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Secrets

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Chapter 8: Secrets (Rhys's POV)

At first, I couldn't understand why Stella was questioning the first case I worked on with her father but if what I gathered was true and Damien truly was imposing a marriage with Nico on Stella, then my confirmation was all she needed to know for certain that her father was using her as a means to compensate and make up for the deal he fucked up with a man as dangerous as Matteo D'Angelo, a little more than three years ago. 

Stella was only twenty years old then, I can imagine why Damien couldn't put his plan into action then itself. I wouldn't put something as fucked up and sick as this past Damien Russo, especially under the fear of Matteo D'Angelo. 

Matteo was a dangerous man, like many others in this circle, but he was one nobody wanted to fuck with. He was always calm and composed but when anger struck him, it often wiped out anything and everything that got in his way. He stayed away from conflict for the most part and even avoided social gatherings. If Matteo was your ally, there was nothing you couldn't do in this city, but if he was your enemy, he wouldn't let you live another day. 

It wouldn't surprise me if Damien was now indebted to Matteo and planned to pay him back for it using Stella. It was often stupid decisions like these that got the man in legal trouble, to begin with, bringing him to me, at my mercy. Damien and Matteo had only attempted to work together once and Damien ruined the deal with his little ploy when he stole two million dollars. 

Everything would have collapsed had I not convinced Matteo D'Angelo to sit and have a civil conversation with Damien but even then he demanded that the conversation was strictly between himself and Damien. Ever since then, Damien hadn't struck a deal without discussing it with me first and he'd never landed himself in such deep shit. 

If I was there, I would never allow my client to attempt something as ridiculous as stealing from Matteo and even if he did, I would never fucking allow him to put Stella on the line for it. I was sure if Alex knew, he would have interfered but their father was the most selfish man I had ever come across. 

He was a client who put blind faith in me and it would come back to bite him in the ass someday. How? I didn't know. 

As my car slowed down in front of Stella's apartment complex, I turned to her and found her sleeping once again. 

Just how much does this girl fucking sleep? 

Shutting off the engine, I faced her. "Ms. Almonte, we've arrived. Wake up," I said once but she didn't even stir. "Wake up," I repeated. Sighing in annoyance, I unbuckled myself and leaned forward, grabbing her arm. "Stell—" I cut myself short instantly as she groaned and shifted in her seat so her body was inclined towards mine and sleepily, she grabbed my hand, holding it in hers, groaning in annoyance but remaining unconscious. 

I went still, my eyes zoning in on the hold she had on me. Taking a sharp breath, I tugged my hand back and got out of the car, rounding it to her side and opening the door, crouching down and unbuckling her seatbelt first. "Dorogaya" I took her chin between my fingers and turned her head this way, shaking her lightly. 

Her eyes fluttered and I retreated my hand before she felt my touch, bracing it on top of the car instead. Exhaling softly, she sat upright and rubbed her eyes before clearing her throat and peeking ahead before looking at me. 

"We've arrived," I stated. 

"I fell asleep again?" she mumbled, running a hand through her hair and ruffling it up. 

I didn't respond and stood upright instead, reluctantly holding a hand out for her to grab. 

She did with a shaky grip and grunted softly as she pulled herself out. "God, I'm so tired," she said, stretching as I shut the door and left her leaning against it while bringing her luggage. She threw her head back with her eyes closed, ignoring the hair that fell over her eyes. 

I grabbed her wrist, lifting a hand to her suitcase and adjusting her grip on the handle. "Go," I ordered. 

With her free hand, she adjusted her purse and offered me a sleepy wave. "Goodnight, asshole." 

I saluted her with two fingers and she made it up the slope and through the revolving door, back home and safely. My job here was done. Stella's fate wasn't in my control, what she chose to do was up to her. 

I couldn't help Stella even if I wanted to, not that I did. I worked for her father, not for her. 

Stella knew damn well that if she ever resorted to asking for my help, she would have a hefty bill to pay and it wouldn't just be paid off with her money. If Stella was ever crazy enough to give me an opportunity to take something from her in exchange for my services as an attorney... or anything else... then Stella should know that I would seize my first and quite possibly my last opportunity to take whatever I wanted from her. 

A part of me wanted to ruin Stella, that too, for no particular reason. She just seemed... tempting. I wanted to ruin her but she was my client's daughter so I refrained and suppressed the urges that drew me closer to her. Stella always caught my eye and I despised her for it so whatever happened to her was not my concern. But what my client did was. 

Rounding the car and getting back into the driver's seat, I stepped on the gas and drove straight to Damien Russo's house. I was meant to show up with his daughter but I'm afraid I was going empty-handed. He owed me some answers. 

I may be his attorney, but I wasn't an idiot who would do whatever he demanded, no questions asked. I didn't work for him and my loyalty lay with nobody, least of all Damien Russo. He had me running all around this world chasing his daughter several times but this time, I wasn't letting it go. 

If he was doing something that sent Stella running to me... Then I couldn't let it go. 

I had no idea why but I just couldn't. It wouldn't do Stella any good to seek me out for help, she'd be losing more to me than she could to anyone else, but I wouldn't let her go back unsatisfied. I would give her what she needed and what she asked for, but not without giving her a fair warning. 

If she was willing to sacrifice some things for my help, then I would blindly be at her beck and call. But Stella knew better. 

Luckily for her. 

