Page 106 of A Lethal Game of Trust

Normally, I always had to over-achieve or at least succeed in every aspect of my life for my father. When we first started this tradition as teenagers, I’d been embarrassed for him to see how easily I could be bad at something. Even cake decorating.

But a few years back, he complimented me on my need to make Issy happy. How the priority should always be family, even above reputation.

For my father, love was not a weakness.

For Leonie, it was.

“You’ve really outdone yourself this year, son,” he said with a small smile. “It’s horrific and terrific.”

I gave a knowing nod. “It was Leonie’s vision.”

Dad glanced up at me, somewhat alarmed, before Mum said, “Come on, ladies.”

The women got up and though Leonie had showered and was dressed, she made her way with them across the lawn to her bedroom.

I watched her through the open French doors.

“I don’t know how to tell her this, or even if I should,” my dad said behind my back, “but if Luís were here, he’d be so proud of her.”

“He would,” I agreed before turning to him and saying softly, “tell her, Dad. She should know. She wants to know everything about him.”

“So you two really are friends again?” he asked with a raised brow, putting the cake in the fridge. “I knew you two would be together one day.”

“We’re on speaking terms,” I clarified.

“Just speaking?” he asked, voice low, brow even higher.

“Dad.”

He lifted both hands in surrender. “I’m just asking. You might want to lock her down soon, though. She asked for a plus one.”

“I know,” I sighed. “Sam Yun.”

His eyes narrowed at my knowledge. “Our possessions, ourfamilydo not get taken by others, Dom. Whether it’s a hotel or our women. You are a Belov, she is a Belov. If you want her, you’ll have to prove how fucking much.”

“She isn’t his,” I snapped, repulsed by the suggestion. “She’s using him. Roc told her the Yuns have been making unwise moves. She’s going to get information out of him.”

Dad’s brows knotted in confusion. “She got out. She didn’t even want her father’s money, let alone—”

“In her eyes, we’re her family. She’s lost enough family that… she can’t lose us.” Which was partly why she was so scared to love me.

“Should just kill him,” Dad muttered. “I don’t like her getting close to him.”

“I nearly killed him last time I saw him,” I muttered.

Dad scrunched up the wrapping paper that had been left on the side, collecting it as he walked around the kitchen island. “So don’t failthistime.”

40

Dom’s Untouchable

Dom

Despite Issy’s celebrations taking place at our childhood home, she always had a car take her from the back of our property and the underground garage up to the front door that would have a black carpet up the stairs.

Some parts of her goth phase had remained in adulthood.

Depending on the year and her relationship status, she would either make a theatrical entrance or be in the foyer gracefully greeting every guest.