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16
Yakim
Mikhail sat on the other side of the table, looking grim. His ash-blond was a mess from being ruffled each time he ran his fingers through them in frustration.
Leon stood closer to me, leaning against my desk.
“Get going,” I said in a commanding tone. “Lucia will be here when you get back.”
“I know,” said Mikhail, looking disturbed. “It’s just that I want to confront her about everything,” he said, punching the couch’s armrest. “Did you see the way that asshole treats her? As if she’s his bitch. As if he’s used to her obeying his every command.”
I gave a grim nod. He wasn’t aware of it because he’d been standing far from her during the confrontation but I noticed the way she reacted to her brother. He scared her. There were times she clung to me, a monster, for support.
“Callum Baldwin isn’t going to sit back and take it,” I said. “He’s probably already busy recruiting every gang and army-for-hire he can get to. We gave him a glimpse of our power. He knows where we live. He’ll be coming back with reinforcement. We need to know about his allies in time to plan out our defenses.”
Looking toward Leon, I said, “Get inside the homes and offices of these people on the list.” Sliding a sheet toward him, I rested my elbows on the table. “You need to get out there too, Mikhail. Find out what’s happening among the street gangs. They’ll be the first to respond to Callum’s call.”
Leon’s eyes gleamed in the firelight as he gazed at the list in his hand. “You’ve been thorough,” he commented.
“Can I at least see her before leaving?” Mikhail whined.
I didn’t like the way he was getting attached to her. We still needed to find out the truth about her relationship with Callum. A single confrontation couldn’t have revealed everything that was buried under the surface.
“She’s not going anywhere,” I reminded him again. “You need to stay focused for now. A single mistake could cost us everything.”
My brother’s expression turned somber. “I understand,” he said with a nod. Getting to his feet, he gestured at Leon. “Let’s get going.”
Leon glanced at me before following Mikhail out of the room.
I leaned against the backrest of my chair. Lucia’s face rose before my eyes the moment I allowed myself to relax.
The innocence in those emerald-green eyes hadn’t faded. She was able to guard her heart despite the way her brother treated her.
Guilt weighed heavy in my gut. I hated the feeling.
She was always ours, I argued with myself. Besides, whatever we did to her could never compare to what her brother did to us. There was barely a scratch on her after we were done with her.
I thought of the way she’d looked at me earlier. She had to close her eyes when I got closer. How could she still be disgusted with me when she knew it was Callum who disfigured my face?
She owed me a lifetime of confinement in this dark manor. I could never step out in broad daylight. A mask or a veil would help but they’d also attract more attention to me. To avoid the inconvenience, I was forced to hide behind these ancient walls my ancestors built. Callum not only stole my face, but he also stole my freedom.
Stealing Lucia’s virginity was nothing compared to the curse I suffered. Had I been a true monster like her brother, I’d have inflicted the same treatment on her and cut up her pretty face. I’d have shed her blood until she was at the brink of death too.
“You’re distracted,” said a voice from the doorway.
Looking up, I saw Lilja, my baby sister. She was still in her PJs and her long, dark pink-streaked hair was pulled up in a top bun.
“Where are the others?” she asked, striding into the room.
“They’ve gone out to take care of shit,” I said.
She frowned. “Why don’t you ever include me in these missions?” she demanded, banging her hands on my table. “I’m just as capable as Leo and Mik! You didn’t even tell me she was here already!”
“You shouldn’t have been nosy,” I said. “This is our fight alone, Lilja. We’re family but you shouldn’t have to shoulder the weight of our pasts. The Baldwins areourenemy. Not yours. Just mind your own business.”
“You’re all my brothers!” she shouted, her dark eyes spitting fire. “It’s my business if someone wants to hurt you. It’s my right to avenge you. I could’ve killed the bastard and his sister if you’d given me their info.”
Our parents put her through the same strenuous training as us since she was a child but they’d done so in a bid to protect her when we weren’t around to protect her. Lilja was strong and could take care of herself in a fight but that didn’t mean we’d risk her getting hurt.
