Page 145 of Restitution

“Let him explain his reasoning before you turn all dickheadish.”

I snort weakly. “I don’t believe that’s a word.” But Stacey has her own vocabulary, so I guess I’ll give her that one.

I lower my hand to her thigh and caress the bruises lightly. “Where hurts?”

“It would be easier to ask where doesn’t hurt. I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus.”

“How do you know what it feels like to be hit by a bus?”

She scoffs. “I remember you said I sounded like a strangled cat when I sang and I asked you how you know what that sounds like. Copying me?”

I laugh quietly, leaning down and kissing the tip of her nose despite my face being covered in dry blood. “I have a room full of medical supplies in here. I’ll clean you up, then we’re showering and going to sleep.”

“Demanding Kade is cute,” she says with a smile.

Base tuts. “You both make me sick.”

“After what I’ve witnessed since being your friend,” I reply, “you can’t say shit.”

“Language,” Dad scolds, cutting the engine.

Luciella yawns and lifts her head from Base’s shoulder. “Where are we?”

“I think your dad is going to kill me for getting you pregnant and leave my body here.”

“I hope he does,” I add when Luciella looks confused.

He’s been staring out the window, silent, probably thinking of ways to keep my sister safe from the Russian princess and her family. I doubt he’s happy about any of this. He doesn’t like kids. He’ll be fully focused on keeping her away from his new family.

I could hide her, but I know how controlling Base is. He’ll make sure she’s safe. He even said his grandfather will help him now.

I hope he wasn’t lying.

We climb out of my dad’s stolen car, and the dogs follow behind us. I wrap my arm around the small of Stacey’s back, taking most of her weight while we walk forward.

I pause and stare at the person leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

“Why aren’t you with your pregnant wife and daughter?”

Barry pushes himself forward and shoves his hands in his pockets. “I was dragged through hell watching what that woman did to you. If you think for a second I’m going to take a back seat now, you don’t know me very well.”

I narrow my eyes. “You’re an idiot. Go home.”

Dad shoulders past Barry, and they exchange glares. My assistant doesn’t look the slightest bit shocked he’s alive.

I feel myself growing more irritated. “You knew my dad was alive?”

A short nod, and he glances at my dad. “Security at the manor was breached, so getting that information to you would have been a risk. Instead, we’ve been working here for the last two months. We finished the renovations and the system operating room. Then, when Bernadette finally surfaced, we ambushed her transfer as it was going through Glasgow. She’s been here for the last three weeks.”

My nostrils flare. “Go home to your family.”

Base pats my shoulder. “Let the kid stay.”

“Kid?” Barry sneers, raising a brow. “Did you just call me a fucking kid?”

“You look like a kid. And watch your fucking language.”

Dad takes the dogs inside with him then comes back and helps Stacey into the building while asking Luciella where her injuries are. After they vanish, I pinch the bridge of my nose as my assistant and my best friend fall into a verbal battle.