She would never come seeking me out, she knew the gamble was a lot. Stella may not be mine to keep or to protect but that fact did nothing to diminish the sense of possessiveness and the tinge of anger I felt when I saw someone mistreating her. After all, I'd spent so long protecting her under Damien's orders, it became a bad habit of mine. My orders were always to ensure nobody hurt her, that included her father. Hell, that included me too.

Once I parked the car and made my way to the front door, I rang the doorbell three times, not bothering to be quiet despite the hour. When nobody answered, I rang two more times, stopping when I heard loud stomps. 

Whoever answers this door isn't too happy to be disturbed. 

But Damien should have been expecting me. 

The door unlocked but when I heard the squeaky grunt right before it, I realized I'd woken up a demon. The door swung open and I heard another loud squeal as I glanced down and saw Ava as she struggled to hold it open for me. 

I took a peek inside, scanning the dark and empty space. "Why are you answering the door?" I asked. 

"Everyone's sleeping," she hissed in a whisper, her hair all messed up and sticking to her face as she held her teddy bear in a death grip. I stared at her, watching as she aggressively wiped her hair away and then sniffled once, rubbing her nose. "Rhys," she greeted, sounding like her snarky little self. 

"Ava," I greeted back. 

Sighing melodramatically, she asked, "Are you coming?" 

"Aren't you a bit too witty for a two-year-old tonight?" I questioned. 

"I'm almost three," she glared up at me. 

"Yeah, but you're still two," I argued, shooting her a smug look. 

"Bleh, bleh, bleh," she said, faking a gag at the last one. 

I rolled my eyes at her antics. "Where's your grandpa?" 

"How would I know?" she shrugged, lifting both hands to her shoulders. 

"Go back to bed," I said before heading towards Damien's study, stopping and cursing under my breath as she screamed at the top of her lungs, "Rhys!" I swiveled back around and practically ran over, sinking to my knees. "Shh!" I scolded, putting a finger to her lips. 

She pushed my hand off and touched her throat. "Ouch," she mumbled quietly before huffing and walking closer, throwing her arms around me and dropping her cheek on my shoulder. 

"Damn it," I sighed to myself, standing up and wrapping an arm around her, holding her with one as I stood up and headed to the staircase, hoping I could tuck her back into her bed without anyone noticing but when I looked up, I saw Damien standing at the very top of the stairs, making his way down. "Play dead," I whispered quickly. 

"Okay," Ava whispered back, going limp in my arms. She was most certainly the most annoying yet smartest little girl I'd ever met. 

Maybe except for Stella. 

"Where's Stella?" Damien asked, making his way over to me. 

"She was tired, she's at her apartment," I answered. 

"I told you to bring her here," he said, adjusting the robe he wore. 

"She refused." 

"Then it was your job to convince her, Rhys," he retorted in a clipped tone. 

"She was stubborn, more than usual. No matter what, I couldn't drag her here against her will, Mr. Russo." 

"If that's what it took, then you should have." 

"With all due respect, you could never pay me enough to put my hands on her." 

He let out an exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why is Ava in your arms at this hour?" 

"She answered the door since you couldn't," I replied with a shrug. 

"Tuck her in before you leave. In my study. Now," he demanded before turning around and leading the way.

 "Grandpa's not happy," Ava whispered in my ear, drawing back to look at me. 

"I thought I told you to play dead," I mumbled. 

She instantly went limp again. 

Rolling my eyes, I followed Damien and took a seat after laying Ava down on the couch in the corner. 

"How was Stella?" he questioned immediately. 

"Not happy," I answered, shaking my head, "she knows what you're doing." 

"I'm not doing anything," he scoffed, pulling out a box of cigarettes from his drawer. 

"I'd suggest you put that back inside. Your granddaughter is sleeping just a few feet away," I said, my jaw ticking as my patience already wore thin. 

Huffing, he did. 

"You didn't tell me you were trying to get her and Nico D'Angelo married," I said, glancing over at Ava, shooting her a pointed look as I caught her peeking. 

"It wasn't business so I didn't see how it concerned you, Rhys. If I'm speaking frankly," he added with a nonchalant shrug. 

"Seems like business to me." I leaned back in my chair, resting my arms on the rests as I crossed one knee over the other. "You saw a conflict with Matteo D'Angelo nearly three years ago when I came back to New York and sorted it out personally. After what you did, you told me you compensated him. Is this how you're planning to compensate? By giving them Stella?" 

This is not a conversation Ava should be here for at all. I can't let her hear this, even if Damien doesn't care. 

"Ava," I called out, looking at her. 

She sat up in a swift motion, still hugging her teddy bear. "Rhys," she mocked with her cheeky grin. 

"Go back to bed, Princess. It seems like grandpa and I need to have a long talk tonight." I said, holding his gaze as I clenched my jaw. 

She waved, "Goodnight," completely ignoring her grandfather as she sheepishly tiptoed out. 

A little diva, she is. 

"I'm afraid this is what you get for keeping secrets from me, Mr. Russo," I sighed, throwing my head back as I stared at the ceiling. "I suggest you tell me what happened. No secrets this time."

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Chapter 8

double update today that nobody probably saw coming lol

I MIGHT update once more tonight but I'm not too sure I'm just having a really good flow of writing rn cuz I actually have the time today 

I'm sure nobody here minds lmao

next ch: attorney