Page 42 of Dima
We stood in the living room. I could smell the aroma of breakfast coming from the kitchen. I’d missed being home, but I wouldn’t trade the last few days, alone with Dima, for anything in the world.
“I’m fine, Daddy. I went with Dima willingly.”
I looked from my father to the man I loved. The last thing I wanted was for them to be at odds.
“Why would you do that? I have Guard turning this whole city upside down looking for you. Do you know we are at war because of him?”
My father pointed at Dima, who still hadn’t spoken. He stood off to the side, giving us time to hash things out. He probably didn’t even know where to start with an explanation.
“Dima is not responsible for this, Daddy. He didn’t know what his father was trying to do. Just listen to what he has to say.”
“Let’s hear it then. What the fuck do you have to say for yourself?”
My father stepped around me and closer to my man. Dima stood tall with his chest out. He was one of the only men I knew that wasn’t afraid of Bishop Moore.
“Listen, Bishop, I have the upmost respect for you, but I don’t owe you shit. You are a criminal, and I was sent to take you down. We’ve already established that. You told me to decide the type of man I wanted to be, so that’s what I have been doing. Maeve wanted to be with me while I figured that out.
“This war that’s coming was not your doing. My father orchestrated this whole thing so he could build a RICO and put you behind bars for the rest of your life. Now, we can play into his hands and give him exactly what he wants, or we can make a deal.”
I watched as my father’s demeanor went from pissed to calm. He wasn’t used to people standing up to him the way Dima did. I was probably the only person he would let slide with something like that, and even I knew my limits.
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll personally help you finish the Jack-town JUs. I have a feeling someone in their organization is working with my handler. That was how they were able to feed me information to get this shit started in the first place. If we take the Jack-townJUs out, pin this whole thing on them, the Durty Boyz will cut ties with human trafficking, guns, and all the other illegal shit you have running through this club. You get to keep the club, but that’s it. You go legit, or I will bury you without question.”
“How do I know this is not all a setup? How can I be sure you’re not wearing a wire right now?”
My father’s voice boomed with each question. He was calm when I told him Dima was a Fed, but us running away together must have been his final straw. It was hard for him to even listen without raising objections.
“Daddy, can you just hear him out, please?”
“I’m trying to hear him out, but he ain’t saying shit that makes sense. You have been gone for days, princess. I thought I lost you. How can I trust him after that?”
“Because I’m in love with your daughter. What I feel for her is as real as it can be, and I ain’t never felt that way about a soul. You can trust me to always put her feelings above my own. Putting you behind bars would hurt her, and I’ve already hurt her enough.”
The sincerity in Dima’s eyes made me want to fuck him right here in front of my daddy, but now was not the time. I needed to get my head in the game, but he was so damn fine. I made a mental note to fuck the shit out of him as soon as this was all over. I didn’t care if it was in the car or on the floor, he was going to get it.
“Tell me your plan.”
I smiled and hugged my daddy. He wasn’t a man who could be easily moved, so I was happy we were able to get through to him. Choosing between the man who brought me into the world and the man who fucked me as good as Dima was an impossible choice I was thankful I didn’t have to make.
Dima spent the next hour filling my father in on how he planned to make this whole thing work. He covered everythingfrom the raid on the Jack-town JUs’ clubhouse to how he planned to implicate his father in all of it. I didn’t like the fact that Dima’s father would go to prison, but he’d made his own bed.
“I’m sorry about all of this, baby girl. But maybe, after tonight, we can start fresh.”
“I hope so, Daddy. Just promise me you will make it back.”
“I promise.”
My father kissed my forehead on his way out of the room. As soon as he left, Dima moved closer before wrapping me in his arms. I didn’t want to let go of him. Letting go meant that I had to accept the fact that he may not make it back either. I didn’t know how this day would go.
“Dima, I know you have to do this, but I don’t want you to. I wish you could stay here with me.”
“I wish I could, too, but I’ll be back before you know it. I promise.”
Dima kissed my forehead before he left. I wanted to break down and cry. Both of the men I loved was walking out the door and into a war. All I could do was pray that they made it back in one piece.
Before Dima, I wasn’t sure if I had ever been in love before, but now I knew I hadn’t. It felt like Dima had taken my heart with him when he walked out that door. I was sure I’d never given another man that much power. I’d never wanted to follow a man into a fight, but if Dima wasn’t back here soon, I was going to find him.
