Page 79 of Vexatious Queen

“Understood.”

“Mr. Genovese,” Paul called my name as I reached the door, and I knew that whatever he said next was for the office to hear…aka…the ears of the Curators.

They transcribed every incident and handed it over to Paul for submission. They probably already had what I’d done, just waiting for a signature. What a mess.

“I expect the formal apology regarding this incident to be in my inbox by tomorrow morning. This was completely unacceptable behavior.”

I smirked at Paul, making him raise an eyebrow. I’d really missed him. Sobering my expression, I stepped out into the main office where Marcus waited for me.

“You have my deepest apologies, Dean Henry. It will never happen again, and I’ll be sure to have that letter to you tonight. I came to have a nice lunch with my daughter and created quite a scene. I’m disgusted with my behavior.”

Turning, I walked out with Marcus beside me.

The entrance hall was quiet now, but I still glanced around, hoping to see either of my daughters.

Marcus didn’t say a word until we got in the SUV.

“What are we going to do about Vadin?”

“Nothing. Not yet anyway.”

He looked at me.

“I can’t kill him now without putting Paul’s life at risk, and I won’t do that for a personal vendetta.”

I took a deep breath, trying to rein in the anger that still hadn’t settled. Apparently, you were never too old to be triggered, and Vadin was mine.

He had stolen my dream, had tried to crush Ana’s spirit, and then forced her to marry an abuser. Vadin had kept me from a life with Ana and Lilya…he wouldn’t take any more from me. And he certainly wouldn’t insert himself into Lilya’s life.

I’d been patient for twenty-one years since he stabbed me in the back. I could wait a few more months, and then, I’d put a bullet right between his eyes.

Vadin Mikhailov would not leave American soil alive.

JANUARY 27 – TUESDAY 7:45 PM

Ren

If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be doing this, I would’ve told them they were crazy, but here I was.

I knocked on the door and waited. There was no response, but I knew Vicky was in her room. The boys were not the only ones with a network of spies. I knocked again and heard a loud groan before footsteps thumped across the floor.

In classic Vicky fashion, she yanked it open and posed in the doorway like a magazine cover model. Expensive dress, flawless makeup, hair in a sleek bun. The faint scent of vanilla and hairspray floated into the hallway.

“Yes. What do you want? Or is your plan to stand there like a garden gnome, all wide-eyed and annoying?”

“What do you have against garden gnomes?”

She obviously didn’t like my attempt at humor, as she just stared at me.

“I came to see how you were. I wasn’t expecting to find you…”

Vicky cocked her hip and folded her arms.

“Let me guess. You thought I’d be curled up in bed, a tragic little puddle, crying into a bowl of snacks?”

“Not exactly, but yes. I figured you were upset. Thought you might want to talk.”

Vicky walked away from the door. I took that as the best invitation I was going to get and stepped into the room I used to share with her. The scent of lavender dryer sheets hit me, mingling with Vicky’s perfume and creating a sweet combination. It was weird that I kind of missed being in here.