Page 139 of Anton

“Okay. Thanks. I’ll see you guys.”

They both wave goodbye while I return to the car, and Anton drives me up toward the house.

When the vehicle stops, he looks over at me. “I can go in with you if you want.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’ll be quick. I’ll just throw some of my things into my duffel.”

“Take your time.”

With a heaviness in my chest, I get out and make my way to the door, ringing the bell instead of using my key.

One of the staff opens it, surprise crossing her face. “Ms. Whitlock, did you lose your key?”

“Something like that.”

My mouth forms a thin line as I head upstairs, ignoring the photos of my family lining the walls. Every single one hurts more than the last because now they all feel like a lie.

But if Mama and Daddy had told me years ago, would I have understood, or would I have spent my whole childhood hating them?

The truth is, I don’t know which option would have hurt less.

With a sigh, I step inside my room. My bed is still made, everything exactly where I left it, and a sharp ache hits my chest because it feels like I’m trespassing on my own life.

I yank my duffel from the closet and shove clothes inside without caring what matches, followed by a few pairs of shoes, toiletries, chargers, and anything else I might need. When I’m done, I head downstairs and stop in front of one of the family photos on the wall, a painful throb settling behind my ribs before I force myself to step outside and leave it behind.

As soon as Anton sees me, he gets out and takes the duffel from me, putting it in the trunk before turning back to me. “Are you okay?”

“No.” I shrug, a little smile touching my face. “But you being here helps.”

His hand lifts to my cheek. The second his thumb brushes my skin, my mind goes back to that field, to sunlight and lavender and his mouth on mine for the first time.

No matter what else happened yesterday, I wouldn’t change that part for anything.

His other arm slides around my waist, drawing me in as he stares down at me, his mouth lowering to mine. And when he kisses me this time, it’s slow, almost reverent. Like the quiet before the storm comes barreling in.

When I grip the front of his shirt, a deep rumble vibrates through his chest, and the kiss turns more desperate, as though we can already feel the storm gathering around us and still can’t make ourselves stop.

ANTON

I hated leaving Thora alone at my place. Even with the guards everywhere, it still felt wrong. I should be there with her, but instead, I’ve been summoned to a meeting.

It wasn’t optional, believe me. I tried. But Konstantin wanted me there, which could either be good or bad.

By the time I reach one of our gambling clubs, irritation has already made a permanent home in my chest, and it only gets worse when I walk through the private entrance and find my brothers seated around the back room with Arkady and Mikhail already there like they belong in our space.

How the hell do I get rid of them?

The twins are sitting side by side near the end of the table, both leaning back with the same lazy arrogance they’ve had since we were kids.

A lot about them is different, especially their personalities, but when they want to mess with people, they know how to become each other perfectly. They did it all the time when we were younger. Sometimes even their parents couldn’t tell them apart.

Even now, the easiest way to know which one is which is from the neck down. Each has the same dark hair and blue eyes, same scorpion tattoo inked over the right hand. But where Arkady has a black angel of death spread across his back, Mikhail has a snake coiled along his spine with a tombstone for each one of his victims.

When they spot me, Arkady’s mouth twitches, while Mikhail stares hard, like he has something to say. Maybe about Thora. And if he’s smart, he’ll continue to shut his mouth before I shut it permanently.

“Sit down,” Konstantin says, one arm resting on the back of his chair, eyes sharp as though he can read my thoughts. “We have business to discuss.”

Taking the empty seat beside Aleksei, I pretend I care about being here and focus on him.