“Sit down,” he orders, but I don’tlisten. “Sit. Down.” He spits out again as something close to sadness forms in his eyes.
My legs fold as I listen to his words, knees hitting the concrete, and still confused as this man looks just like the guy I’ve known since I was eighteen, but he was so clearlynotMatheo.
“Who are you?” I ask, my voice shaking.
“Brian.”
My eyes snap in his direction as the name rolls off his tongue, the same name I’ve overheard in my father’s office for the past six months. The same name I’ve searched a million times but haven’t found any information on. It has to be some kind of messed up coincidence.
“I know you’ve searched my name like a maniac,” he says, smirking, almost like he had just read my mind.
My mouth falls open at his statement. “You look just like...“
“My twin brother? The man who was inside you just a few hours ago, the man I shot?” His face has no expression, no shame, no hesitation. Nothing.
Shock takes over me as he speaks, not helping me connect any dots at all. Matheo has a twin brother and has never told me? I don’t know how to feel,whatto feel. The only thing I know isthat my face must’ve paled by now.
“My father is selling you tomorrow. Or, he’s rather giving you away as a prize.” His green eyes look at me as I sit on my knees before him.
I can’t help but scan his face, his features sharper than his brother’s. He’s handsome, something I can’t deny, especially not when he talks with such softness.
A throbbing feeling appears between my legs, and I’m instantly ashamed of myself as I meet his gaze.
Tears prickle in my eyes as his words settle. This day is what I’ve feared since I learned about my father’s mistake, and the fact that I would be the one to set it right. But I had hoped it would never arrive.
“Hopefully you’ll get a... kind owner.” He can’t look at me as he speaks the wordkind, almost likehe knows it’s not possible. Like it’s something he tries to convince himself of.
I’m blonde but I am not stupid, never have been. I know the business my dad works in. I know what kind of people he works with. That’s why this day has been my greatest fear for the past months.
I can’t look at him, it feels odd. Because I’m not looking at Matheo, though the face is almost identical. Brian’s eyes are green, and his hair is not as blonde. But it still feels wrong, because this is not the man I know.
“Look at me,”he says, his voice still soft, begging almost. But I can’t bring myself to listen.“For fucks sake, Anastasia, look at me.”
I cry as he raises his voice slightly, trying to accept the fact that I will soon be living with some old creepy man who will do whatever he pleases with me.
“Everything will be okay,”he says, reaching out to pet my head, but I dodge his hand before he gets the chance to do so. He bites down, his jaw tensing.
I shake my head as I keep crying, body shakingas this new reality sinks in.
“Is Matheo okay?” The guy I usually have by my side seems to be my strongest worry as I can’t get him out of my thoughts. However, I don’t look at his brother as I ask the question.
“I hope not,” he says as he stands steady in front of me.
“How can you say such a thing about your brother?” I scream at him,feeling my heart break in my chest hearing him speak so cruelly about his sibling.
“Matheo is not the person you think he is,”
“I’ve known him forsix years,”I cut him off, tears pouring down my face.
“And unfortunately, I have known him my entire life. You know acharacter, Anastasia, not the real him.”He doesn’t speak further. Instead, he simply leaves me with all this new information, and closes the heavy, metal door behind him. And suddenly, the room feels emptier and colder without him.
Chapter 4
Brian
Leaving the room, leavingher, makes my chest rip open. I can’t stand seeing her like that, crying over a situation shedoesn’t know I’ll get her out of. From now on, no one lays a hand on her. No one but me.
But I leave the room before anger can take over me. The sound of his name makes me feel rage like nothing else can. It’s evenworse when it’s coming from her. But that will change. Soon it will only be my name coming from those pretty, rosy lips.
