Chapter 8 I look back at Ava who is fingering the card I gave her and biting her lip. She's been withdrawn today, a bit leery of me. I pushed last night with what we did on the phone. I'm patient, but I'm also an alpha through and through. I will not sit by and let her keep me out with walls. I have every intention of knocking them down and then rebuilding them to let in the light she's been denying herself. I step into my office, wishing I could spend the day watching her and Anna together. Every time the three of us are in the same room, I feel this certainty that we're meant to be a family. I wince to think of Anna's biological mother. I never felt this for her. Despite my business, I rarely have casual sex. It's the indulgence of a weak man. And it was a moment of weakness, when my father cut all my ties with my sisters to keep me under his control, that I slept with a woman I hardly knew simply for the comfort. She was one of the madams at my highest yielding club. Everyone knew she was interested, but when my father denied me access to Katerina and Sasha, I'd gone to the club, gotten really drunk, and ended up in bed with Nadia. I don't even remember the sex. When she told me she was pregnant, I'd stared at her in complete confusion. A month later, however, the DNA test confirmed the baby in her womb was mine. I'd married her shortly after. Though I didn't love Nadia, I believe in raising children in the sanctity of marriage. She was the mother of my child, she deserved my protection and the luxuries that I could afford to give her. Nadia had been thrilled with my proposal, but things between us quickly soured. She could sense my ambivalence, and she grew increasingly resentful that she only had my respect, not my affection. After Anna was born, she began going out late at night, drinking heavily. I sigh as I run a hand through my hair. I will never regret Anna. But meeting Ava, I know how I should have felt during my first marriage. I turn into my office, softly closing the door. Pulling out my phone, I dial Trent. "Boss," he says as he picks up. "Your timing is impeccable." "Why's that?" "I'm just leaving the Private Investigator's office." I hear his car door close. "Get answers?" "A few," he replies so that I can hear the grimace. "He slipped and used the 'she' pronoun. And whoever she is, he's interested. I can tell by how defensive he got on her behalf. This isn't just a job, he likes her, so getting him to give up her name is going to be challenging." I frown. Men get very protective when their heart or their cock are involved. Fuck. I could use force, but breaking those sorts of laws can have real and immediate complications. Ones I don't need. "The Kincaids have all kinds of intel collection devices. I'll call them to see if we can have that meeting tonight. Add this to the agenda." Trent pauses. "You think they'll help you? After all they think you've done?" "It's worth a try." "Instead of involving them," he says sounding tense and leery, "I can call Zane and have him check Cadence's phone. Identify her female callers." "We will if we have to, but I'd prefer not to interrupt his work unless absolutely necessary." "Understood." Trent clears his throat, like he's gearing up to say something else. I straighten as I wait. Trent's been a good number two. We aren't friends, but we share a common goal, making my father pay, and that has kept us bonded together. "About this plan to speak with the Kincaids. I'm not certain⁠-" My eyes narrow as I try to understand his opposition. He's never questioned me like this before, and he'd usually be in favor of turning enemies into powerful friends. "What don't you like about it?" "They're as likely to use the meeting to strike against you as they are to listen." I let out a long breath of air. I need allies. My father has them in spades. In addition, it was my father who poisoned them against me in the first place. He either wishes for them to kill me, or he just doesn't want me having powerful friends. Either way, I'd be smart to undo my father's work. But I don't explain that to Trent. The decision is mine to make and the risk is mine to take. "Noted." I hang up the phone, drawing in a breath. It's not a meeting I'm looking forward to. These men think I've committed a great many atrocities against them. I've allowed it because I wasn't ready to move against my father. Now I am. Pressing Triston Smith's name in my phone, I listen to the ringing of the line. "Dimitri," he rumbles into the line with his smooth British accent. I have to give the Smiths credit in one department, their ability to glide through any situation with manners and grace has made them major players. "Triston," I reply. "How come the wedding plans?" "Mine? Excellent. My brother Ryker is a bit more anxious about his. When does he get to meet his bride?" "Actually, I'm hoping to discuss that very topic with you. Any chance you can meet tonight?" "Just me?" "No..." This moment has been a long time coming. "I'd like Ryker, Killian, Mason, and Jake there minimally." "That's a lot of men to get together tonight." "It's very important information." Once I make this move, there is no going back. I know that. "How important?" I blow out a