45. Chapter 45

Dante

That night, Dmitri Morozov left my daughter in bed with his brother to come and speak with me, man to man. There was the immediate itch to hit him, but for Jade's sake, I kept my hands to myself. When I offered him a drink, a glass of the same whiskey I was already sipping, he declined.

"I don't drink anymore," he informed me."The smell bothers Jade, so I stopped. I don't want her to smell it on my breath like she used to smell it on his."

When I looked at my drink with a disgusted face, he shook his head. "Don't give it up for her. She likes that you don't walk on eggshells around her. I barely liked drinking to begin with, taking shots for pain more than anything. But if you enjoy it, don't stop. Jade feels strong when you treat her like she is. Like she doesn't need to be coddled."

Unfortunately for my desire to hate him, Dmitri made it impossible. He loves my daughter the way she deserves, even if she's too perfect for anyone to deserve her.

We talked for hours, discussing his mother and Jade's. After getting in contact with his father, we plotted with several allies, putting everyone on notice. I knew it would take a while, but having the extra hands did feel nice. When it comes to keeping your kids safe, you do everything it takes.

As the days and eventually weeks started to pass, my dwindling disdain for Dmitri practically disappeared altogether. The way he makes my daughter laugh and smile, the way he cherishes her… it's just beautiful.

Two weeks ago, he was the one to invite me to their ultrasound appointment, earning a huge grateful smile from my daughter and even more of my respect.

Looking for Karina and Bruce has been like trying to find a needle in a pile of needles, but after nearly a month of waiting, we may have a lead. I'm looking for Dmitri to tell him as much when I hear voices in the kitchen. Quiet voices.

"Shhh," the feminine voice hushes. "It's okay, we can be quiet."

"Jade—"

My chest tightens at the sound of my daughter's name from his mouth.

A feminine noise of complaint leaves Jade. "Dmitri, please, you're killing me."

In the hallway, I silently take a few steps closer, their bodies coming into view. Jade is in front of Dmitri while he leans back against the kitchen counter, looking down at her.

"I have told you, Krasotka, soon," he reassures soothingly. "Not here."

Pouting, she lightly stomps her foot in frustration. "Yes, here," my daughter argues. "It"s my home too. No one is expecting us not to?—"

"It is not about expectations, it is about respect," he says softly.

"Dmitri, I couldn't give a fuck about respect," she spits, and I flinch as her hands reach for his belt. "I'm pregnant, and I need this, can't I have it?"

I'm either going to walk away or announce myself, I just don't know which is worse. This is disturbing to see, to say the least. But I'm caught up on the word respect. Is he seriously keeping his hands off of Jade because he's under my roof? It seems like everyday Dmitri is giving me another reason to like him, and I don't know how to stop it.

Dmitri takes her hands, softly tugging them off of his belt and up to his mouth. He kisses her palms and then holds them. "Do you want to go somewhere, Krasotka? We can go out, and I can take care of you at a hotel?—"

"No," she hisses. "I don't want to have sex in a hotel, I want you to fuck me right here?—"

Nope, nope, no way.

I can't hear another word of this.

Texting fast a fuck, I shoot her a message.

Me

About to be heading out with your brothers for a few hours. You're okay with Dmitri and Ivan here?

Do I want to give my daughter the house alone to have sex with this guy? Fuck no, I don't. But apparently, the options are I give them some alone time, or my daughter bites his head off for not giving her what she wants.

I'm a man who's made ten kids, I am uniquely aware of how pregnancy hormones can affect women. I can understand it and still never want to see it again.

I hear her phone chime and her huff as she reaches for it.

"Oh, thank fucking god," she groans, reading the message. She types out a quick response before flashing the screen at him. "Can we go to my bedroom now?"

His lips twitch as he reads the message, and I'm already walking out before he can kiss her. Her message appears silently on my screen seconds later.

Jade

Okay, have fun! Or be tough and scary, whichever is applicable.

Sighing, I collect all my sons and force them out of the house with me.