"Okay, I'll order that for you," I say and take a seat on the bed.
"Come sit down. There's something I want to talk to you about."
She comes over and joins me and just looks at me waiting.
"Your parents," I say.
"Yes. My parents. My sister. I want to see them. Tell them I'm alive."
"Leni, how can I say this."
"I'm home, Adi. I'm finally home, and I can't even…" Her voice breaks. "I can't even tell them I'm alive."
"I know, I just…"
"I miss them so much," she says. "I miss Stefania. I just want to walk through the door and see their faces and…" she stops and turns to me. "Please, Adi. Whatever you're going to say, just let me see them. Just for a minute. I won't tell them anything."
I cup her face with my good hand, rubbing her cheek.
"Listen to me. You are legally dead," I say. "Your death certificate was filed. Your parents buried you. If you show up now, it doesn't just raise questions. It raises red flags."
Her face crumples.
"I don't care."
"I know, but look. The Volkov Bratva has a twenty five million dollar bounty on my head and your return. Do you know what that means?"
She shakes her head.
"It means every mercenary, every hired gun, every desperate bastard in Europe is looking for me. For us. And if you walk into your parents' house right now, you'll be putting them in danger."
"I just wanted to see them," she says.
"I know."
I brush a strand of hair away from her face and she leans against my good side, her head resting on my shoulder.
"There's something you should know too," I say.
She tilts her head up, looking at me.
"What?"
I take a breath.
"Months ago, when I thought you were dead, I couldn't stand the thought of your family being unprotected. So I had Lucian place a guard detail on them."
Her eyes widen.
"What?"
"Twenty four seven surveillance. Your parents' house. Stefania's apartment. They don't know, but there are men watching them at all times."
Her breath catches.
"You've been protecting them?"
"I couldn't protect you," I say. "But I could protect them."