breath. "Life-changing." Triston pauses. "You better not be shitting me, Dimitri." "I'm going to pull the skeletons from the closet. It will move all of us forward." That is the complete truth, and he must hear it, because he grunts. "I'll make it happen, but I choose the location." "That is fine with me. I'll come alone." "Alone?" He sounds genuinely surprised. I get it. It's a dangerous decision for me, but I'm trying to prove myself. Ryker has agreed to marry my sister. It was the first move in making these men allies. It's time to make a few more. "This one is about trust. I come alone." Silence stretches between us for a moment, then two, before he finally answers. "My house. Ten tonight." "Good. See you then." I bury myself in my work for the rest of the afternoon and evening, catching the occasional sound of Anna and Ava in the house. It takes everything in me not to join them. But finally, as the evening wears on, I step out of my office to find them in the kitchen. I don't like having a lot of support staff in my space. I have a cleaner that comes in a few times a week and a meal service that delivers food. I find Anna and Ava at the table together, Anna eating macaroni and cheese, and Ava with a salad. Ava might have one of the most perfect figures I've ever seen in clothes. But she could stand to gain a few pounds, of that I'm certain. Opening the fridge, I pull out some sliced pork. "This cut is one of my favorites," I call. "Want to try some?" "I'm fine, thank you," Ava answers. "Me," Anna says from her seat. "Please." With a smile, I cut some smaller pieces, putting them on Anna's plate, and then I take one and hold it toward Ava. "Bite?" She hesitates and I reach over, gently placing the piece between her lips. I'm hardly touching her, but I still see a wariness in her eyes before she opens her lush lips and lets me place the piece between her teeth. Her mouth is as gorgeous as the rest of her and my muscles tighten as my fingertips brush her lips. My plan is to touch her often and without sexual intent. I want her to be comfortable with my hands, my presence. To feel safe in them both. She closes her lips and chews the pork, her eyes closing. "That is delicious." "Have more," I answer, returning to the island to cut several more slices. Then, carrying the board over, I scrape them onto her salad. "Bossy," she rumbles but stabs her fork into the salad, taking a bite of the pork. I smile, because much of the awkwardness is gone, I touched her without her stiffening, a definite desensitization occurring, and she's eating the kind of protein she really ought to have more often. "I have a meeting tonight, I won't be back until late. Is there anything you need before that?" "Not much. Any tips on bedtime?" Ava asks between bites. "Three songs, lots of hugs and kisses, but only ten minutes," I say then turn and wink. "She'll keep you there all night if you let her." Ava softly laughs. "I see, and thank you for the information. That's very helpful and very wise." "You think so." "My mother never indulged those things with me either. I guess kids need love, but they also need...boundaries." "Very true." I sit down next to her, my arm lightly brushing hers. "Do you think your mother made a difference for you? Even though she left you so young?" I watch as Ava brushes her fingers over the locket around her neck. I'd wondered where it came from and now I know. It was her mother's. My own daughter doesn't have a mother. Something I'm hoping to change. I look down at my plate to keep from frightening Ava with another possessive stare. "I have a best friend. She never had a real mother, no boundaries. I think she's struggled more than me because of it, even though our experiences were very similar in foster care." Her friend seems like someone who should come see me. But that is not a part of my life Ava should know about yet, so I don't mention it. "I'm sure you're right. My father was too much discipline..." An understatement. "And not nearly enough love." "Hmmm." Ava gives me a soft smile. "You're not that kind of father at all." "Thank you," I return, taking a large bite of the food in front of me. I can't dally too long, but as I finish the bite, I lean over and brush a light kiss on Ava's temple. It's a peck, nothing more. Ava gives me a small smile as I settle back into my seat. There is no wariness this time as she gently nips her bottom lip. She always looks beautiful but sweet and a bit vulnerable, pulling on every male instinct I possess. I want to pull her in my lap and kiss her senseless. I don't. That isn't what she needs just yet. A comfortable silence falls before Anna holds out a piece of macaroni and cheese to me between pudgy fingers. "For you, Daddy." I do not like macaroni and cheese but can't resist my daughter, and I take the piece from her hand, Ava's eyes laughing, as I make an exaggerated, "Mmm. Delicious." Anna smiles and then gets another piece to feed Ava. I'm well aware I started this, and I'm so glad I did as I watch Ava eat the piece of macaroni from Anna's hand. This is the exact kind of moment I pictured. And I know that Ava belongs here with us. No one is getting in the way of that. That's a promise. And I keep my promises.