I stop at the entrance of the mansion, where a man, a bit younger than Jeremy, greets us.

“Ilya Levitsky,” I say, stepping inside with both Ilya and Kolya behind me. “Where is he?”

“Control room. Let me take you.”

“No need. Stay with Kolya,” I reply, smiling when my guard gives me a really? look.

I’ve visited Jeremy here a few times—mostly because my spouse misses him and doesn’t want to bother him. I’ve learned the layout of the mansion.

I push open the door to the control room.

Jeremy sits before monitors, his chin resting on his hand as he watches a looped video. A half-empty bottle of vodka sits nearby. On-screen, a girl is running.

I grab the back of his chair. “Is this the girl who helped that bastard Creighton kidnap your sister?”

Jeremy notices me. “Dad? What are you doing here?”

“Seriously, I take an 8-hour flight to the island, and that’s the first thing you ask?”

“I… didn’t mean it like that. I’m just surprised. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“Last-minute meeting.”

“Or is it because you want to make Creighton’s life hell?”

“I like multitasking,” I say before narrowing my eyes. “You’re supposed to be helping me with that.”

“Sorry, Dad. I’m not in the mood.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“Nothing,” he says, dismissively.

“Bullshit. Some things rot in your mind unless you face them. What’s going on?”

Jeremy hesitates, then says, “Cecily. She’s been in my head since before all this with my sister.”

“Who is she?”

“She liked someone else, but I stole her. Thought I could have her to myself, but I was wrong. She admitted she’d been spying for him.”

“Did it happen under duress?”

“No”

“Then that should be a good sign”

“Or an attempt to deceive me again”

“Son” I make him face me “you and I have a problem called lack of trust. While good for the bratva, not so good in our personal lives. A long time ago, I didn’t trust your mother/father, cause of that they pulled away until I almost lost them. So if this Cecily means even a sliver of what {{user}} means to me, don’t repeat my mistake”