Page 68 of Fixate

The lack of the word 'Daddy' let me know he wasn't alone.

“I'm looking at finances, and it seems we have someone on the legit side who owes money to the Bratva. He's been taking from us to pay them off. I'm a bit torn about what to do.”

Dario's eyes went wide. Though I don't flat out ask Ricardo’s opinion, it's clear that I wanted it.

Ricardo hummed across the line. “That is a tricky situation given the alliance that was just formed.”

"Exactly," I replied.

"If it were me," he started, "I would say that this person has to be made an example of. You can either turn him over to the Bratva and say that his payment source has been cut off, or you can take care of it yourself. And then if the Bratva comes looking for you, you can tell them that you found out he was stealing from you and you put an end to it."

I chuckled. “Either way he ends up dead, and I don't get my money back.”

Ricardo made a noise on the other end of the line. It was almost like a laugh but not quite.

"You weren't gonna get your money back anyway. If he's been stealing from you to pay off the Bratva, then the money's gone. It's not like they'll pay you back."

He was right. I wasn't going to get any of it back no matter what happened to the thief.

Even if, for some reason, Vlad wanted to be nice to me — which he obviously wouldn't — I knew there was no way I would see a dime of what had been taken.

"Thank you for your help," I said.

That was meant to be the end of the call, except I heard him say, "Wait."

I held still and listened to his heavy breath. There was the echoing sound of footsteps and then a door opening.

Had he moved somewhere to be alone? Was there something he needed to say that he couldn't otherwise?

“Daddy,” he whispered.

I shivered with the force of the need that shot through me.

"Yes, mon chou?"

"I miss you," he said softly.

I closed my eyes. My free hand gripped tightly to the arm of my chair.

I wanted to get up from my desk and run to him. Wanted to take him home and show him just how much I missed him too.

Instead, I replied, "I miss you as well."

"Dinner?"

"Yes. Absolutely," he said eagerly. “And then dessert?”

I laughed softly. "Always. Whatever you want is yours."

He hummed. "You shouldn't make promises like that, Daddy. Or I'll be inclined to make you keep them.”

“For you, I would.”

"See you soon," he said, then ended the call.

I put my phone down on my desk, keeping my eyes closed as I basked in the feelings that swam through me.

A noise made my eyes pop open. My attention returned to Dario. I had completely forgotten he was even in the room.