DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS

CH 9

PAPA DONT PREACH

DIMITRI

"Let's just say I made a promise to her mother and after eighteen years it's been fulfilled." When he said that it all clicked, I looked at him, really looked at him. How did I never notice it before, he was her father.

"Let me radio Alberta and let her know we are headed to her office."

Alberta

Yes

It's Dimitri, I will be bringing someone up to your office.

Dimitri

Yes, I know, but trust me when I say you really need to speak with him.

"Belikov, why don't you ride with me? I want to have a private chat with you." I shook my head yes and told Mickhail that I was ok and that we were headed up to the main building. I got in the backseat of the car sitting next to Abe. There was a partition that separated the front seat from the back and it was up, so his Guardian couldn't hear our conversation.

"Rose wasn't sixteen when we started dating." I blurted out before I had time to think.

"Now is not the time to discuss whether or not she was underage when you were together. We'll have time to hash out those details later. What I want to know is how my daughter, who had a promising career, ended up here actually how you both ended up here. "

"Rose's story is hers and hers alone to tell. Mine is really simple. I wasn't in the best place mentally after I lost my first charge, Ivan. He was my best friend. After his funeral I left for Russia, to take some time off to grieve.

In January I decided to come back and contacted Guardian Croft. Guardian Petrov saw my name and asked for me."

"Ahh Petrov, nice lady. I wasn't sure what happened to her after the attack on the academy."

"She is and has been in charge here since she recovered. She was injured pretty badly in the attack."

"I was so thankful Rose survived, I would have never forgave myself if something had happened to her that day."

"I wasn't there, but from what I heard she was amazing." There was a silent break in our conversation.

"What happened with you and Rose?" That question was like a gut punch.

"That's something I regret and can never get over. I unfairly blamed her for Ivan's death." Abe looked at me confused.

"We were out on a date when Ivan was attacked. He had only one Guardian with him. I told her if it wasn't for her and us being away from court I would have been there to keep him safe. After that fight I never spoke to her again and just left for Russia after his funeral."

I put my head down.

"It's all my fault. If I never left her this wouldn't have happened."

"I don't believe you have any fault in this. From what I have been hearing, I don't think you could have stopped this from happening. I just wish I would have stopped her from working for the Zecklos family and stepped in when I had the chance."

"Why didn't you? If you don't mind me asking?"

"Her mother was very adamant that I leave Rose where she was. Said it was a good placement for her."

"Since when does Zmey ever listen to anyone?"

"Fair question, but when it comes to Janine, well you dated her daughter you should know, the Hathaway women are a force to be reckoned with."

"That they are." I laughed just a little.

"I can't believe she kept all this from me."

"Sorry if I'm out of line with my question, but Guardian Hathaway never told you?"

"No she didn't and I lost track of Rose, around November. Which I'm guessing was when she became pregnant."

"If it wasn't her that told you, how did you find Rose? This place isn't exactly known to the public."

"I had a nice talk with a young Guardian that used to be Rose's roommate."

"Meredith?"

"Yes."

"Is she ok?" I knew Rose was worried about her being Jesse's new Guardian.

"She is for now. I've been led to believe this is becoming a problem amongst Royals and their young female Guardians."

"It is."

" I need to know for certain if it was young Jesse Zecklos that did this to my daughter."

"I think you already know the answer to that."

"I do." He looked like he was going to cry. I've never seen him look vulnerable, ever.

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We arrived at the main house and parked and Pavel got out to open the car door for Abe. Alberta was standing at the doorway to the main building waiting for us.

"Let me do the talking, Belikov." I wasn't going to argue with him .

"Petrov, it's always a pleasure to be in the presence of such an accomplished Guardian."

"Laying it on a bit thick aren't we?" She said, raising an eyebrow at him.

"You know me Alberta, always the charmer." He winked at her.

"So what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today? I know it's not to see me."

"Not today I'm afraid. You and Pavel will have to make googly eyes at each other another time." What was going on here? Did Alberta know he was Rose's father? I would hope not because I can't see her keeping this from him.

"Good afternoon, Conrad." She said to Pavel, I never knew his first name.

"Alberta." He greeted back, never breaking his Guardian mask.

"Why don't we take this conversation inside? I'd love to know why you're here and how you even found us."

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"Me and Pavel have been looking into what's been going on with young female Guardians. I just can't believe my daughter is caught up in this mess." We had been talking for about an hour and it was almost time for Rose to be done.

"I will say Rose has been the hardest one for me to see come through the door.

"You really love my daughter like she's your own?"

"I do. I just can't believe she's your daughter. Though now that I really look at you, I don't know how I never saw the resemblance."

"I was never trying to hide anything. Me and her mother decided early on that me being her father should be kept hidden. I was only doing it for her safety and look where that's gotten her."

"You're here and now is really when she could use her father."

"I just don't see how no one has questioned it before. Now that I know what's going on it makes so much sense and the timeline fits."

"Most of these girls don't have any family. Or like Rose, had a mother who basically disowned and blamed them. They are offered a job after they leave, which most take because this is the only life they've ever known. So they move on and their babies go to an orphanage."

"Don't any of them want their babies?"

"Yes, but they don't have social security numbers, money, or anything to help them in the human world. The Queen is very adamant that to have a job they have to give up their babies no questions asked. Celeste, one of our female Guardians here, was lucky enough to remain here as a Guardian and gets to see her daughter regularly."

"That's not going to happen to Rose. I may have failed her as a father, but I'm not going to as a grandfather."

"With all due respect, it's up to Rose what she does. She's had enough choices taken away from her."

"You're right Belikov, but now she has more options."

ROSE

"Someone's here to see you." What the what? There is no way it could be my mother and no one else knows or is allowed to visit here.

"Please tell me it's not my mother?"

"No,not your mom." The way he said that made the hairs on my neck stand up.

"Comrade, who is here?"

"Before I tell you, please keep an open mind."

"You're really starting to scare me." He came over and sat down at the foot of my bed.

"Rose.."

"Just spit it out already."

"It's your dad. Your dad is here to see you."

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For some reason this chapter was so hard to write and took me way too long. Hope you like it.