Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dimitri’s POV
I leaned back in my office chair, right after signing over the majority of my shares under a pseudonym—a protection in case things went wrong.
But I doubted they would. Ethan and Selene thought they were so clever.
Thought their little coup attempt was bold and unexpected.
Thought they’d caught me off guard with their motion for impeachment.
It was almost amusing. Almost.
If it wasn’t for the fact that they’d tried to kill my daughter, I might have actually enjoyed watching them scramble, watching them make moves they thought were brilliant but were actually predictable. Transparent.
I’d known about Ethan’s ambitions for years. Known about his failing pack, his desperate need for resources and power. Known the exact moment he’d started sniffing around Ravencrest Global, looking for weaknesses to exploit.
And I’d let him in.
Let him buy Crescent Valley Development. Let him think he was being clever, gaining a foothold in my company. Let him believe he had a chance.
Because I needed him close. You know the saying…keep your enemies closer…
But the attack on Isabella and Adele had accelerated my timeline, forced me to act before I had every single piece on the chessboard in place. But I was close now. So close I could taste it.
Soon, I’d burn them all to the ground.
My phone buzzed with a notification. It was a report from one of Isabella’s tech specialists, someone she thought she’d hired independently, but who was actually on my payroll.
She’d been busy over the last couple of days—scrubbing the internet of references to Adele. Reaching out to board members. Calling in favors. Using Crane’s network to apply pressure.
She was fighting for me. Even though I’d been distant, even though things between us were strained and complicated and…painful. The memory of waking up to find her looking at me like she regretted everything we’d shared that night still felt like a knife between my ribs.
But I understood. I’d hurt her so badly five years ago that, of course, she’d put her walls back up. Of course she’d retreat into self-protection the moment vulnerability felt too dangerous.
My office door opened without a knock, pulling me out of my thoughts. Edmund walked in, carrying two cups of coffee and looking tired.
“You need to sleep,” I said with a smile. If there was anyone I was most grateful for in these times, it was Edmund.
“So do you.” He set one of the cups on my desk and settled into the chair across from me. “I talked to Isabella tonight.”
My attention sharpened. “And?”
“She’s planning something. Probably even doing it. I don’t know what it is, but I could see it in her eyes. She’s quite determined to save your position.”
“I know.” Pride swelled in my chest. “She’s magnificent, isn’t she?”
“She is. But Dimitri—” Edmund’s expression turned serious. “She’s also scared. Angry. Confused about where she stands with you. Where Adele stands.”
“I’ve been giving her space.”
“She doesn’t want space. She wants answers. Reassurance. She wants to know if what happened between you was real or just,” he waved his hand, “adrenaline and old feelings.”
“I can’t push her,” I said quietly. “She’ll run if I push.”
When Edmund left, I dialed Isabella. She answered on the third ring. “Dimitri.”
It was just my name, but the way she said it made my heart ache. Guarded. Careful. Like she was bracing herself for impact.
“I want to see Adele,” I said. “And you. Tomorrow afternoon.”
Silence.
Then, “Dimitri, I don’t think—”
“Please.” The word came out rougher than I intended. “I know things are complicated between us. I know I’ve been distant. But I miss my daughter. And I—” I swallowed. “I miss you.”
More silence. I could hear her breathing, could imagine her biting her lip the way she always did when she was conflicted.
“Where?” she asked finally.
“Azure Pines Resort. It’s private, secure. I’ll have the whole place to ourselves for the afternoon. Just the three of us.”
“That’s—” She paused. “That’s a lot.”
“I know. But we need this. All of us. A chance to just…be together. Without all the chaos.”
“Okay.” The word was soft, hesitant. “What time?”
Relief flooded through me. “I’ll pick you both up at noon.”
“We’ll drive ourselves.”
“Fine. I’ll text you the address.”
Azure Pines Resort was perfect.
Nestled in the mountains two hours north of Seattle, it was exclusive enough that we could guarantee privacy but family-friendly enough that Adele would love it. I’d had the staff prepare the best suite, stock the kitchen with Adele’s favorite foods, and set up activities by the lake.
When Isabella pulled up in her car at one-thirty—because of course she was late, probably second-guessing this decision the entire drive—I was waiting on the front steps.
