37. Chapter 37

Dmitri

The only reason I'm not shaking with anger right now is because I have to remain calm for Jade's sake. I could kill William where he stands for scaring her the way he did. Her screaming my name with that desperate plea is going to ring in my head on a loop for the rest of my fucking life. I never want to hear that again.

Before Ivan can catch up with Jade's brother and me, I look him dead in the eye. "Thank you," I say without wavering.

I'm a secure enough man to give credit where credit is due. Apollo used contacts to know what was going to happen today, of that much, I'm sure. I know what he did wasn't for me, but I'm not thanking him for me, I'm thanking him for Jade.

"You've got an enemy to deal with," Apollo replies. "I don't know who is trying to get you killed, but I know it's not the same people trying to separate you from Jade."

How he's sure, I don't know, but I'm inclined to believe it. Whoever is after Jade wants her separated from her family, they don't want me kicked off the island, let alone dead. I can't believe Will brought out a fucking executioner for some shady pictures. Was he hoping I'd admit to something more? Fat chance.

"I have an idea," I share, jaw clenching. "It'll be dealt with, but Jade and Ivan need to go with you. We think Kim and Bruce, or maybe someone else, is trying to have her married off, making her vulnerable by pulling her away from your family. You need to make sure she's constantly surrounded?—"

"Trust me, I'm already aware," he drawls, interrupting. "She'll be safe."

Before I can add more, Jade's tear-stained face is in front of me, and her arms are shooting around my neck. I pull her close, cupping the back of her head with one hand and wrapping my other arm around her back.

"Hey, shhh," I whisper gently, trying to keep her calm. "Everything's okay, baby. Just breathe, I've got you."

"I was s-so scared," she cries, trying to pull me closer, removing any space left between us. She'd claw her way under my skin if she could, and I'd let her.

"We don't have much time," her brother warns, and I nod.

Petting her hair, I press a hard kiss to her head. "Can you listen for me, love? Remember how I taught you to control your reactions, hmm? I need you to breathe."

Trembling, she exhales. "O-okay."

"They couldn't have hurt me, I'm fine, everything is fine." Fuck, this is so hard. "But I need you to be strong for me, okay? You have to go?—"

"No!"

"You have to go with Apollo, baby," I tell her, only for her to cry harder. "I have to handle this threat, and I can't have you with me while I do."

She shudders and holds me tighter. "No."

Shit, my heart hammers a painful beat. "Ivan will go with you, Krasotka. You will be strong, and I will come to you soon, yes?"

"N-no way," she cries, shaking in my arms. "I won't go."

"You will," I argue, pushing another fierce kiss against the top of her head. My body tightens around her, keeping her close as she tries to control her sobs. "You'll go, and you'll be safe."

"I don't w-want to," my Jade protests, clinging to me like her life depends on our connection. "I can't?—"

"You can," I correct her firmly, I cup her crumpled face in my hands and lift her eyes to mine. "You will."

More tears roll down her cheeks, hitting my fingers.

"You need to control your emotions like I've shown you," I tell her, voice dripping with urgency. I've been coaching Jade in the skills needed to remain calm under pressure for a few weeks, and it hasn't been easy for her, but she's learning. "It is hard, but I need you to do this for me. For the babies."

She gasps and looks down at her stomach so fast she nearly smacks her head against my chin. "Oh god, do you think they're okay? Am I h-hurting them?"

"They're okay." I know they are. "You're not hurting them, but your stress is not good for their growth. Ivan and your family will keep you safe, but you need to keep them safe. Understand?"

Her nod is shaky as she lets out a wobbled breath.

"I don't want to leave you." Jade's confession is a whispered one.

"You're not leaving me," I assure her. "There are going to be times in our lives when I can't have you near me for your safety and for my sanity. If I didn't know you were one hundred percent safe, I couldn't function, yes?"

"I can't function if you're not safe either," she protests, frowning as her tears begin to dry.

"Sorry, love," I say, lifting her chin. "But you'll function just fine because Ivan will make sure of it."

A warning siren bellows, and I withhold a groan. If Jade knows I'm as miserable as she is about this, it'll only make it harder for her.

"It's time."

Two words have her wrapped around me tighter than ever before. Jade hugs me so hard, shaking against my frame.

"Ivan," I mutter, grabbing my little brother by his arm. "Take her."

"No," Jade whines.

Calming her down was no use, Ivan and Apollo are going to have to do it again on the plane.

"I love you," I promise, pulling her face up to mine.

I kiss her until she melts and then nod to Ivan to swoop in. With her relaxed and unsuspecting, he's able to get my girl off of me and into a safe hold.

"Noooo," she screams, trying to thrash in his hold to no avail.

My brother holds her just tight enough and in the right spots to keep her stomach safe but the rest of her body in place. He walks away without looking back, knowing we don't have much time.

Apollo watches me from the side of the plane while Ivan shushes Jade, almost rocking her as they approach the steps. My love may think this separation is going to be awful for her, but it won't. Ivan has a connection with her, and he knows how to keep her happy. She'll be safe and distracted, exactly how I need her to be.

Fists clenching, I watch as Ivan and Jade disappear onto the plane. Once I know my brother has got her seated, I offer a nod to Apollo and fucking leave; before I can't make myself walk away.

Jade

I passed out cold for the first few hours of the flight, falling asleep right on top of Ivan while he soothed me. He rubbed my back and whispered to me, kissing the sides of my face and assuring me that everything was going to be okay. I was exhausted and overwhelmed, finding it impossible to fight off the tiredness.

