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“You still owe me three more days… I paid for three more days, and I’ll use every minute of them to convince you. Dammit, to show you what we have.”
“I haven’t touched a single penny. And I won’t. I will return every bit when I get cell reception. It will be back in your account before we reach the airport.”
“But what about your dreams? Everything you hoped….”
“Turns out, my great adventure wasn’t that great. Now, I just want to go home.”
“No.” His brothers listened while he begged. But he didn’t give a fuck. “No. Don’t let anyone take that from you. Not even me.”
“You already have.”
“No. I didn’t. And if I did. Don’t let me. Learn from me. Learn with me. Everything I said earlier was true. You have been my best teacher. And I will give it all up. Walk away from everything that has tied me down for the last ten years for you. Would you not do the same for me?”
She bit her lip. Her eyes glossed over with a watery veil before she took a deep breath and looked down. Her answer was softer than a mouse walking on cotton. “No.”
* * *
The sleek stretch SUV traveled through the mountain roads, eating up the distance between her and Ven. Every wheel spin lowered her heart like a little pulley, sinking it lower and lower. The brothers made and toasted with drinks she’d refused.
Sasha’s hands twisted in her lap. Tapping one foot over the other as she faced them. She swallowed hard. “Does he really have a wife?”
“He offered you the answer,” Rurik answered without looking up.
“I wasn’t ready then. I just need to know.”
Rurik lifted his brow. “Then you should have let him explain.”
She sat back in her seat. Pressing her spine into the rich leather of the seat as Rurik squinted his eyes at her. The dark irises becoming tiny pinpricks. “I don’t like you. It isn’t your race, how you met, or anything other than this. You hurt my brother. For that alone, most people would die. But I let you live. Is there no end to the gifts you will accept from me today?”
“I didn’t…”
“No, I don’t want to hear it. If you weren’t woman enough to fight for your man. Fight with your man. Stand for him. No matter what you think, hear, or believe, then you aren’t the woman for him.” He leaned forward. Placing both hands on his knees as she shrunk further back into the seat. “So, hear me. Well. If you leave this state. Leave him in the state I saw him in. You never, ever fucking reach out to him again. Never contact him. Never see him. Lose his number, forget his address. Never fucking come within miles of him. I am the judge and jury in this court, and this is your fucking restraining order. Violate it, and I’ll be the fucking executioner as well.”
Her eyes slid to the other brother. He’d been silent. Maybe he’d be of some help. But one look at his flinty eyes and pursed lips, the balled fists on his lap. Nope, no mercy there either. Never see him again, hear his voice. Feel his touch. How often would she wonder about his day, long for his touch, miss his smile? He had the most beautiful smile. All the months she’d worked at the casino, she’d never seen it. Not in any photo, either. Yet he’d given her plenty. Like little casino chips, and she’d hit the windfall. He’d reverted to the cold, flinty glare as she left. She’d tried to say a decent good-bye, but he only stalked away. What if she’d been wrong? He said she was his best teacher. Maybe she needed to learn from him. Learn about sticking with someone. About giving second chances. Was she running away because she was angry or because she was afraid?
“Stop the car!” The quiet conversation froze, and silence reigned. But the wheels kept turning. Shit, would she have to jump?
“I said stop the car…”
“No.” That was the other brother. The one who didn’t look like he ever forgave or listened. But he was not Ven. Ven was different. He was hers.
“I said stop this car, or I will fucking jump out.” She glared back. “I want your brother. Or at least to talk. I changed my mind. I want to hear him out.”
“No,” Rurik answered. “Not good enough. Either you want him, or you don’t. None of that, I want to hear what he says. Fuck that. We’re too far for him to have a trial. We turn back. It’s not because you’re thinking about it. It’s because you know.”
“I know.”
“What do you know?”
“Whatever it is. Shouldn’t he be the first to hear it?” she growled. She wasn’t going to be intimidated by him. Okay, she was, but her confessions, their confessions were for each other. They would have their lives. And neither one of them would be run by their families again. They would live freely. No more nooses.
Rurik raised his brow. Evaluating her. Deciding her fate. But no, he didn’t get to decide. They would. So, she crossed her arms and glared right back. Until the unbelievable stone giant next to him laughed. “Turn the fucking car around, Rurik. She’s as stubborn as you.” He turned and gave her a smile so similar to Ven’s, tears grew in her eyes. Before he nodded. “Welcome to the family, little sister.”
* * *
The car barely stopped before she took off running. Leaping, flying into Ven’s arms when he came tearing out of the house to snatch her out of the air. Spinning her around. Their lips tangled over the words they didn’t say. Their hearts wrapped in kisses.
“I can explain everything. God, just give me a freaking chance.”
