18. Chapter 18

Jade

It's the first thing I tell Dmitri when I see him next. Two days have passed since our encounter with Javier, and I've finally got some time to sneak off and see him. Should I have snuck out of my bedroom in the middle of the night to go to his? Hell no. It was a bit reckless, but less so since I've forbidden Matteo from my room for the next couple of days, claiming to be on my period.

It's not an entire lie, I did get it yesterday morning, but I'm not nearly as uncomfortable as I made it seem. I got my first full period in years a month after moving in with my family, and it was a mess, to say the least. Every emotion hit me like a ton of bricks, and it was as if every cramp I'd missed out on wanted to make up for lost time.

Matteo was the only one home with me when it happened, and I'm pretty sure I've scarred him for life. Only ever having light spotting from a lack of nutrition and a balanced diet, I was severely unprepared for how much I'd bleed. With not a feminine product in sight, I had to send Matteo to the store for me. He handled that easily, getting me a variety of things to choose from, including a menstrual cup that still lives unopened underneath my bathroom sink.

What came after, he couldn't handle. I was a wee bit mean to him, admittedly. I was in excruciating pain, to the point where I considered asking for Doc, or a hospital. All the tampons, pain relievers, and chocolate in the world couldn't satisfy me, and poor Matteo had to endure it alone. It was five hours of me being snappy, crying, and rolling around on the couch in pain before he put a gummy bear in my mouth, telling me to chew and swallow if I wanted to feel better.

I was tempted to spit it out at him, but he looked so stressed that I obeyed. The little thing tasted funky, but I realized in about forty minutes why. He'd given me drugs. Glorious, sweet relief-inducing drugs. I must have thanked him five hundred times before I fell asleep. My mouth was dry as hell when I woke up, but I felt ten million times better in the morning.

Dad yelled at him for it, of course, but I defended him. It was a little weed gummy, barely enough for someone my size, apparently. Matteo did the right thing, and I stand by that. Sometimes he still offers me one when it's my time of the month—which he now tracks in order to be prepared—but I don't always need it. The first one was the worst by far, and I feel proud for learning about my body and how to soothe what it needs.

But since I was tortured by her once, I feel justified using her as an excuse for space this one time. A girl and her period have got to team up once and a while.

Luckily for me, the fact that I hadn't known Dmitri's room number before running over here wasn't an issue. There was a girl with a Morozov tattoo on her wrist in the hall as I came in, and she immediately helped me. There was no introduction involved, just "Are you here for Dmitri?" and my enthusiastic "Yes" was enough for her.

Now I'm sitting on a boy's bed that isn't related to me for the first time, chewing on my lip while I wait for Dmitri to come back with Ivan. As soon as I word-vomited everything I knew, he said Ivan would need to be aware as well. I'm not upset about it, but a few kisses first would have been nice. I mean, I ran like eight minutes to get here while my uterus tears itself apart inside of me. I think that's worthy of a little greeting makeout. Maybe after Ivan leaves.

Though maybe not, because Dmitri is definitely a bit upset at me for coming here all alone at night. The look on his face when he opened his door was somehow filled with relief and also murderous. He checked on me five whole times, making sure no one talked to me or touched me in any way while I was running here before I was able to tell him why I had to come.

The door clicks open, the sound of the latch making me straighten my spine. Ivan comes in first, with Dmitri following behind and shutting it promptly.

"Hey, Jade," Ivan greets, pulling a chair up to the side of the bed while Dmitri sits right next to me. "You doing okay?"

"I'm okay," I answer, smiling at the question. Ivan is such a sweetheart, his energy is just so nice to be around. "Dmitri filled you in?"

"I get the gist," he says, sitting down. "Secret marriage offers, Javier, suspicion about someone here having a phone?"

"Yeah, that's about it," I reply. "I feel pretty bad for Javi. Armani went a little crazy on him before we figured out that he didn't know."

"He's your brother," Ivan says, shrugging. "I'm sure Javier understands. He has a little sister too."

I didn't know that.

"I'm glad you have that class with me," I admit, biting the side of my cheek. "I felt like I was losing my head trying to assure them that Javier hadn't done anything shady towards me at all. He just teaches. You've seen it, right?"

"Definitely," Ivan agrees, not even hesitating. "Javier isn't looking for a hookup, let alone a wife. He's very focused on just getting through this semester of classes."

I breathe out a sigh of relief. At least I have Ivan, who's seen it too. There's absolutely no way Javi is secretly trying to marry me.

