the bullshit.”
“Damien,” I scold under my breath.
“What?” he shoots back. “I have shit to do.”
“It’s fine, fine.” Abe motions at me with a dismissive hand. “Damien?”
“Yes?”
“I’m offering you my daughter’s hand in marriage.”
“Why would you do that to her?” Damien stares incredulously, then whispers, “Is she not really your daughter, so you’re punishing her?”
Abe laughs, the sound genuinely amused. “I like you, Damien Orlov.”
“Believe me, your daughter won’t,” I say before I can measure my words.
“Yeah, I agree.” Damien is still chewing on his food while he speaks.
“Let me be the judge of that.” Abe takes a sip of sake, a traditional rice wine. “The marriage is part of the deal. Take it or leave it.”
“Leave it.” Damien attempts to stand up, but I grab his thigh and force him to sit down, my nails digging into his pants.
I smile at Abe. “What he meant to say is that we’ll think about it.”
“We will?” Damien asks.
“Yes, we will.” I give him a knowing look, then direct it at Kirill, who takes his time savoring the fish before he speaks.
“We would be honored by such an alliance,” Kirill says in his suave voice. “I’m sure Sergei will be thrilled.”
“Yes, yes.” Abe slides a cup in front of Damien and pours sake in it.
“No thanks, old man. I prefer vodka.”
I pinch Damien’s thigh and he groans, but I don’t let go, mouthing, “Do it.”
It’s extremely disrespectful to refuse a drink, especially if it’s from someone older than you.
Damien rolls his eyes and takes the cup, downing it in one go before he shoos my hand away and stands, clutching his vodka bottle. “I’m out of here.” When neither of us move, the brute grabs Kirill by the collar. “You waiting for an invitation or something? We have shit to do.”
Kirill follows Damien’s lead and bows.
Dammit. They’re leaving together. No way in hell.
I follow their lead, bowing before I stand up. “I apologize for Damien’s behavior.”
“No, no.” Abe raises his hand dismissively, a small smile on his lips. “He’s an interesting man, yes?”
“You could say that,” I speak slowly. “May I ask why you wanted Kirill and me to join?”
“Kai said you and Kirill are more rational and would convince him.”
My gaze slides to Kai, and he smiles at me with a knowing nod. I don’t know if I should be thankful or wary of his ulterior motives.
“Thank you for the meal.” I nod and slowly retreat out of the room.
As soon as I’m out of Abe and Kai’s view, I sprint in the direction of the parking lot. Thankfully, I catch a glimpse of Damien and Kirill heading to the latter’s car, followed by their horde of guards.
Katia rushes in my direction, but I shake my head. Then, I retrieve my phone and shoot a text in the group chat.
Rai: You and Ruslan follow me from afar. I need to go back with Kirill and Damien.
My guard nods and retreats to join Ruslan.
“Auntie!”
I freeze, the phone nearly clattering to the ground at the small voice. My head jerks to the left and my gaze lands on my nephew’s little face. On his dreamy green eyes and soft features.
Gareth.
He’s a few feet away, smiling up at me with pure innocence, showing his baby teeth.
Shit. Fuck.
My eyes frantically search around. If he’s here, Reina is too. Kirill and Damien cannot, under any circumstances, know she exists. Especially Kirill. He would destroy me and her.
My fingers tremble when Kirill’s closest guard, Aleksander, stops. He stares at me over his shoulder, his critical gaze sliding to Gareth.
There’s nothing I want to do more than shoot Aleksander in the face, grab Gareth, and run away, but that will only hurt him and his parents.
“Auntie?” he repeats, tone unsure.
Aleksander stops walking and turns around fully to watch the scene. Any move from my side will cause a disaster. If I talk to Gareth, Aleksander will make it his job to find out exactly who he is, and that will lead him straight to Reina.
If I leave, my baby nephew will be all alone and unprotected in this place.
I can’t even tell Katia and Ruslan to take care of it because that will lead back to me.
A man crouches and picks Gareth up. “There you are, troublemaker. I told you not to call strangers auntie.”
A breath heaves out of me at seeing Asher. He gives me an impersonal smile as if it’s the first time he’s seeing me and nails the role so well. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about