There’s a light knock at the door that jerks me upright in bed, and I pause the TV. It’s still early, but I love binge-watching series with some popcorn in bed.
My heart stutters as I reach for my phone and pull up the feed.
Bella. With the twins standing behind her.
What the hell?
I shove out of bed, grab my robe, and pull it on as I race down the stairs, my pulse already too fast for the quiet house.
“Bella, are you okay?” I ask as I open the door and usher her inside.
The twins don’t follow.
They stay on the doorstep, arms crossed, eyes fixed anywhere but on me.
“Close the door, Lil. We need to talk,” Bella says softly.
My hands shake as I turn the lock and lead her into the kitchen; every part of me is screaming that this is it. The moment I’ve been bracing for without knowing why.
“Bella, you’re scaring me. What’s happening?” I can feel it deep in my gut. That familiar, sick awareness. I’ve been on edge for weeks, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“I don’t want to scare you. Okay? I know you’re made of strong stuff. And we know your dad’s Russian mafia.” She places her hand on my shoulder, and my chest tightens, breath catching painfully.
“I-is he in trouble? Has he done something? Are you going to hurt me?” The words tumble out before I can stop them.
“Oh, Lily. I’d never hurt you, you’re my best friend.” She pulls me into her arms, hugging me tight. I cling back without thinking, fingers curling into her clothes like she’s the only solid thing in the room.
She pulls back and cups my cheek. “What I need you to do is sit down, I’ll make us a coffee, and fill you in on what’s happening and how we’re going to keep you safe. That’s what this is, Lily—us looking after family.”
I swallow hard, my throat thick. “Okay.”
I do as she asks, sinking into the chair at the dining table, my legs suddenly weak. “The twins can come in,” I tell her.
She laughs it off. “No. They have jobs to do out there.”
I rub my palm over my chest, trying to steady my breathing as she brings over two steaming mugs and sits beside me, close enough that I can feel her warmth.
“So, the guys have been going after this cult. And it seems your father has been working with them to get information in Russia,” Bella tells me.
I nod, relief loosening something inside me.
“He’s okay?” I ask. God. I never replied to his good luck text. What if I never get another chance?
Even after everything, he’s still my dad. He tries, in the only way he knows how, from a distance. Through silence and money and protection I never asked for.
“He’s fine. He’s also… here,” she says.
My mouth falls open. “Here? As in outside?”
She shakes her head. “No. He’s staying at Decadence. And he’s requested that for your safety, you move into our compound there.”
“What?” I splutter. “For how long? Living with you?”
My thoughts scatter, panic and disbelief tangling together.
“Lily, it’s not safe here. This is the right call. You’ll be living with him and his associate. You can still go to work, do everything else until Declan instructs otherwise. You’ll have security and can sleep safe. We all can. Even Hallie and Conan are moving back inside Decadence.”
I blow out a shaky breath as she places her hand over mine, anchoring me.
