40. Chapter 40

Jade

One day turns into two, two turns to four, and four bleeds right into seven. Seven days without a word from Dmitri, but thankfully, I've got Ivan. He's the best at keeping me busy. Going swimming with me for hours, watching movies with me, and helping Martha and me in the kitchen. I couldn't be more grateful for him.

Like right now, he's just quietly watching TV while I decide whether or not I want to fully wake up from this mid-day nap. Naps have become a bit of a requirement for me, especially with activity-filled days, I get tired easily. My stomach has started to push out more too, which helps me feel more content. Without Dmitri, I like knowing that I have my Ivan and my babies.

Thinking I could go for a snack, I decide to start opening my eyes when a voice makes me freeze. "I'm supposed to believe you're not in love with my daughter when you hold her and look at her like that?"

I hold still, keeping my breathing in pace so that he doesn't realize I'm awake. A talk could be good for Ivan and my dad. There's obvious friction between them, and I know it's not just because he's my future husband's brother. We're very touchy, and Dante Moretti doesn't like seeing anyone with their hands on me.

And Ivan doesn't trust my father fully. He hasn't said it, but I know it. He doesn't trust made men as far as he can throw them. With everything that's happened to me in the past, he's wary about trusting anyone with me—even my own flesh and blood. I just wish he'd realize that Dante feels the same way about him—untrusting in the name of protecting me.

"Are we still talking about this?" Ivan responds, keeping his voice to a low level. He might believe I'm asleep, or he might be helping me remain stealthy. Either way, I'm grateful because I need to hear this.

"You're on my couch with my daughter literally on top of you," Dad deadpans. "The only reason we're not doing way more than talking is for her sake."

Thinly veiled threats are a mafia man's bread and butter.

"Being held is comforting for Jade," Ivan replies blandly, unaffected by Dante's insinuation. "She lays her head on your sons as well, if you've noticed."

"Yes," he agrees. "Her brothers."

"Is that what you need from me? A familial title? Well, you're in luck, considering I'll be her brother as soon as mine returns. Technically, I already am on paper."

I can practically hear my father grinding his teeth. "You've more than crossed the line of brotherly interactions with her, and you know it."

"But you can't conceptualize relationships that aren't familial or sexual," Ivan argues. "That's on you, not on me. I can hold Jade twenty-four hours a day and never want to have sex with her if that's what you're trying to figure out. She's Dmitri's, I wouldn't cross that line even if I wanted to."

Missing the point entirely, my father growls. "So you're brother's in your way, is that it?"

"Jesus Christ," Ivan grinds out. "No, Dmitri isn't in my way. I'd die, kill, do fucking anything for Jade, and it isn't because I'm in love with her. I'm beginning to think this whole family is touch-starved if it's genuinely this difficult for you all to understand affection outside of sex."

Harsh but not entirely inaccurate.

"I don't believe you."

Ivan huffs through a laugh. "Yeah, I've got that, thanks."

"I don't believe you," Dante repeats. "Because anyone who recognizes how perfect my daughter is, who doesn't want her for himself, is a liar. Or?—"

Holding back a gasp, I understand what he's put together.

"Oh," my dad says simply.

Ivan stiffens, and I almost end this rouse by waking up just to comfort and assure him. Dante would never out him, not even to Uncle Cesar or any of my brothers. He's protective of me, but he's not a monster. And with Nico, he has experience in this area.

"Alright," he says, tone lighter and happier. "Good."

"Good?" Ivan repeats, dumbfounded.

"Good," Dad affirms. It"s like a puzzle has fallen into place for him, and he couldn't be more pleased with the result.

Ivan being gay isn't exactly why we're not sexually intimate. There's a wealth of reasons, one of which being that his brother and I are it. We're made for each other, and we're hardly looking to open our relationship to another. But I do understand why this helps my dad understand us better. I can't say that if Ivan were interested in women things wouldn't be different because I don't know that.

Dmitri would likely say the same thing. My connection to his brother is undeniable, but there's no point in exploring what-ifs. I'd never want Ivan to change. I adore him and love him exactly the way he is. I'll never have a closer friend, and I'd never dream of that changing. We're perfect just like this.

