and heads out. I watch him disappear around the corner before I can finally breathe again. Having him around Matvei lights my nerves on fire. I hope Dad is serious, but with him, I never know.
I just pray he doesn’t get me into any more trouble.
Because that would be trouble for us both.
18
Matvei
I catch Daniel on his way out to the car. He jumps in fright when he sees me.
“Mr. Morozov,” he says, clearing his throat and straightening himself up. He’s trying to look put together, though I know he’s anything but that.
“Can I expect your payment at the end of the month?” I ask, cutting to the chase. No point in playing nice with him. Not when he’s still drowning in debt.
“Yes, of course,” Daniel says, nodding quickly. “I’ll have the money to you the same time I always do.”
“Good.”
He looks down at his feet in discomfort, and I can’t help but take pleasure in his unease around me. “Uh … is there something you need, sir?”
“Not in particular,” I murmur, adjusting the cufflinks at my wrists. I didn’t plan on adding anything beyond that. But before I can stop myself, I’m saying, “I’m just curious. I’ve been wondering about something for quite some time. It’s about Victoria.”
“Nothing bad, I hope?”
“No. But I’ve been thinking about how it’s possible for a man to send his daughter off to live with me, just so that he can have his freedom.”
An immediate redness covers his face, and he looks away, shamed. “It’s not like that.”
“But it is, isn’t it? You let your daughter take your place and your punishment so that you wouldn’t suffer the consequences of your actions. Now, I’ve only just started taking care of my nephew, but I wouldn’t even dream of letting him go live with a man as dangerous as me. And a daughter of mine? I’d sooner die than let that happen.”
I expect to see some kind of indignant glare at my accusations, but Daniel only hangs his head in shame. “I know,” is all he says for a long time.
He swallows, then looks up at me again. “I know that I’m not the best father in the world. I know that I have my issues and my problems. Victoria has always been there for me, even in my darkest times. You and I both know that she wouldn’t have left that room without a fight. Not if it meant protecting me.”
In his defense, that does sound like Victoria. In the short time I’ve known her, I’ve seen her be fiercely protective, sometimes to her own detriment. She’s got fire in her—Daniel’s right about that much.
“I’ve also got demons of my own,” Daniel continues. “I can’t control myself sometimes. That’s how I ended up here. That’s how I owe you what I owe you.”
“That sounds like an excuse to me, Daniel.” My father would never let himself come off this weak. I’m embarrassed for Victoria.
“It’s not an excuse,” he says, shaking his head. “It’s an explanation. Sometimes, when I drink and gamble, I lose control. I don’t know what happens, but it’s like something takes over me.”
“And look where it’s gotten your daughter,” I say, glaring at him. “Had I been another man, she might not have fared so well. You could’ve traded her into the hands of men much worse than me, and all that happened to her would be your fault.”
I want him to feel every bit of my anger. Victoria is an attractive woman, and in this business, she’d be considered as vulnerable as they come. And Daniel just handed her over to me. Like it was nothing.
Looking at this man in front of me makes me sick.
“I’m done talking with you. I’ll have one of my men escort you back home.” Without giving him a chance to speak, I turn and head back inside. There’s nothing else to say, anyway. He knows how pathetic he is. Victoria must know it as well, but she’s got a kinder heart than me, so she doesn’t say it.
I’ve never had a problem being honest.
At least, when it comes to things other than Victoria.
Inside, I head upstairs to find Nikolas. It seems that he’s been put to bed because the light beneath his door is out. I crack open the door and peek inside to see the boy under his covers, his nightlight shining just enough to illuminate his face. Victoria must have put him down while I was talking to her father.