"I just wish I knew why this was happening," I admit sadly. "It feels like this is bigger than just some marriage offers, you know?"

The brothers share a look.

"There's something we should tell you," Ivan prefaces, giving Dmitri a tight smile, lightly telling him to speak up.

"Yeah?" I ask, wondering if I should start worrying or not.

Dmitri clears his throat. "Our family has a bit of a tradition that we practice when we attend Empire."

"A dangerous tradition," Ivan adds in, clearly unwilling to sugarcoat this.

"Oh? How dangerous?"

"It's complicated," Dmitri answers. "The Morozovs make most of our money through casinos, some money laundering… and trade."

Okay, nothing too scary yet.

"Like drug trade?" I ask, curious.

"Occasionally," Dmitri states vaguely. "But mostly, we focus on getting people things in difficult areas. We provide things they wouldn't be able to get without us."

"Difficult areas? Like here?" I ask, wishing they'd just speak plainly. I know I'm new to this world, but I can handle it, really.

"Exactly like here," Ivan answers. "Dmitri, with the help of me and our members here, leaves campus to meet with our suppliers a few miles out in the sea. A few times each month of the five-month semester, he brings in contraband, and we sell it for money or contracted favors."

My mouth drops open, betraying my shock. "You leave? H-how is that even possible? You don't get caught?"

"Our family has been doing this since the academy opened, Jade," Ivan says lightly. "We have our ways, but that's beside the point."

Nervously, my eyes dart between the two men. "Which is?"

"No one else goes in and out," Dmitri says. "No one who isn't with me, and we don't bring in phones. Ever. No phones, no cameras, no recording devices. Anything that could be turned around and used against us, we don't touch."

Okay, this is a lot of information at once. I guess I understand the reluctance to blurt everything out all at one time.

"You're really trusting me with a secret like this?" I ask, hardly able to hold back my surprised smile. Dmitri must seriously want to be with me if he's telling me something so monumentally damning to him and his family.

I could tell this information to anyone and get him in serious trouble. But I would never, and it seems like he already knows that. Talk about flattery.

"I know you'll keep it," he says, dropping a warm kiss on my shoulder.

"I will," I promise, even if it's not necessary.

We share a sizzling look before Ivan clears his throat, and I shake myself out of the momentary trance. Not time for kissing yet.

"Dmitri leaves campus on a random schedule a few times every month to sneak in contraband that you all sell?" I ask, making sure I've heard them right. "But not phones because they jeopardize your operation."

"Because phones take pictures," Ivan adds, nodding along with my conclusion. "So if someone has a phone here, then they have someone else who snuck it in."

"They couldn't have got it on the ship?"

"No," Dmitri dismisses softly. "The ship has technology censors all over the place. No one even attempts to sneak in phones or computers on the ship over. It's one of the reasons they prefer that jets don't land here unless there's an emergency. Anyone who comes in and out of here outside of their own transportation—the boat—is a risk."

"Right," I mumble, understanding. "So if you didn't bring it in, and you don't know who else would be able to sneak off to get one, we're lost."

"But Dmitri might be able to find out something when he meets our next contact," Ivan points out, reminding me why the topic was brought up. "He has to use a phone at the access point, and maybe he can figure out if anyone has heard about a leak."

"It's unlikely," Dmitri warns, preparing me for potential disappointment. "Did you bring your emailer here?"

"I did!" I confirm, excited to be prepared for something. I pull it out of my hoodie pockets and wave it at him.

"May I?" he asks, and I swoon. Manners are so hot.

"Of course." I pass it over and watch intently as he reads my thread of emails with Apollo. His eyes scan quickly and carefully, analyzing the conversation like he might a book.

"He doesn't seem concerned about the offers," he notes. "Which either means he's hiding it, or there hasn't been a public leak."

"So whoever has the phone isn't blasting me on social media but sending secret pictures and information about me to the heads of different organizations without any real sort of rhyme or reason?"

"There may not be a rhyme, but there's always a reason," Dmitri corrects. "Someone has a phone on Empire grounds, and someone is using it to make sure you get engaged. They don't care who, they just want you off the market."

"A girl, do you think?" I ask, eyebrows drawing in tight.

"Could be." Ivan nods. "Getting rid of the competition for someone they want for themselves?"

"Or getting me away from my brothers," I murmur, thinking about it.

It's possible, but I really don't like the sound of it.

