel threat. For calling you what I called you. For making you believe you were only useful when you were obedient. I haven’t treated you well,” he states with a frown on his face. “It wasn’t right of me. You’re my daughter. My only child. I should’ve protected you better.”

I hear the words coming out of his mouth, but it just sounds like white noise. “Seems like convenient timing for you to start caring about me.”

His brow furrows. “What do you mean by that?”

I shrug as I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest. “It looks like you’ve been cozying up to Dmitri lately. I’m sure an alliance with him and possibly the Bratva would be beneficial to you. Winning points with me would make Dmitri more willing to ally with you.”

My father’s jaw tenses as he breathes in deeply. I prepare for a typical angry outburst, but his voice comes out calm instead. “Dmitri and I came together over a common goal. Finding you and getting you back home safe. It wasn’t an easy alliance, but we did it for you.”

“Well, I’m back. What do you want from me now?”

“I want a better relationship with my daughter. I want to make up for how I treated you, yeah? And I’m not asking you to trust me overnight,” Sean replies. “I understand if you’re not ready for that yet, but I’m not going to give up. I’m here for you, Cara.”

I can’t bring myself to believe that he’s doing all of this for me yet. There has to be another motive.

“So, you’re fine with me being with Dmitri? The same man you wanted me to kill not that long ago?” I question him.

My father nods after a short pause. “Things are different now. He’s shown me how much he cares about you, and I think you’re a good match for each other. Dmitri will keep you safe.”

I feel like I’m in some sort of alternate reality where the Irish and the Bratva are best friends for some reason instead of enemies.

While the waitress comes in and takes my order, my mind continues to race. I could tell him to leave me alone and focus on my confusing relationship with Dmitri, or I could use my father’s newfound devotion to our relationship to my advantage. Test him.

I need to see if my father is more loyal to me than Dmitri, and I can think of one way to do that.

“So, you really want to protect me? To have a relationship with me?” I ask him once the waitress steps out of the room.

Sean nods, his shoulders lifting a little. “I do.”

If he betrays me, things could get worse between Dmitri and me, but if my father proves to be loyal, maybe he has changed.

“I need you to get me a pregnancy test without Dmitri finding out.”

Sean’s jaw drops. “You’re pregnant?”

His shocked whisper makes my stomach flip-flop. I can’t tell if he’s happy or disappointed. “I don’t know for sure. That’s why I need a test. Can you get me one without Dmitri finding out or not?”

“You don’t want him to know? He’s the father, though, yeah?” he asks me.

“Will you do it or not?” I reply firmly, not trusting him with any other details yet.

He finally nods. “I’ll get one to you without him knowing. I won’t say a word.”

A faint flutter erupts in my chest. I can’t tell if it’s hope or concern or something else. I’m just relieved that he might help me with this.

But if he stabs me in the back after spouting all this talk about rekindling our father-daughter relationship, he’s dead to me.

No more second chances.

30

Dmitri

I’m not surprised when I’m summoned to a meeting with the Bratva Council.

By now, I’m sure enough word has spread for them to know what all went down at the farmhouse and the damage that was done. They’re pissed. I already know that.

With Isaak standing guard outside my penthouse, I leave Cara on the couch in my living room with a book in her hand, a blanket draped over her frail body, and a heating pad pressed to her lower back. She keeps insisting she’s fine, but her winces say otherwise.