Adele burst out of the car first, her face lighting up when she saw me. “Uncle Dimitri!”
I caught her as she launched herself at me, her small arms wrapping around my neck. “Hey, little dragon. Miss me?”
“So much! Mommy said we’re going to have a special day with you!”
“We are.” I looked over her head at Isabella, who was climbing out of the driver’s seat slowly, her expression guarded but not hostile.
She was wearing a long, blue, low-necked sundress that exposed a bit of her cleavage and had my mind drifting and my groin tightening for a second.
Maybe more. She looked exquisite, I couldn’t take my eyes off her until Adele tugged at my ear.
“Uncle Dimitri?”
“Huh?” I blinked back, refocusing my attention on her. “I was saying the whole resort is ours for the afternoon.”
Her eyebrows rose. “The whole resort?”
“I own it. Perks of being a Ravencrest.” I set Adele down. “There’s a pool, a lake, hiking trails. Whatever you want to do.”
Adele was already bouncing with excitement. “Can we swim? Please, please, please?”
“Of course. I had them heat the outdoor pool just for you.”
Isabella’s guard was coming down, just a little. I could see it in the way her shoulders relaxed, the way a small smile tugged at her lips as she watched Adele’s excitement.
I’d take it. I’d take any softening I could get.
The afternoon was perfect. Better than perfect.
We swam in the heated pool, Adele shrieking with laughter as I tossed her into the water and she splashed back at me.
Isabella sat on the edge at first, just watching, but eventually she joined us.
And when our eyes met across the pool, when I saw genuine happiness in her expression—not guarded, not careful, just happy—something in my chest eased.
After swimming, we had lunch on the terrace overlooking the lake.
Adele chattered nonstop about her school back in Zurich, her friends, and many other things that excites kids.
. And Isabella and I talked—really talked—about nothing important.
Favorite foods. Embarrassing childhood stories.
Safe topics that let us just be together without the weight of everything else pressing down on us.
I’d arranged for a private boat ride on the lake after lunch. Adele was in heaven, hanging over the side and trying to spot fish while Isabella and I sat together in the back.
“This is nice,” she said quietly. “Thank you for doing this.”
“I wanted to give you both a good memory. Something that isn’t about attacks or board meetings or pack politics.”
She turned to look at me, really look at me, and I saw something shift in her eyes. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“Yes, I did.” I reached for her hand, relieved when she didn’t pull away. “You and Adele are the most important things in my life. I’ll go to any trouble if it means making you happy.”
“Dimitri—”
“Mommy! Look!” Adele’s shout interrupted whatever Isabella was about to say. She was pointing at something in the water, her whole face glowing with excitement.
The moment passed. But Isabella’s hand stayed in mine.
Progress.
By the time we returned to the resort, the sun was starting to set. We settled on lounge chairs by the pool, watching the sky turn shades of orange and pink. Adele was curled up between us, getting drowsy from all the activity.
“Uncle Dimitri?” Her small voice was soft, almost shy.
“Yeah, Adele?”
“Can you be my daddy?” She looked up at me with those big eyes, full of hope and trust. “You make me and Mommy very happy. Mommy says so.”
I turned to look at Isabella’s slightly widened eyes, but she immediately averted her gaze.
“Yes,” I managed with a smile. “Yes, I can be your daddy. Forever.”
Adele threw her arms around me, and I held her close, this perfect little person who was half me and half the woman I loved. This miracle I’d almost missed completely.
“And you have to marry Mommy too,” Adele said matter-of-factly, like she was negotiating terms. “Because daddies and mommies are supposed to be married.”
I looked at Isabella. She’d gone very still.
“If she’ll have me,” I said softly, my eyes locked on Isabella’s face.
Isabella stood abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair. “I need—I need a minute.”
She walked away quickly.
“Stay right here, Adele,” I said, setting her gently in the lounge chair. “I’ll be right back.”
I found Isabella by the garden, her hands braced on the railing, her shoulders shaking.
“Isabella—”
“You can’t do that, Dimitri.” Her voice was broken.
“I didn’t do anything,” I said softly. “Adele was only voicing her thoughts, and quite frankly, they’re mine, too.”
She turned to look at me. “Your thoughts? You think about getting married to me?”
“I think about being a real family.”
“Why the hell would you do that?”