Warily, Ivan asks, "No more interrogations then?"

I can hear what sounds like the start of a reply when Dante is interrupted.

"We've got an update from Empire." It's Apollo, and there's an edge to his typically controlled tone.

Dad hears it, too, immediately going on alert. "What is it?"

"Nico and Armani are missing."

My heart squeezes painfully behind my ribs. W-what?

A deafening silence roars around us for a split second until our father replies. "Missing?"

"My contacts have confirmed it, yes. Armani hasn't been to a single one of his seminars and Nico hasn't been seen at all since we left. What do you want to do?"

Mind whirling, I open my eyes just in time to see Ivan let out a sigh and pinch the bridge of his nose. "You don't have to do anything."

"Why the fuck would you say that?" Dad snaps, easily going from worried to pissed off.

"They're with Dmitri," Ivan explains, shocking even me.

I look over to see Apollo crossing his arms in disbelief and my father's fists clenched at his sides.

"Better start explaining before he has Uncle Cesar put you in an interrogation chair," Apollo advises.

Ivan sees that I'm awake and kisses the top of my head before standing up and running a hand down his face. "Nico and Dmitri have a working relationship, and they have for years."

"The off-campus thing?" I blurt out, trying to figure out what Ivan is implying.

My father takes a calculated step forward, meant to intimidate. "What off-campus thing?"

Ivan nods. "Dmitri gets in and out of Empire, and Nico goes with him."

"That's not possible," Apollo argues.

"It is," Ivan disagrees. "Our family has been doing it since the place was founded."

"That's why they have things to sell," I surmise for them quickly. "Dmitri brings it all in." I didn't know Nico went with him, though.

Dad is growing more impatient by the second. "What does my son have to do with this?"

"As I'm sure you're aware, Nico has a bit of a craving for violence. Going with Dmitri, he gets to exercise it to the extreme level he can't on campus."

He leaves to kill people, I realize.

Oh, Nico.

"And Armani?" Apollo asks. "You're assuming he's with them."

Ivan lets out a bitter laugh. "Dmitri left to take care of a threat against him—therefore potentially against Jade—and you think it's plausible that Armani didn't force himself into that mission?"

"Can we confirm this?" my father asks, looking to Apollo.

"Capo, there's someone at the gate claiming to be here for Jade and Ivan," a guard interrupts, swiftly coming into the room with us.

"Who is it?" Dad barks out.

"Says his name is Anatoly Petrov."

"Anatoly!" I cheer, jumping to my feet. I'm about to run out to the gate myself when Ivan catches me around the waist.

"What?" I complain, wiggling in his hold. "He probably knows something!"

"If it's really him," Ivan says cautiously, keeping me in his arms. "Use that big beautiful brain to remember that there are people who want you dead, eager girl."

"Anatoly is our friend," I tell my dad. "He's protected me before, and I trust him. If it's him, let him in. Dmitri probably sent him."

There's a moment of hesitation before Dante executes an order as Capo. "Bring him in, cautiously."

"Without hurting him," I add, threateningly eyeing the guard.

He nods in confirmation and disappears back out of the house.

Directing his question to Ivan, my father asks, "You trust this guy?"

His answer is immediate and confident. "He's young, but he's one of our best. He's incapacitated several people for simply making comments about Jade, without her even being there. He isn't a threat to her or your family."

"Aw, I didn't know that," I gush, smiling to myself. "What a sweetie."

"Oh goodie, she likes this one too," Apollo sighs sarcastically.

"You know, your grouchiness doesn"t always need to make an appearance," I tease. "It's allowed to have a night off."

"But then, how would you know I'm not an imposter?"

If Matteo were here, he'd offer to try and pull off his face, but he'd be interrupted by the gentle-until-he's-violent giant being escorted into the sitting room.

"Koroleva," I hear his deep voice greet. The Russian edge to his voice is so adorable. It reminds me of when I first met Dmitri, and he hadn't shaken off most of his accent yet. "It is good to see you safe."

"Right back at you," I return, smiling.

