“He will be fucking helping whether you like it or not.”

“Fuck! You get that? Yeah….” To me, he asked, “What’s the guy’s name?”

“Dimitri.”

“It’s Dimitri. All right, I’ll be there soon. Yeah, of course. Stay with Lucas. Shit, you better call Saint. He can tell Gun. Okay,” he clipped and then hung up. He glanced to the panel and pressed the button. The doors opened.

“I am coming with you,” I demanded.

“No, you ain’t. I’m not goin’ to the scene, but to his house to—”

“I either come or I go on my own but believe me, I will find information in any way I can.”

“Fucking hell, fine. Then I can keep an eye on you.”

I started for the elevator when Mama called, “Adrik?”

Stopping, I glanced back to see her holding Papa’s arm, frowning. “Wait in the lobby,” I ordered Death.

Death glanced from me over my shoulder and back again. He sighed. “Hurry.” The doors closed, and I heard the elevator leave the floor.

I faced my parents. “I’m sorry I won’t be attending lunch.”

“We figured, son. What’s going on. Do you need me to come? To call more men in?”

“No. I will handle it. Someone I know has been taken, and we need to find him.”

“Is it someone you care for? A man?” Mama asked gently.

My heart doubled its beat. Sweat beaded at the back of my neck. Still, I said, “Yes. A man, a good man who I care for.”

Mama smiled. I looked at my father. He seemed tense, but he nodded. “Then go.”

“Papa—”

He shook his head and stepped in front of me, where he cupped the side of my neck. “The Mikhaillova family is ruthless and cruel, but we love one another fiercely. No matter what, son, I will always love you. Find this man so we can meet the person who has captured my son’s heart.”

I found it hard to breathe as I stared into my father’s unwavering gaze. He meant it. Every word. He would support me, love me, even when I wanted to be with a man. Dimitri had been right. I was a fool thinking otherwise.

“I love you.”

He pounded his chest with his fist. “You’ll always have my heart.” He gently pushed me back. “Now go.”

I nodded, glancing over my father’s shoulder. “Mama, I love you.”

Tears brimmed her eyes, her hands clasped in front of her. “I love you, my boy. Through everything. Call us if you need anything.”

“Da, anything,” Papa stated with a nod before he turned and collected Mama under his arm. “Come, my precious, we will have lunch in our place and wait for our son to call.”

How could I be happy and filled with dread all at the same time? No matter, all I knew was that I had to find West.

Kylo