Page 92 of Wicked Knight

Why would he need to basically sell his daughter?

I've considered that he must be in some deep shit for him to treat her like this and even approach the Konstantins.

Needless to say, certain things make sense now.

I never understood why Adrian arranged the marriage with Levi earlier in the year knowing that Mackenzie wouldn't be able to pursue her career in ballet if she married into Levi's family.

The women in that family don't work. Some of them might do charity work on some level, but if it's considered too much work, it's stopped immediately.

I knew back then that Mackenzie would've fought for her career. At the time, I was in a state of flux not knowing what to do. Conflict and confusion ruled me.

I watched her and waited, then watched the situation some more. When she took part in the Valkyrie auction, ideas began to form in my head.

The feelings I've had for her have always existed, but I was torn between my sense of duty to my family and my heart.

It wasn't until she was to be released from Kyle that I saw my opportunity and decided to strike. I knew that if I didn’t, her father would try to marry her off again.

Adrian must've been desperate this whole time, but it's gotten worse now.

Just thinking his name pushes against that hollow in my heart; it always resurfaces whenever I think of him.

Mackenzie said I didn't care about him yesterday. That wasn't entirely true.

It's not that I don't care. It's just that I'm always conflicted.

Adrian swore blindly that he didn't kill Tommy. A part of me has always questioned whether he was innocent or not. My father would have a field day with that one.

Sadly, I have to see him tomorrow night. Uncle Eric is visiting. He'll be in town for the next two weeks, then he is heading back to Russia. Last week, I accepted the invite to dinner. After what happened on Sunday, I was going to cancel. Then I thought I should go to test the water.

Last night, I got a message from Yuliana reminding me about the dinner, so I assumed they were still expecting me.

Testing the water will give me an idea of my father’s frame of mind.

The problem is his volatility. He changes like the wind, shifting in decision from one day to the next.

You never know which way he's going to sway, what he's going to do, or what disaster he’s concocting.

I don't know what the hell that meeting will be like tomorrow night. Honestly, I wouldn't mind not seeing my father ever again, but it's one of those things I have to do, if only to keep Mackenzie safe.

I might have been shoved out of her life, but that doesn't mean I'll stop being her protector.

The door opens, and Kade walks out. He glances around at the scene ahead of me, at the swans swimming by in the river.

He looks back at me and walks over to the wall to sit on the end. We're silent for a moment. Him observing me and me feeling like a pathetic loser.

“How are you doing?” he asks.

I lift my shoulders into a tired shrug and shake my head. “I've seen better days.”

Kade smirks. “I can tell. You look like shit. But I'm sure I'd look the same way if I were you.”

I give him a little grin, appreciating his light humor. He knows what happened. Kade was the first person I saw yesterday after Mackenzie and I broke up. I'm not the kind of guy who talks about his problems easily, so the fact that I spoke to Kade showed how much losing her wrecked my mind.

I gaze back out to the river and watch the ripples in the water. “I would've left all of this.” My voice is low and reverent. “I would've taken her away from here and left everything behind.”

I look back at Kade. He nods, but then a pensive look washes over his face, and I wonder what he's thinking.

“That's admirable, Dmitri, but in my opinion, you shouldn't have to go anywhere. You shouldn't have to run. Do you want to hear some shit you may not like?” He intensifies his stare.