Page 35 of Obsession of the Bratva

“Your sister?”

“Ilana.”

For a second, I forgot everything else. He had never introduced me to his family, but we had talked about it. We had been planning it as well, and just a few more months, and it would have happened. Nico had already told them about me, so meeting was the natural next step. But then everything fell apart. The fact that after all this time and the chaos that had unfolded between us, I was still about to meet one of them now felt surreal.

“Why?”

His jaw tightened.

“Her husband, Avgust Chernykh, had to send me something, so Ilana is only coming to deliver it. I was planning to meet with her myself and have lunch with her here at home, but I have to leave urgently for work. I don’t think she will stay for long, but you will need to collect the package from her.”

I folded my arms. “What’s in the package?”

“That, Vera Stavros, is none of your business. Just do as I am saying.”

“Will Ilana know what’s inside the package?”

Nico looked at me as if he had never heard a stupider question. “How am I supposed to know this? I am not sure if Avgust tells her everything or not.”

“I am sure he loves her enough to tell her everything.”

“In that case,” Nico said, rolling down his sleeves, “it is only fair that I don’t tell you anything.”

The words stung, but I deserved them. He quickly buttoned up his sleeve, took his suit jacket from Viktor, and threw it on. Viktor marched away at once, probably going to draw up the cars, while Nico stood staring at me as if he was trying to understand something.

“What exactly do you expect me to do with your sister?”

His gaze sharpened. “Well for starters, I expect you to stay here.”

Offense immediately flared. “You think I’m going to use her to escape from here?”

I had never once tried escaping in the past month I had been here, and Nico knew that. I was the worst prisoner alive because I had no desire to run away. Staying here, close to Nico, despite our distance, felt peaceful. I knew the real world awaited me, and Nico won’t be able to hide me here forever, but I had no qualms about staying here for a little longer.

“I think you are intelligent.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It means that smart people always come up with interesting ideas. Hence, here I am, shutting down any idea that might form in your pretty little mind.” He moved closer and tapped on my forehead with his index finger. “Get the package and send Ilana on her way. Do you understand?”

I stared at him, and he stared back, the tension between us stretching. Finally, I shook my head.

“I haven’t tried to leave even once, Nico.”

Something flickered in his eyes, but it was gone too quickly to identify.

“I know.” The admission surprised me.

“Then why—”

“Because I don’t, I can’t, trust anyone right now.”

His honesty shut me up, and for a second, neither of us spoke. Then Nico looked toward the front entrance, and whatever patience he had left appeared to evaporate. Our conversation was over even though I wanted to talk to him more. I wanted to hear him tell me that he could still trust me because I would always be his Vera, but I knew all of these were delusional thoughts. Nico Romanov would never express his feelings for me again.

“I’ll be back tonight.”

With that, he walked away, and the front door slammed shut just a moment later. I stood there alone, confused and uneasy. A part of me was still increasingly convinced that something terrible had happened, even if Nico hadn’t told me about it. However, I needed to distract myself. There was no point in mulling over it until I had some correct information.

An hour later, the doorbell rang again, and this time I answered it. A beautiful woman stood outside, dressed in an elegant skirt set which accentuated her figure. I already knew who she was, but despite that, it took me two seconds to recognize her from the society pages.