“Thanks.” The list is small which theoretically should make my job easier. “When last we spoke, Clover mentioned that her sister was dating a Russian man. Given what we know of the Russians and their lack of desire to date outside of their own allegiance, I want to know who could have been her partner.”
“Clover doesn’t know?” Don perches on the edge of my desk with his attention down on the papers scattered across my desk.
“No. Her sister was keeping it a secret.”
“Typical of the Russians,” Don replies. “So you think someone on that list is the reason for her disappearance?”
“I was actually hoping that there would be some Russian disappearances that I could connect to Hailey, but…” Skimming down the list, my heart sinks. “All these men are accounted for?”
“Yup. Alive and thriving. But you’re assuming she was dating a single man. For all we know, she was a piece on the side.”
I scoff softly. “I can’t comment.” Far be it for me to judge Hailey when we don’t even know where she is.
“Dean.”
“Mmhmm?” I glance up, and Don’s stern face immediately distracts me from Hailey. “What?”
“Is this really a good use of our time and resources? You’re Dean Savoy. You shouldn’t be spending time looking for some missing woman.”
“She’s notsome missing woman. She’s Clover’s sister.”
“And?” He throws his hand over my work. “We have people for this sort of thing.”
“If I want it done quickly, then I have to do it myself. Besides, if she really is involved with the Russians, then I want to do thiscarefully. You know how fragile our deal with them is and the last thing I need is for one of our men to stumble into something he shouldn’t.”
“That’s another reason you should let this be. Is risking fucking up our Russian deal worth digging into who is dating who? Listen, Dean. You know I care for you and I’ve entertained your little dance with this Clover, but it’s time for us to be serious. There are thousands of eyes on you right now since the gala. Everyone is waiting for this wedding while questioning why it’s so fast. A wedding means a baby will follow soon, and you know how many people are watching to see the birth of the Savoy heir.”
“Kind of creepy,” I mutter, glancing away back to my desk. “The obsession with my balls is getting out of control.”
“Don’t,” scolds Don. “You know why it’s important. You know our people value bloodlines and trust that strength and good leadership flows in your views and into the veins of your child. You know the rumblings that move through our people. You’ve waited so long to settle down, left us so long without an heir that there are those among us, even the ones that aren’t so traditional, who have doubts.”
“Are you one of those people?” My head snaps up and I look him in the eye. “Whose side are you on, Don?”
“Yours, Dean. Always. You know this. I have your best interests in mind at all times. Which is why I want to make sure you’re not making a mistake.”
“Do you really think this empire will fall if I don’t have a baby?”
“Not immediately, but with no heir then people don’t see a future and every vulture around you sees an opportunity. A chance to rip your throat out and take your place.”
“A baby won’t stop people like that.”
“No, but a baby will strengthen the belief in you and what you do. It will strengthen those around you, and strong ranks deter those vultures.”
Suddenly, I know where this is going. “What do you really want to say, Don?”
He sighs deeply and rubs at his jaw, then shakes his head. “Your marriage to Clover and the chances of her falling pregnant are unknown. Each day chips away at our strength. But Trisha… She's already pregnant. Your baby is due relatively soon and she’s from a good, strong family that will further strengthen?—”
“Don’t.” I silence him by holding up one hand.
“But Dean, you must consider?—”
“Consider what?” I cut in. “Consider binding myself to a twisted psychopath of a woman who only fell pregnant because we were both so incredibly drunk that I welcomed her into my bed when I shouldn’t have? Can you really stand there and tell me marrying a woman who I found trying to climb into another man’s bed, who stands up at an elite dinner and declares my brother a murderer and threatens to take my child out of state just to punish me—can you really tell me that’s a better choice than Clover?”
Don’s brow furrows. “Clover is a nobody, Dean. It makes you look distracted. Like your values and attention have shifted away.”
My teeth clack together and I groan softly, shaking my head. I know deep down he comes from a place of concern. If only he weren’t so cold in his delivery.
Picking up my glass, I drain the rest of my drink in one gulp.
