27. Chapter 27

Chapter twenty-seven

Epilogue – Three weeks later

CAIRO

This is the most terrifying day of my life—the day when I officially tell my father that he doesn't own me or my future. Well, second to finding out that Tia's mother was on campus and supposedly had us trapped before Paval's fathers rescued us. I still can't wrap my head around that shit or the fact that it was all just swept under the rug.

Mostly.

There are a lot of new faces in the admin office and many of my favorite professors from my freshman and sophomore years no longer walk the halls. Valentyn mentioned that there were way more hands in the ring than just Ada's and instead of prosecuting each and every student involved, they just swept it under the rug and had us all sign an agreement not to restart it. I miss the freedom that comes with stepping into that ring but knowing that I'll be able to finish my degree and figure out my own path is nice.

Because today is also the day when I tell my father that my plans outrank his and that the love I have for Tia and Paval isn't just some fling. He's been waiting until I graduate to fully own me but that changes.

Especially after the call I just had with the gym owner stationed across the street from Tia's new firm. How Paval managed to drag up the connection, I'll never know but I'm grateful for it and I love the fact that I'll be doing what I love. Teaching and sparring sound like a fucking dream to me.

I just have to get past this conversation with a man who believes I'm nothing more than a placeholder. I crush my phone to my chest, sitting in the middle of the couch as I wait for my father to arrive. It would have been easier to speak with him over the phone and tell him that I wasn't going home for the winter break but this works too. He always arrives on campus, drags me home, and beats into my head what I'll be doing after graduation and who he has in mind for me to marry.

Not anymore.

Paval and Tia are finishing up their last finals and I hope and pray this conversation will end before they show up. They don't need to know anything more than the fact my father exists. Meeting him won't be good for anyone.

I jump when the knock comes but take a few deep breaths to calm myself before opening the door. As always, he steps inside, surveying the damage to the apartment he's paying for. I've never been a partier, though, so I never know what he expects to find. Unfortunately, the added décor of Tia's things in the kitchen and the statistics textbook on the coffee table give me away.

He sheds his gloves, brows furrowed as he moves farther in before whirling around and smacking me across the face. "I'm surprised you even passed this semester but it's obvious now why your grades were so low. Who's been in here, son? And don't tell me no one." He reaches around one of the chairs and produces a thong that I must have missed while cleaning.

It's not my fault that we all have healthy sexual appetites.

He dangles the shard of lace on the edge of a pen before chucking it back on the floor. "Tell me who could have possibly stolen your attention. I hope it's not that lady I've been hearing about in the news. What was her name? Tia? Tia Fraser, yes, her. Her mother is a fucking disaster, going to jail for endangering students and stalking her own daughter."

I can't lie to this man. Lying will only set me down a path that will have me packing myself into his car. "Yes, I'm dating Tia."

"I should have known that you would pick the mere riffraff off the street to be at your side. You do know that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right? Because I've heard enough about her involvement with the little fight ring no one was supposed to know about. Sure, it's all gone now and everyone can go on about their merry way but that doesn't mean I won't beat that streak out of you." He raises his hand and my shoulders drop as I realize that I've only put myself in a situation I can't get out of.

That is, until Paval strolls through the door and stands right in front of my father before turning to face me, ignoring the man of my nightmares. "You were acting weird this morning. Was it because of him? I told you I would protect you and you do this by yourself?"

I have to hold back a laugh because now is not the time to piss off my father any more than he is. "Pav, I can handle this."

"And you shouldn't have to." He grabs my hand and drags it to his lips before facing my father. "You're the man that beats my boyfriend. Why are you here?"

I wish I had a camera to take a picture of the shocked expression on my father's face. He clears his throat, pointing at where our hands are joined. "What is that? Isn't my son dating Tia?"

"Both of us and you shouldn't be here. He's not going with you."

This is either going to turn out very bad or be one stroke of luck. "You don't get to dictate what happens to my son. Who do you even think you are? I've paid for many of the buildings and activities on campus. You're just a student."

"I'm Paval Kolas."

He says it so matter-of-factly and in certain circles, his last name holds way more weight than it should. I've only heard bits and pieces of stories but the adventurous escapades those men went on is terrifying to learn about. My father steps back, several emotions working through his face. "Kolas? Like Valentyn Kolas? That's impossible." I watch fear become the dominant emotion, my father reaching back for the door. "You've got until graduation. That's it, Cairo."

When he disappears, I meet Paval's gaze in confusion. "What the fuck was that?"

"I knew you were—"

"Not that." I should have known that Paval would have caught on to my strange behavior after studying me incessantly for the last several weeks. Having him try and predict my every move has been odd at best but endearing at the same time. I've gotten used to it and more often than not, he's been there where I needed him to. Like now. "Paval, I'm talking about the fact that my father basically shit his pants when you told him your name."

"Oh, that! I talked to my fathers to see if they could get you a job—before the gym and they couldn't do anything in their security business but they looked up your dad and apparently they all run in the same circles. Or did? Your father hired one of my dad's friends and the relationship fizzled out. Your father is due on a payment or something. I stopped listening. I just knew my last name would mean something to him."

A laugh bubbles up from my throat as I drag him into a kiss. "That's very sweet but he's still got me by the balls after graduation."

"No, not really. I might have called the friend and gave him your dad's address." He grins like he's won the fucking lottery but Paval has no idea what he's just done for me. I feel like I've been uncuffed from a world I never wanted to be in. Hell, I fucking hate business but I'll finish the degree and then jump into that gym with everything I have.

"You're precious, you know that, Paval?"

"You keep telling me that."

"And I'll keep saying it, every goddamn day."