It is Anatoly! I totally could have run out there.

"What are you doing here?" Ivan asks. The question isn't rude or demanding, but rather curious.

"Dmitri ordered me to come help protect Jade," Anatoly explains. "He sent me here with information for the Moretti capo as well."

"About my sons?" Dad asks hurriedly. I can tell he's holding himself back from physically shaking the answer out of my friend, and I'm really thankful for it. The amount of control he exercises in the name of keeping me happy is truly beautiful.

"Da," Anatoly answers, using the Russian confirmation like a reflex. "Dmitri has left Empire with them since Nico and Armani refused to leave his side. They have a lead, and if they're right, they won't be away for more than a week, two at most."

A week!I nearly squeal with happiness. A week is like no time at all! Here I've been stressing about missing my man for months, and he's making light work of his mission. God, I'm so happy I could scream!

"Remo and Matteo made a deal to take over Armani's classes while continuing theirs so he wouldn't be fined for it, and they wouldn't be docked a semester as punishment. They'll come home as soon as the semester is over."

"Huh," Apollo voices, more baffled than I've ever seen him. "Responsible and strategic of them. You sure they came up with that?"

"Be nice," I chastise, narrowing my eyes at him.

"No," he replies.

Changing the topic, I smile at our new guest, patting his arm. "Anatoly, you big softy, you beat people up for me? I didn't know that."

I swear a flush creeps up his neck. "It is no big deal."

"He broke bones," Ivan adds, chuckling. "No need to be modest, Anatoly. Now"s the time to impress her family while you have the chance."

Rearing back, surprised, I gape at the big guy. "What did they say that made you break bones?"

Cautiously, he looks around the room and shakes his head, blonde hair swaying. "I will not repeat it, Koroleva."

"I'm more curious how he escaped repercussions for breaking multiple bones on campus," Apollo inquires, tilting his head. "The Lord typically considers attempted murder to be an applicable charge in similar cases."

Anatoly's eyes flick between me and Apollo and back to Ivan, like he doesn"t know what he's allowed to say.

Vaguely, Ivan says, "He is very good at his job."

I'm not sure how anyone could miss a guy as big as Anatoly beating the shit out of another person, but who am I to question it? I just think it"s sweet!

"Wait," Dad cuts in. "Dmitri sent you here to guard Jade?"

"Yes," Anatoly answers carefully. "I'm to be Ivan's second, around at all times."

Sending me a stern look, my father points at Anatoly. "He's not sleeping in your bedroom, and I swear to fucking christ, I will lose my shit if I find you snuggling up to him on my couch like you do with this one." He punctuates his claim by gesturing to Ivan.

Bewildered, Anatoly's thick eyebrows scrunch together. "I would never?—"

"Dad," I groan, rubbing the back of my neck. "Anatoly can have his own room and I don't snuggle with him. God, you're so dramatic."

"I would like to repeat that I would never," the big guy says firmly. "Jade is my Koroleva, I will protect her with my life, and that is all."

"I'm your friend too," I protest, almost pouting. I kind of hate the undying devotion to keeping me alive sometimes. Anatoly's life has value too.

"I am your weapon before I am your friend."

The words shock me, but please my brother.

"This one is my favorite," Apollo says approvingly.

I can't tell him I don't want him to be a weapon for me, I just want him to be a friend. Dmitri wouldn't want me to say anything to have him protect me less… as if he'd listen to me. He is loyal to my husband's orders.

Still, I would be crushed if Anatoly got hurt protecting me. He's so young and has so much potential. After this is all over, I hope Dmitri puts him in a position that's safer.

With that settled, my father holds out an open hand for me.

"Jade? Can I speak with you, sweetheart?"

Biting my lip, I nod. "Of course." I take his hand and look at Ivan. "Give us a minute? You can go with Apollo to get Anatoly settled?"

I know he doesn't like leaving me alone for even a minute, but my dad and I haven't sat down to talk about everything since I've come home. It's definitely time, even if it'll be hard.

After a beat, Ivan agrees. "Okay, we won't be far."

I smile. I know they won't.