"What do you mean?" Ivan asks. "You think someone wants you married so you'll be farther from them? Why?"

"There's a couple of people who might," I admit, suddenly feeling nauseous. "Lorna makes the most sense. She has a scary obsession with Armani. Like, genuinely feels that I'm a threat to her potential relationship with him even though we're blood-related level of obsessed. I think if she found out there actually was something more than sibling love between us she'd try to wear my face to have him for herself."

"Yikes," Ivan blurts, head rearing back in disgust. "Lorna is a possibility then, but it's just as hard for staff to smuggle shit in as it is for students. Who else are you thinking?"

"It's going to sound crazy," I admit, folding my arms around myself.

"Trust me, it won't," Ivan tells me, so sure of his words.

"What is it?" Dmitri asks, gently rubbing my arm with the back of his hand. "You can tell us, Krasotka."

Krasotka. I make a mental note to ask what that means later.

"It sounds nuts," I reiterate, just to make sure they're prepared. "But maybe it's not a student. Maybe it was someone taking pictures before I got on the boat to make it look like it is."

"Someone who works for your family?" Ivan asks.

"No, I doubt that," I say quickly. "Everyone there treats me like family. I just…" I swallow the words, trying to find the right ones. "I think maybe my mom could have something to do with this."

Dmitri tilts his head. "Your mom?"

"Kim," I correct him, hating the maternal word attached to her title.

There's nothing motherly about her. I held on to the hope she'd be a mother to me for far too long, but after seeing what a parent's love is supposed to look like, there's not a single ounce of me that yearns for her.

"I'm not sure how the rumors spun for you guys, but I didn't meet my dad until six months ago," I admit, feeling a bit shy to deluge any of my past. If they can trust me with a secret so big, I can trust them with some of mine. "Up until then, I lived with Kim and… her boyfriend, Bruce. They were awful."

The air becomes tense like it does any time my past is brought up around my family. It's not a fun topic, and for anyone with any semblance of morality, it's a tough conversation to have.

"I don't really want to get into it for now, if that's okay?" I ask vulnerably but don't leave room for an answer. I was barely able to tell Apollo everything the night that I did, and he's literally bound to me by DNA. "I just wouldn't put it past them, doing something like this."

Dmitri and Ivan have a new dark edge clouding over them, and I know what I've said is responsible for it. Thankfully, they don't press. In fact, it takes a long moment before either of them chooses what to ask next.

"Why do you think they would want you away from your family?" The thoughtfully worded question comes from Ivan.

I let out a held breath. "They're likely mad," I admit. "I know what I'm about to say will lead to so many more questions, but if you could not ask them, that'd be great."

"We'll refrain," Dmitri promises immediately, offering me a rush of relief. "For now."

That's all I need. If my feelings for this man are as strong as I think they are, it won't take too long for me to feel comfortable and open up entirely.

"The only reason I know who my dad is is because Kim wanted him to kill me," I confess shakily. "There was an… incident, and I defended myself against Bruce."

I rub the back of my neck, trying to get rid of the chill creeping up there.

"I stabbed him, um, a few times," I admit. "Kim freaked out and tried to kick me out of the house, but I wasn't eighteen yet, and the cops wouldn't let her. So when they asked if there was any family that could take me, she said there was."

It doesn't matter how many months have passed, I can still feel the betrayal rolling through me when I think about that day.

"I'd always thought my dad didn't want anything to do with me, but Kim told the policeman that my dad was Dante Moretti. She said she hoped he'd killed me on sight. I haven't seen her since then."

I leave out the fact that I hit her repeatedly and that she disappeared from the hospital before my father could get to her.

"Why would she expect Dante to kill you?" Ivan asks through his shock and confusion.

I wince, looking down at my lap.

"She said he wouldn't want a whore for a daughter," I whisper, immediately rushing to my own defense after. "But I'm not, I swear. I didn't ever?—"

"Don't defend your chastity to me, Krasotka," Dmitri cuts in, shaking his head. "Your first kiss was on my lips, I know you aren't what she called you."

"Even if you were, you wouldn't deserve death," Ivan says, his fists tightening.

"Even if you were, you'd still be mine," Dmitri vows, melting my soul into a little puddle. "Come here, Krasotka."

I'm surrounded by strong arms in an instant, pulled into a sweet hug that makes my eyes prick with tears. While his brother holds me tight, Ivan presses a friendly peck to the crown of my head.

The comfort they provide calms me enough to speak again, and they pull back. Dmitri stays close, holding my hand while Ivan retakes his seat.