It was as if the weight of thirty boulders was crushing down on me all at once and all I could do was turn off my brain to escape. I slept dreamlessly, thankfully.

When I wake up and can control my emotions again, Ivan leaves me alone with Apollo to get himself a drink and refresh in the private bathroom. He doesn't want to leave me, but I cried so much on his shirt that it looks crazy, and he deserves a moment to change and collect himself. Dmitri is his brother, and I'm sure today was terrifying for him too.

Without saying a word, I approach the soft leather seat across from my eldest brother and sit down, releasing a breath.

"Thank you for coming for me," I tell my brother, feeling a little embarrassed that he saw my breakdown.

I take a sip of my water bottle, attempting to rehydrate what I've cried out. Now would be a perfect time for Armani to come to the rescue with some electrolyte juice, but sadly, he's still at Empire.

Apollo nods slowly, discarding his phone to the side and giving me his full attention. "I'll always come for you, Jade."

"You saved Dmitri," I remark, picking at my nails. "I mean, I know you said they couldn't kill him, but to me, it felt like I was about to watch him die."

"I know," Apollo replies. "That's why I did it."

Never one for a show, I believe Apollo did all of this for me. He has no allegiance to Dmitri, or at least, he didn't before. I have no idea what he put in that marriage contract, but I'm sure we can discuss it later.

"Either way, I'm thankful."

"Remember that," he says, and my eyebrows draw in.

Concerned, I ask, "What do you mean?"

Ignoring my question, he asks one of his own. "So, are you with both brothers or what?"

I cough on my next sip of water, barely able to hold it in and choke it down. "W-what?"

"Don't play innocent with me, little sister," Apollo drawls. "You were stuck to that man like glue for hours."

My jaw falls open. "Ivan? We're not—no, we're friends."

He lifts a dubious brow. "Are you sure about that?"

"More than sure," I scoff. "We're just… close. He makes me feel safe."

"And Dmitri," Apollo says slowly. "Does he make you feel safe?"

"More than anyone else in the world," I admit.

It's sort of hard to say since Apollo used to be the only person who I felt that safe with. But Dmitri is my person. My husband now, and he makes me feel like no one can ever hurt me again.

"And he's fine with you attaching yourself to his brother like that?"

I scrunch my nose at the description. "There's nothing romantic or sexual about it."

He blinks, skeptical. "There's nothing sexual about straddling his lap and letting him kiss your face?" I'd hardly call sleeping on him in distress straddling, but I suppose the description isn't far off.

"Neither of us gets like…" I groan, trying to explain it. "We don't see each other in that way, so it doesn't feel that way."

He shrugs a little. "Seems unlikely."

"He's never gotten hard," I bite out. "Is that what you want to hear? We don't want each other that way."

"And that angers you?"

"No, it frustrates me to have to repeat myself and explain relationship stuff to my brother. I don't want to talk about what does and doesn't tickle my fancy."

His lips thin, but like he's trying to hold in a chuckle. "Tickleyour fancy?"

"I don't want to talk about what does and doesn't turn me on, is that better?" I huff, crossing my arms. "God, what is it about brothers and having uncomfortable-ass conversations? Does this give you some kind of brotherly joy?"

He smiles mildly. "No, but it distracts you through landing, doesn't it?"

What?

Wait.

"Holy shit," I gape, looking out my window. "We're on the ground? How did you?—"

"You hate landing," he muses simply. "And this time, you didn't have to experience it. You're welcome."

My lips threaten to wobble and I stand up from my seat just to toss my arms around his neck. "Thank you, Apollo."

He grunts at the force of it and awkwardly pats my back twice. "I just distracted you, I didn't hand you a million dollars. I wasn't even nice about it."

"You're such a good big brother."

"Okay?" he replies, bewildered.

"For such a sweet guy, you'd think you'd have a girlfriend."

At this, he grumbles, detangling himself from me and standing up from his seat. "I'm hardly sweet and certainly don't want a girlfriend."

"You'd be a great boyfriend," I counter. "So thoughtful, and?—"

"No," he interrupts.

"No?"

"No, we're not talking about this. Do you want me to help you with Dad, or what?"

I pout my bottom lip but relent. "Do you have a plan?"

"Do I have a plan?" he sniffs, offended. "We're already in phase two."

Oh. Well, that's good.

"What was phase one?"

"Calling Dad while you were sleeping."

Damn. Not so good, actually.

"What? What'd you say to him?"

"What do you think?" He arches a thick brow. "I warned him what I was coming home with."

"You did what?" My heart begins to race. "You said you'd keep it a secret?—"

"And I did," he argues. "But going in cold-cocked is not how this venture becomes a successful one. Dante Moretti is a reactionary man. I gave him time to digest, you're welcome. Again."

"I don't see how?—"

"You have no idea what rumors he's heard about your time at Empire. How do you think he'd handle seeing your puffy, crying face while you stand next to a stranger? He'd kill Ivan right on the tarmac before asking a single question."

"I hardly think?—"

"And another thing," he cuts in. "Your life was threatened several times, he needed to be informed about that. He's not just our father?—"

"He's our capo, right, I get it," I finish, stealing his unsaid words. "Thank you, Apollo. I know you're doing what's best. I'm just scared."

A single hand on my shoulder is all the comfort he offers. "You'll be fine. Phase two is simple enough."