Page 33 of Dima
“Dmitri. My mother used to call me Dima for short. She’s the only person that calls me that.”
I turned back around and continued my journey to snitch on his ass. I had no idea how my father would take this, and I didn’t want Dima hurt. Even after he lied to me, I still cared about him. However, keeping my father out of prison and home with me was more important than loving a man who used me for his own gain.
I found my father in his study on the phone. He held up one finger to hold us off until the call was over, then motioned for us to come in. I didn’t wait for him to give us his full attention. I went right into what I came to tell him.
“Daddy, I need to tell you something.”
“What is it, baby girl? Have a seat, you and Dima.”
We both stood instead of sitting, but my father remained in his chair.
“I need to talk to you, Daddy.”
“Can you wait until after dinner?”
It was crazy to think we were moments away from sitting down for dinner with a man who was threatening my father’s freedom. Dima stood near the door with his hands cupped in front of him. I knew he was standing for his safety, but I was too pissed to sit.
“No, I don’t think so. I think you need to hear about this, and when you do, you won’t want Dima sitting at your table right now.”
My father’s brows raised as he leaned forward in his chair. Both of his elbows rested on top of his desk. He looked calm but still curious about what I would say next.
“What is it, baby girl? Go ahead and tell me.”
“He’s a cop, Daddy. He’s been setting you up this whole time. He’s undercover.”
My father sat there with a weird, composed look on his face. He didn’t even seem fazed by what I had just said. I’d just told him the man who he’d invited into our home was a Fed, and he didn’t even flinch.
“Did you hear what I said?”
Dima didn’t flinch either. He stood tall, towering over me as he looked from me to my father. He didn’t offer an excuse. He didn’t even mutter a sound. I could see the guilt all over his face, and I prayed my father could too.
“He knows it’s true, Daddy. He doesn’t even have anything to say for himself. What do you have to say for yourself?”
I was asking more for myself than I was for my father. Having my doubts about him didn’t make finding out the truth any easier. Besides, I had feelings for Dima, and to find out he betrayed not only my father but me also, it hurt.
He still didn’t answer. He just looked at me like he wanted me to calm down, but I wouldn’t. How could I be calm when I was wounded?
“Daddy, say something.”
If Dima wouldn’t talk, he had to. Someone needed to say something to quiet the storm that was brewing in my mind.
“Sit down, princess. You’re upsetting yourself.”
“Of course, I am upset. Why aren’t you upset, Daddy?”
My daddy let out a loud sigh and laughed. I couldn’t control my anger anymore. What was this? How come he wasn’t just as upset as I was? None of this made any sense to me, and I was about to crash out.
“You think I didn’t know?”
My father finally spoke, and I could see Dima’s eyes widen. I was just as surprised because if he knew Dima was a cop, then why didn’t he at least tell me?
“You knew?”
“Of course, I knew. Guard thoroughly investigates anybody who comes near this family. I knew Dima was an undercover agent before I met him. That’s why I brought him deeper into the fold. That’s why I wanted him to protect you.”
“You wanted me protected by a Fed?”
“Yes, because I also know Dima is a good man, and from what I could tell, he loves you. He’s sitting here knowing that you were about to tell me what you just said, and he didn’t even try to stop you. He could have killed you before you even made it to me. Did that even occur to you?”