"So we have three suspects," I surmise, sniffling. "Where do we go from here?"

"I know you think Kim is capable of hurting you, and we believe you, but do you know how she is contacting these people?" Ivan asks carefully. "Is she in some sort of gang? Does she have a lot of power or influence?'

I try to think about it because I have the same question. If this is Kim and Bruce, they've leveled up. It's not impossible to get your hands on contact information for the people they must be communicating with, but it's not easy either.

"I'm not sure how," I acknowledge. "I just know they're good at getting their way, and they're slippery. My dad knows everything they've done, and he hasn't been able to find them. He's wanted to kill them for months."

"Was it hard?" Ivan asks. "Telling your dad?"

It's a good question, though I'm not sure why he asked it. Rationally it makes sense. This way, he can try to gauge how badly I was treated without asking for specifics. But something tells me he has another reason for wanting to know.

Either way, I'm willing to answer. If anything, to give Apollo credit for how amazing he was to me during that time. I think it's important for more people to know that he's not just the grumpy and rude exterior he shows everyone else. He's an incredible brother and man.

"Apollo told him for me," I disclose, squeezing Dmitri's hand for comfort. "I told him everything, though, and it wasn't easy. Mostly because it came out so fast. I'd hardly been there, and something came out. I couldn't hide it, but I couldn't just tell a dozen people at once. Dad suggested I tell one person, and I picked Apollo."

"Are you closest with him?" Dmitri asks. I can tell he's gently trying to shift the topic at hand for my sake. Fuck, he's so great. I like this man so much.

"Him and Matteo," I answer, genuinely smiling now. "I love all my brothers, but two of them have kids and wives, so I don't see them as often. Matteo had made it his mission to be my brother right away, though. He broke up so much of the tension that comes with meeting new people. He made jokes and lightened the mood. Now we're very close, like having slumber parties in my bedroom close."

"And Apollo?"

"It's hard to explain without sounding a little insane, but Apollo is like an actual God. He makes me feel like a whole other level of safe. Not just physically but mentally. He calms me down and cheers me up just being there."

"That's nice," Ivan comments, and I nod rapidly.

"It is," I agree. "Have either of you met Apollo? Or seen him?"

"No," they both say.

"Well, a lot of people think we look alike. He's Dad's mini me, and I'm his, according to, like, our whole family. I like that about him too. It makes me feel closer to them, looking so much like Apollo and my dad. Our noses are the same, and our eyes and hair. Matteo thinks we smile the same, but Apollo doesn't show his off much."

"Someone looking like you feels impossible," Dmitri comments sweetly. I know it's a compliment because of the soft way he looks at my face.

"We all look a bit alike," I tell him, cheeks tinted pink. "Dad has strong genes. Leon is the only one who looks more like their mom. He's blonde like she was. And Elio and Emilio are the only two who have her deep brown eyes. I can't imagine how the typical Moretti blue would look on them."

They both chuckle, and my chest swells. They're interested in this, even if it's not vitally important to their lives. Both of these guys want to know more about me and my family.

"I haven't met her yet, but apparently, Emilo's daughter has our blue eyes as well. Public school science failed me, so I don't know how that works at all, but I can't wait to see them for myself. I've got two nephews and a niece, but haven't been able to meet them yet. After this semester, though, I'll get my chance."

I'm really excited for that. I've never held a baby before, but Matteo promises it's a piece of cake. He told me that holding a baby is only scary until you're actually doing it. He's held each of them, so I'll take his word on it for now.

My watch beeps with the top of the hour, and I realize that it's midnight. "Shoot," I mutter, trying not to frown. "I should probably get back soon."

Ivan stands up, brushing off his pants. "I'll give you two a bit."

I try not to squeal. Maybe there's time for some kissing after all. Man, is it normal to crave kisses like this? Dmitri has got me hooked on them.

Before he leaves, Ivan sends me a smile and a small wave. "Talk soon, Jade."

"Bye," I say, smiling and waving back.

Once we're alone, I'm pulled into Dmitri's lap, my butt in between his legs like he might carry me. I wiggle into the hold, making it firmer. "I've missed you," he murmurs into my neck, breathing in the scent of my hair.

It's only been two days, but… "I've missed you too."

"Next time, ask someone for me," he instructs, firm but carefully. "I won't be able to sleep at night unless you promise to never do that again."

I swallow, folding in my lips. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I won't do it again if it worries you so much, I promise."

