Page 119 of Bleed with Me

“Fuck,” I mumbled, scrolling through my contacts. I found Lucas’s number and dialed it, bouncing my feet impatiently when he didn’t answer right away.

“What is it now?” he asked when he finally picked it up. “Dorian decided to breathe without your permission?”

“Not now, Lucas,” I retorted. “It’s about my dad.”

“Your dad?” There was clear curiosity in his voice. It’d been a long time since I asked him for something that didn’t involve Dorian.

“Yes,” I exhaled, trying to organize my thoughts into meaningful words. “I think he’s hiding something.”

“Something about the family?” Lucas mused, keyboard clicks echoing in the background.

“No, not really.” My brows dipped as I paced the living room. “It’s about Sonny. Something doesn’t fit.”

“The entire fucking situation doesn’t fit,” Lucas grumbled. “Your father should’ve put the bastard six feet under for touching you.”

“Exactly.” I stopped walking. “That’s what mafia logic dictates. Why not do it?”

“Ramzan, remember?” Lucas stated the obvious.

“No.” I shook my head firmly. The memory hit me out of nowhere. “Zyon never demanded marriage. Sonny’s uncle did.”

“What?”

“Yes! Sonny said it himself.” My steps quickened. “No help until we are married.”

“Still the same thing, Nina.”

“Fine, but… think about these two things. Dad asked what Sonny told me at the party and refused to elaborate. Twice. And when I told him about meeting Zyon, he shut the conversation down completely. It’s strange! Why wouldn’t he ask what I’m planning? He’s just pushing the marriage.”

“Well, it is strange, but it doesn’t prove anything.”

“What if Giovanni fucked up more than we think?” I asked, ignoring the painful squeeze of my chest.

“You mean, more than attacking the Zhumagulovs?” Lucas whined, disbelief lacing his words.

“Yes,” I exhaled, staring at my pale expression in the mirror in the entry hall. My pupils were blown wide. “I need you to look into them.”

“Okay,” Lucas sighed after a brief pause. “I’ll see what I can find. What about your plans?”

“I’m meeting Zyon tonight,” I revealed, a shocked gasp reaching my ear. “It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

“You should run away instead while Dorian isn’t home,” Lucas suggested, worry lacing his words. “What if they decide to get rid of you?”

“He won’t let them,” I claimed with absolute certainty, wiping my sweaty palm on Dorian’s T-shirt.

“I’d love to have your faith,” he mumbled under his breath, and a tiny smile grazed my lips.

I truly believed Dorian wouldn’t throw me to the wolves. After two days together like some deranged honeymoon, I trusted him enough to walk into Zyon’s house and defend myself.

My father scared me more.

Because if my gut was right and the marriage had never been only about helping the Zhumagulovs, then maybe not even Dorian could save me.

-51-

Nina

“You look nervous,” Dorian said as we walked along the gravel path to Zyon’s mansion.