Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Yeah… I knew that, but that was a problem to worry about at another time.
“Maybe, brother,” I whispered. “But not right now. Not today.”
Nikolai looked crazed as he glared at me. I glanced down to see his hands curled into tight fists at his sides, his knuckles cracking as if he were preparing for any chance to destroy something.
Although my brothers were very protective over me, this wasn’t just about that. Dmitry and Nikolai had a darkness within them that made it impossible for them to live normal lives.
They needed an outlet for all the aggression, destruction, and violence they housed.
They needed something to tame whatever demonic creature they had inside each of them.
It was the same as the one our father had. It was as if the very devil himself possessed all of them, and that bastard was starved for another bite of human flesh.
But the difference between my brothers and our psychotic father was that they would never hurt the ones they loved.
They’d rather die slow and torturous deaths than cause the ones they held close any sort of pain.
“Please,” I said finally, and I reached out to take one of Nikolai’s hands in mine. After a second, he relaxed enough to hold it within his much larger one, but I could see how tense he was.
In my mind, I saw flashes of Gio’s massive, tattooed body hovering over mine as he crowded me by his front door. I thought about how he killed that man so effortlessly, as if he were just taking his next breath.
God, he’d been ruthless and brutal.
To save me. To protect me.
And it was clear it hadn’t affected him while he sat in his kitchen and drank his coffee. He acted like it was just another day and he hadn’t murdered someone.
Or more like murdering someone was a simple, everyday task he did, right along with getting dressed and brushing his teeth.
“I’m so tired,” I whispered, and I saw Dmitry move closer so he was standing just a foot behind Nikolai. “I just want to sleep. I just want to….” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, my throat burning. I kept my expression neutral, so they wouldn’t see how much pain I was in.
“Tati.” Nikolai’s voice was deep and low, and when I looked at him, I could see how he scanned my face with his all-seeing eyes, his expression so worried.
“I know I can’t run from this conversation, but can we shelve it for right now? Can we talk about it later?”
There was a war waging on my brothers’ faces, as they clearly wanted to fight me on this, but after a second, Nikolai nodded. “I’ll call for a car to bring Amara.”
The way he spoke told me there was no point in arguing. I let go of his hand and took a step back, expecting them to move toward the front door, but Nikolai made himself comfortable on my couch.
Dmitry moved toward the front door but looked at me. “We aren't leaving,” he said, his voice firm.
I didn’t argue or tell them to go. I knew they needed to be here for me—and for themselves. I felt a cold, wet nudge against my hand and glanced down to see Sasha by my side.
“Go rest, little sister.”
I nodded at Nikolai’s softly spoken command but kept my focus on Sasha.
“I’m bringing the doctor too.” Dmitry’s tone was flat, as if he knew I wouldn't say shit about it.
And I wouldn’t.
I just gave another nod because I wasn’t stupid. I knew Gio probably had someone look at my injuries from the fact that I had an IV in my arm when I woke up. But even though I felt mostly okay—sore as fuck, but alive—I wasn’t senseless enough to think I shouldn’t be seen by my brothers’ doctor.
Dmitry and Nikolai shared a look, one that was this silent communication I’d never understood. And then Dmitry grabbed his cell out of his pocket and opened the front door to run his quick errand.
I stood there in silence as Sasha kept nudging me and felt the heavy weight of Nikolai’s lethal stare on me.
I hadn’t felt so… helpless since my father had been murdered.
Good riddance to that piece of shit. I hope he’s burning over and over again in the fiery pits of hell.
“I’m going to shower and then lie down.”
Nikolai said nothing in response, but I knew he was still looking at me. I felt his gaze like a hot poker branding my face.
Plus, asking them to leave for the night wouldn’t have done any good. When my brothers decided on something, nothing could make them deviate from their paths.
So I didn’t say another word and headed to my room, locked myself and Sasha in, leaned against the door, and just… breathed.
I gathered my conviction and pushed away from the door, grabbed a change of clothes, and went to the bathroom.