Page 78 of Precious Legacy

“Okay…” Dad concedes. “Your brother told me to trust you, and I do,” he murmurs above my head, kissing the crown while still holding me close to his chest. “Whatever reason you have, if it’s important to you, it’s important to me, too.”

The tears start to fall again and I’m helpless to stop them. The affection and understanding my dad is showing me rightnow is too much. It’s consuming me in a way I didn’t think it would because my dad has never shown this much emotion towards me.

“It is,” I finally croak out. “It is important to me, Dad. I’m not ready to tell you why, but please know that I will when I’m ready. Please don’t be mad at me for that.”

“I was never mad at you, Lani. I was mad at the situation, presuming this was some thoughtless attempt for attention. If I’d known how much this actually meant to you, I would have tried harder to understand.” He squeezes me reassuringly, letting the silence fall between us.

For a while, we just stand there in his office, refusing to let go of the moment. It finally feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Sure, there’s still a long way to go for me, but things between me and my dad might be less intense.

“Your brother plays dirty,” he finally says with a chuckle.

“You think I don’t know that?” I giggle, swiping at my face.

Dad hums, the deep timbre vibrating through his chest. “Just promise me one thing.”

Pulling away, I peer up at him, wondering where the hell this conversation is leading to. If it’s a favor he’s seeking, then he’s going to be waiting a while before I have any weight in the Police Force.

He frames my face with his hands. “Look out for your brother.”

“Is that all?” I laugh, rolling my eyes.

Kissing me affectionately on the forehead, his smile finally reaches his eyes and I feel like all damage I’ve done is slowly repairing itself. He steps away and heads towards the liquor cart, pouring two glasses of whiskey. He hands one to me and we both take a seat on the couch again.

“Your brother is going to be a great leader—he already is. But I worry he’ll let his heart rule more than his head.”

“Like you, you mean?” I tease before taking a sip of the amber liquid. It fucking burns my throat, and I have to stifle a cough, but the aftertaste is pretty good. Dad does have good taste when it comes to his whiskey, but like Varo, he definitely leads with his heart. It’s no secret how Mom and Dad became a thing. What started out as forceful compliance soon became a relationship that neither could escape.

I guess it’s true what they say; opposites certainly do attract.

Ignoring my quip, he gets comfortable on the couch and faces me. He looks more relaxed now. I see how similar we are at that moment. Sometimes, we’re good at concealing our emotions, but right now, I can see how much lighter he feels talking freely with me.

“So tell me, how's it going? You better be acing those tests.” He taps his fingers on the glass, the sound light and airy.

“Pfft, I’m your daughter, remember?” I chuckle. “I won’t go down that easily.”

Dad beams proudly at me, his smile lighting up my insides. “Good to hear,” he remarks, clinking his glass with my own. “I do have one question, though.”

“What’s that?” I frown.

“How’d you pass the background checks?”

I raise a brow at him. I think he secretly knows the answer to that question. He knows how easy it is to use our family’s pull with law enforcement to get what you want. Involving Aunt Lexie isn’t exactly something I’m proud of, and I’m certain I’m going to get caught out sooner or later. I just hope it isn’t until after I’ve delivered my retribution.

Sighing, Dad shakes his head, but it’s not in disappointment. It’s with pride lacing his next words. “Sometimes I forget just how alike we are.”

THIRTY

“Are you sure?” Haldon questions quietly, skepticism scoring his tone. “Milo Kyrovsky and the Chief of Police?”

This is the first time he’s hearing about what Alanis saw last week, and he’s not as surprised as I thought he would be. In fact, he’s more dubious than anything else.

“That’s what Lani said,” I reply, keeping my voice low as I lean back in the booth we’re occupying.

We’re currently waiting for the Federov brothers to arrive, to discuss the logistics of the docks. Usually, we’d meet up in a neutral place, but Haldon wanted to check out Mosaique for himself to see what his competition was. It’s safe to say he’s a little annoyed—mostly impressed, though.

The music that fills the room is like some dark circus freak melody. I feel like if I turn around, I’ll be met with a semi-naked clown, trying to fuck my leg. Women walk around in skimpy all-black Ringmaster outfits, eyes and lips a demonic shade of black. It’s only four in the afternoon, but I’m surprised to see the tables filling up so quickly.

This isn’t exactly a place to bring someone for a sophisticated meal, but I can see the allure. Trapeze artists work the overhead hoops, spinning and bending their bodies into positions that make my jaw ache. If you’re looking to trip out on the talents above you, this is the place to be.

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