He shrugs and smirks, but it’s not a real smile. His eyes are sad. And a part of me wants to make it better.
"Eh, they always liked my brother better."
I wonder what the ultimate punishment is for betrayal when you’re one of them. It wouldn’t be a fine, or jail, or something civilized. No.
They must hurt them, beat them, do something physically painful. And then kill them or something. Right?
His own little brother.
My mind is spinning a mile a minute. I’m about to meet my sister. What if she hates me? What if we’re nothing alike?
And my mother… I have a mother.
I’m an absolute ball of nerves thinking about facing Rafail and Polina in their own house.
"Do we have to do this?"
I’ve never been this vulnerable around him. Not after everything we’ve been through.
When he brushes his thumb along my cheek again, I feel wetness.
I’m crying.
Oh my god, I’m crying.
I hate that.
"Are you really that afraid, beautiful? My little witch?" His lips twitch. "Cast a spell and protect yourself."
Then, softer. "And trust me. You’ll be fine."
The depths of his loyalty—it’s hard for me to understand. He killed his own brother? For love of the Bratva?
"When do we have to go?"
He glances at the little alarm clock on the bedside table. "We have about an hour."
I leap from his lap, but he catches me midair, tugging me back down.
I fall onto his lap with a quick thump.
"Come here," he murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "Don’t go so fast. We just went over a lot. Are you all right?"
He needs to stop being so sweet.
"I’m fine," I huff out. "Can you go back to being an asshole, please?" I shrug. "It makes me more comfortable."
I scoot off the bed just as his hand connects with my ass.
I squeal, smiling, as I head to the bathroom.
I have to get ready for my grand entrance.
Chapter Sixteen
Anissa
I takemy time making sure I look perfect. This is what I’m good at—an impeccable physical appearance that masks everything else. But we don’t need to dwell on that rightnow.
