“He won’t do that,” Petra counters.
“You don’t know that,” Danika insists. The two are both adamant, and I have no idea who will win.
“No, you don’t know him. I do. While I don’t like to admit it, I spent a year with that man. I know him, and I’m not scared of him. Besides, Gran’s cousin is helping us install a security system. We’ll be safe, I promise.”
Danika sighs and slumps against the counter. “I know how bullheaded you are, so I’m not going to fight with you about it, but I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time, sweet girl,” her mother says gently. “If something changes, I promise you I’ll reconsider, okay?”
“Okay,” she says in a weary voice. “I better get going. Breakfast is ready. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, baby.”
Danika ends the call and takes the plate I’ve made for her to the bar. It’s on the tip of my tongue to point out how frustrating it is to have the person you’re trying to protect defy you and endanger themselves, but I have enough sense to keep that thought to myself.
“She’ll come around,” I assure her as I join her with my plate.
“You don’t know my mother. She’s stubborn like you wouldn’t believe. It’s one of the best and worst things about her.”
“You guys get along, though?” I’m genuinely curious. I haven’t heard her talk much about her family.
Danika takes a bite of eggs, waiting to answer until she’s swallowed. “Yeah, we do. It helps that I’m pretty chill. But maybe that’s why I go with the flow. If I didn’t, we probably would have killed one another a long time ago.” Her gaze drops to her plate, worry wafting off her in waves.
“Biba’s not going to kill his only leverage—that wouldn’t help him get you back,” I remind her. “But if it would make you feel better, I could always force the issue.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you may not be able to force them into hiding, but I can. I could take your mom and grandmother somewhere safe and make sure they stay there.”
“You’d do that for me?” The gratitude in her eyes sinks hooks deep into my heart, anchoring me to her in ways I can’t explain.
You’d be terrified if you knew the lengths I’d go to for you.
“Just say the word.”
Her gentle smile deconstructs the world as I knew it and rebuilds it with her at its center. “Not just yet, but I appreciate your offer. Thank you, Tommy.”
I grunt and fill my mouth with food before I can tell her in graphic detail all the ways she can thank me. No need to fuck up the progress I’ve just made by giving her a front-row seat to the twisted shit in my head. I’ll save that for later, after we’re married.
We both spendthe day working. Well, I assume she’s working. I’m too busy dealing with all the crap on my plate to be sure what she’s doing. I have a wedding to plan, a war to prevent, and a jobthat still demands my attention. By evening, I’m exhausted. Not the best timing for Sante to show up and pick a fight.
“I get where you’re coming from, man. I do. But she’s his fuckingdaughter,” he argues, wearing on my last fucking nerve. “You can’t steal her like that. He’ll come after the entire organization to retaliate.”
I’m quickly regretting the decision to update him on the Danika situation.
“It’s only genetics. She’d never even met the man until he tried to sell her off to The Reaper.” I’m on my feet, my hands out wide in exasperation.
“Doesn’t make a difference, Tommy, and you know it.”
“So I’m just supposed to hand her over? That’s fucking bullshit, andyouknow it,” I yell back at him.
“Don’t get pissy with me. I’m just trying to talk some sense into you. I know how you can get.”
I stiffen. His words sound an awful lot like something my brother would say.
“Did I try to talk you out of moving across the globe to claim a girl you hardly knew?”
“No, but you called her a piece of ass,” he bites back bitterly.
