Page 144 of Bride By Coronation

Dante warns, "Don't you dare sit in my house and threaten Fiona!"

"He's not!" I cry out.

Kirill squeezes my hand. "I will never harm your daughter. I will only protect her. But there will be times when there are threats. I won't do anything to intentionally put her in harm's way. So if you want answers, you need to promise me. Otherwise, tell me you don't want me to go further."

Tension builds again.

Dante finally grabs Mom's hand and says, "You have our word."

Kirill adds, "I don't even want you talking to Sean and Zara about this. You never know who's listening."

"This is my house. No one's listening now that the devices were removed. I will ensure it stays that way," Dante proclaims.

Kirill shakes his head. "With all due respect?—"

"You have holes, Dante. You don't know who's listening," I interject.

He grinds his molars, his cheeks turning red.

Kirill continues, "As of this moment, your place is private. So it's now or never. You can agree that what I tell you will never leave this room, and I can fill you in on a few things, or Fiona and I will get up and leave. It's up to you."

Blood pounds between my ears.

Mom lifts her chin, meeting Kirill's gaze. She vows, "You have my word. Now, tell me."

22

Kirill

The air in the room turns thicker. I rack my mind, putting information into categories of what I can reveal and what I can't. There's a razor-thin line between The Underworld's secrets and the truth about why Fiona's father meant so much to me.

It isn't an option for Bridget to understand I won't harm her daughter and that I have the utmost respect for her deceased husband. And Fiona has to maintain her relationship with her family. I won't be able to live with myself if it crumbles.

Dante sneers at me, ordering, "Start talking."

I resist the urge to tell him off. I put my hand over Fiona's, reminding myself again that this is her family. They can't hate me, even though I'm unsure if it will ever be possible for them to like me.

No matter what, I'm a Petrov. According to The Underworld's terms, Fiona has to change her last name. She'll bear a name that represents everything they despise.

I push my instincts away, and focus on Bridget, admitting, "I knew your husband very well."

Bridget's expression hardens as she grips Dante's hand.

"I'm only alive because of him. He saved me twice, not just once. So when I tell you I have nothing but respect for him and your children, I'm not lying." The claw in my stomach reappears.

Bridget maintains the same look, but fear has crept into her eyes as well.

I glance at Fiona, and she stares at me nervously.

I continue, "My father and my uncles tried to kill me. They did the damage to my body."

Bridget swallows hard, with a swirl of disgust and pity on her expression.

I hate it. I should be used to it by now, but I'm not. My stomach twists, and I force myself to go on. "They took a knife and not only scarred me on my face but my entire body. Your husband is the one who found me."

Bridget asks, "Why would Sean be the one to find you?"

"I'm sorry. There are certain things I cannot tell you."

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