Page 104 of Dangerous Promises

Our eyes meet as I wonder how he knows exactly what I'm thinking.

I really don't want to. Yet, I do it anyway.

The door creaks as I push it open but Dad and Anton don't spare me a second thought as I gulp and press my way into the room.

Dad's angry eyes shift to me from where he stands behind his desk. It is still so jarring to see him standing there. Like an immovable force. It's like no time has passed at all. Anton stands in front of the desk with his eyes down so he doesn't directly see me, but he does spin to face me when he sees my dad's eye shift to me.

"Sage," Dad says. "Whatever you need it has to wait."

"I know," I say, ignoring him and coming closer to stand at Anton's side. "I have something important to say."

"Dimitri here is overruling me," Anton says, looking at me in annoyance like it's my fault.

"What?" I ask.

"Big brother is healed apparently," Anton says, spreading his arms. "My authority here is done. Right, boss?"

Dad sighs and stops. He doesn't want to entertain me right now, that much I can tell. "This isn't the right time."

"It is the right time, Dimitri," Anton says, grouchy as he slumps into the chair. "In fact, it's probably later than it should be."

My heart beats harder. Knowing that now time has run out because Anton isn't in charge anymore.

"I haven't told you the full truth yet."

Dad narrows his eyes and looks at Anton disapprovingly before sighing like he's going to humor me.

"You might want to sit down for this," I cringe.

Dad heaps into his chair with a groan. "For the love of God,anima mia.Is there more? How could there possibly be more than what you've already done?"

I purse my lips, unsure where to start.

Freddie slips into the room and sits on the lounges at the back, he doesn't want to miss this clearly but doesn't want to be close enough that he's in the splash zone when Dad murders me.

"This isn't Anton's fault," I say, nervously picking at my fingernails and feeling much like the little girl that used to get dragged in here and scolded for bringing mud pies into the kitchen.

"I'm well aware now, that apparently this is your doing," Dad says, hard eyes trained on me.

I wait my turn, expecting someone to cut me off, speak over me or ask a question as they always do. But that time doesn't come. Strangely enough, the floor is mine, open and ready for me to speak.

"Well, all of it is my doing, actually," I say, feeling a tear prick at my eye. "I'm the reason you were hurt. I'm the reason Nicholas was… Well, don't blame Anton. Or Freddie. It's my fault. All of it was because of me."

Anton's brows crease with something like concern, a nervous finger reaching out to pick at his lip. Dad stares with a similar expression, though this is certainly news to him.

"I knew about the attacks here, Dad," I say. "I thought I could do something extraordinary to fix it, that I didn't need anyone's help and I could find out who was behind it on my own."

"Where are you going with this?" Dad says, eyes narrowed but voice strangely calm.

I still feel like I'm going to burst into tears at any moment. "I suspected it was Victor who wanted to hurt me, so I-," I hesitate, looking to Anton who narrows his eyes at me, "-found a wayto bring Victor close to us. I needed you out of the way to get Victor here."

"You had me attacked?" Dad says, face contorting in hurt.

"No!" I rush to say, reaching my hand out towards him. "Well, not on purpose," I continue shamefully. "But it is my fault."

Dad pinches his nose between his fingers.

"And what does this have to do with Nicholas then?"