Page 86 of Dangerous Promises

I remember the necklace from Chet that I found, the one I put around my neck hoping it would help me to understand it better. Or at least pique the interest of someone who might know more about it than I do.

"Where did you get that?" Dad says, focusing on the necklace again.

I don't answer him but I do gulp. Knowing that I'm probably already in trouble and will likely be in more.

He walks slowly towards me and gently lifts the necklace from my neck, popping the clasp easily and looking inside. His face shudders, snapping it closed and letting it fall.

"You must've gotten that from Chet," Dad says, his voice a gentle whisper in a tone I have never in my life heard from him. "How did you get it from Chet?"

"We found it when we were looking for him," I quickly rush to explain. "You know what this means then?"

Dad shakes his head, his hands shaking as he starts to walk away.

"Dad?" I ask, keeping up to chase him. "Then you must know what this is, and who Isabelle is? Or what Chet promised he'd never forget?"

Dad can't look at me and with each attempt that I make to get closer to him he just swats me away with a face that looks pale and hands that look shakier than they did when he first woke up from his coma.

"Leave it alone, Sage. No good will come out of pulling at that thread," Dad says, his voice still feeble.

I sigh as he hobbles up the stairs on his cane, wanting to chase him down but not feeling like I can disobey him again without the yelling starting up. Whatever this is, it's made Dad forget all about the Rushkoffs that are hanging around our kitchen and the rest of our estate.

"You never told me you found her necklace," Anton whispers.

"I didn't know what it was," Freddie whispers back defensively.

I spin back around to face them with narrowed eyes. "What are you two whispering about?"

Freddie cringes.

"I have to go check on Dimitri," Anton says, jaw tightening as he follows Dad up the stairs.

"You know something," I accuse.

"Please,bella," Freddie begs. "Don't do this to me."

My frustration at all the lies overwhelms me and I can't help but speak out. "Freddie, can't you just underst-"

"You know better than anyone why death promises are made,bella. Trust your father and leave this alone."

I want to ask more but Freddie is saved by the invading Rushkoffs as Isla and Alexei come pouring back out of the kitchen.

"You have to let me patch that up," Isla says.

"You're not touching me," Alexei says, stomping through the hall. They come to a standstill when they see us, looking around tensely before they notice Dad isn't here anymore.

"I've had enough," Isla says, shoving the medical supplies against my chest and forcing me to catch them. "See if you can get him to listen."

Chapter

Thirty-Six

Alexei

Hesitant fingers reach for me, gently brushing over my chest. I don't flinch even though I want to. Even though my body wants to shudder for a different reason when she touches me. Her shaky fingers unbutton my shirt, exposing my chest and the bloody graze from the bullet.

"Looks bad," she says.

"It isn't," I huff, scrunching my face in annoyance. This is very inconvenient. Not sure why it worked when Isla shoved the medical supplies at Sage and insisted she patch me up. But it did and I'm sitting on the couch in their library, alone with her, while she tries to figure out what she's doing.