Page 49 of Daddy's Reluctant Queen

Ignat sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m not here to lecture you, but I am here to let you know that because of what happened yesterday, you may have bigger problems than an unruly ward on your hands.”

“What do you mean?”

He sighs. “Cyril is the best you’ve got in terms of enforcers. He trained most of theboeviksunder his brother and under most of the other brigadiers. He’s garnered a great deal of respect in this Bratva over the years.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

“And yesterday, a woman who would have been better off as a casualty of this war beat his ass. For the third time. I can let you guess what kind of firestorm it’s caused among the brotherhood.”

I consider that for a moment. “He’s really pissed, huh?”

“No disrespect, sir, but do you blame him? I think he and Cyrus are starting to drum up dissension about the whole thing.”

I frown as I look at him. “What are you saying? He wants to try and overthrow me over what happened?”

“It’s not just about what happened yesterday.” He stammers slightly, then, “There has already been talk about what it means that you have Aristov’s daughter living with you now. At first, most of the brotherhood largely approved of the idea that you were using her to fulfill your baser needs. There were only a few people looking down their noses at the idea.”

I cross my arms defensively. “And now?”

“Now, thanks to Cyril, there’s a lot of talk about you trading in your manhood to a woman. As tough as she might be, if anyone had ever laid a hand on any one of us the way she did yesterday, you’d have had their nuts in a sling before noon.”

“She was punished for what she did to him,” I say, and he rolls his eyes.

“I sincerely hope that by that you mean that she’s in pieces floating in the river. Or at the very least, back at the warehouse in chains.”

I don’t respond. Ignat scoffs.

“Titus… Her father killed your son’s mother. The whole reason we wiped out his Bratva and are currently trying to wipe out the rest of his line is because of what he did to you. Your vengeance is just. It always has been.”

“I know,” I growl at him. “Jesus, you think I don’t know understand that? I realize that if I’d just put a bullet in her head in the first place, you probably wouldn’t have to tell me any of this now.”

I stop and he leans into me. “But…?”

“There is no but. I made a mistake.”

He nods. “It’s not too late to correct that mistake.”

He’s right. I know he’s right. This is textbook shit. Sofia should not have been allowed to live.

And yet the idea of killing her makes me sick to my stomach. Even though it’s a debt that I’m owed. Even though it is what I had planned to do from the very beginning.

And then last night happened. Fuck.

“Just tell me what to do, Titus,” he says, “and I’ll do it. If you can’t take care of her, I will be happy to step in?—”

“No,” I say. “No one’s laying a hand on her.”

He frowns deeply at me. “Titus…”

“And if anyone dares to slander her name again, I want them dealt with. Is that understood?”

He blinks at me in confusion. Then, “Of course. What… whatever you want. But you should know that if you try and protect her. If you make this stance now, Cyril and Cyrus will take action. Against both of you.”

“Yeah,” I say to him. “I know. Let me handle this situation with Aristov’s daughter. In the meantime, I need you to have a little faith in me and be prepared to handle those who show their true colors.”

He takes in a deep breath and says, “I’ve followed you since before you were Pakhan. I’ll follow you now. Whatever you need, I’m here.”

“Good. Thank you.” He goes to leave and I stop him. “Tell no one of this conversation. Just watch them and report back to me anyone showing disloyalty. Do you understand?”