"But?" he asks, sensing my hesitance.

"I just want to be able to see you more," I admit, not caring if it sounds clingy. It's the truth.

He nods, understanding. "Ivan and I will get you from now on."

My heart gives a thrilled beat. "You will?"

"Of course."

Softly, I brush my thumb over his lips. "Can you kiss me now?"

Dmitri's mouth slips into a sultry grin. "Have you been waiting for that, Krasotka?"

"All night," I confess breathlessly.

"Well, we can't have that," he tsks.

Dmitri crushes his lips to mine in a powerful press of his mouth, kissing me like our lives depend on the touch. His taste makes me gasp, and he uses the part in my lips to flood me with more of it, tongue pushing through the gap. I haven't quite got the hang of that part, but follow his lead, chasing the way it makes me feel when our tongues tangle together.

I fumble around in his lap, positioning myself to get closer while we kiss. My thighs end up on either side of his hips, squeezing tight to hold me up. I have to spread my legs to encompass his thick frame, but it's more than worth it.

My fingers latch around his muscular neck, digging in hard enough to leave white spots behind when I eventually pull back—maybe even bruises if I hold him here long enough. I'd hold him here forever if he'd let me.

One of his hands steadies me, holding me by the front of my thigh. He's able to grab so much of it that I feel anchored, less like I might slip because of how wide my legs are, and more like I'm firmly in place. His fingers are tucked underneath my skirt but not rising. Still, the hold gives me a hot rush of arousal that has me thinking we should move way faster than we are. Everything about Dmitri Morozov lights me up.

His other hand holds the side of my face, two fingers below my ear, the others above. It feels so good, like he's owning me with the simple touch. The way he controls the weight of my head, using the touch to ignite me further.

"You're my boyfriend, right?" I ask, pulling out of our kiss and blushing beet red. "I can call you that in my head?"

"I'm yours," he answers immediately, giving me a flood of serotonin straight to my brain. His lips press against my jaw. "You can call me anything you want."

"What do you call me inside of your head?" I ask, biting my lip.

"Mine," he says simply.

"Is that what Krasotka means?" I ask, trying not to butcher the word.

"No." He smiles, rubbing his thumb in a circle on the soft skin of my inner thigh. "Krasotka means gorgeous."

My face flames. "Wow," I breathe. "That's so sweet."

"It's accurate," he simply states. His hand lays against the side of my face, thumb softly stroking my cheekbone. "You are the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen."

There's no way that's factually accurate, but I don't even care. I can tell he feels that way, even if he's physically seen more beautiful people, he doesn't see them that way. He sees me that way.

"You've had sex before, right?" I blurt out, slapping a hand over my mouth as soon as the words come out. "You don't have to answer that," I immediately add.

"I have," he answers, unaffected by the personal prying. I'm not even sure why I asked since it's basically a guarantee for his age and position. Mafia men view sexual promiscuity as extremely normal. Mafia men view sexual promiscuity as extremely normal. "Does that bother you, Krasotka?"

Well, I don't love it.

"No," I say ultimately. "You can't control your past any more than I can control mine. I'm a bit relieved that at least one of us will know what they're doing."

Aaaand I just implied that we're going to have sex. I really have to learn to filter what I'm thinking before I just blurt it out around him. He makes all of my practiced thoughts just poof out of my head as soon as his eyes find mine.

He flashes a charming grin. "We don't need to worry about that for a while, baby."

Oh god, him calling me baby makes me wish I was having his. How the hell does one simple word hit me right in the vagina. Seriously, am I throbbing?

Wait, what did he say before that?

"We don't?" I ask, frowning. Does he actually not want to have sex with me? He just said I was his!

"Krasotka, when I fuck you, you'll be madly and irrevocably in love with me. It'll be shortly after I put a ring on this little finger," he says boldly, holding up my left hand to emphasize my ring finger. "And until you're ready for that, our clothes stay on."

Holy. Shit.

I gulp, suddenly thirsty. "You know you can't say things like that while telling me we can't fool around," I complain, tugging the front of his shirt into my fists. "It's not fair."

"That's not what I said, Krasotka," he tells me, clicking his tongue. "I said I wouldn't fuck you, I never said I wouldn't take care of you."

"O-oh?"

"Mhmm," he agrees, the sound rumbling in his chest.

I gulp. "Something to look forward to?"

His grin sends a burning heat directly between my thighs.

"You have no idea, Krasotka."