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“Dammit,” I say. “I knew someone was following us.”
“Kyle picked the cuffs, and Ethan insisted we leave. I tried to stay, to keep my word, but they were having none of it.”
“And you still think your father wouldn’t do questionable business? He didn’t even show up for a meeting.” My voice is quiet but annoyed.
She puts a hand on my chest to calm me. “He was just angry with you. He knew he had me, so there was no point in the meeting to discuss anything. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t deal with a straight hand.”
I scoff and sigh. “I don’t want to fight. What did you do when you got back?”
“I had a long hot shower,” she says quietly. “And then I relaxed and ate some food, and then my father informed me we were having a welcome home party for me because he told my family I’d gone on holiday.” She rolls her eyes, and I stroke her side. “As if that’s believable.”
“Where did he tell them you were?”
“He stuck to the truth for the most part,” she explains. He told them I had gone to a cabin in the mountains and had spent a few days there.”
I shake my head. “Stealing my ideas for himself,” I tease.
She leans up and kisses me. “What about you?”
“I got chewed out by my brothers for letting you escape after everything that happened,” I explain. “Even my mother was pissed with me. They figured out we’d slept together, which just made everyone more mad. I had lunch and then went to my brother's private club in his casino. He thought plying me with drinks and women would make me feel better.”
She gives me a dark look, and I kiss her nose. “Don’t worry, I turned down the women.”
“You better have,” she murmurs. “So it was Dutch courage that made you come here tonight. How do you even know where I live?”
“I’m an enforcer for a notorious Mafia family. I can find out anything,” I brag. “And it wasn’t too hard to follow your brother Ethan here after I spotted him at one of your father’s bars.”
She shakes her head. “That boy has no brains. He never knows when he’s being tailed.”
“Neither did we, to be fair,” I say.
“We were busy,” she retorts.
I kiss her softly again. We make out for a few minutes before she curls up against my chest, kissing my scars softly.
“I wish I could kiss these all away,” she whispers.
“They are a part of who I am. They represent the lessons I’ve learned in life. I wouldn’t get rid of them even if I could.” I stroke her back softly. “Scars can be really useful in reminding us of our mistakes.”
We hear cars starting, and she shifts. “The guests are leaving. Once everyone is gone, you better go, too.”
“Why?” I ask quietly. “I want to spend the night with you.”
“Because I can’t have you caught, my father will kill both you and me. He’ll think I’m a traitor.” She looks at her watch. “Guard shift change is in ten minutes. If you go, then you’ll get out without a fuss.”
“You’re chasing me out.”
“I’ll see you soon,” she promises, getting out of bed and slipping on a nightgown.
I get up and start getting dressed before I catch her wrist. “Come with me,” I demand. “Come be with me, forget your family. They don’t see you the way I see you anyway.”
“Please, Arseny. I want to get to the bottom of this butcher's story and show you my father isn’t the one who did this. I can prove I’m right.”
I consider how I could tie her up and kidnap her out her window. Force her to be mine. Keep her forever.
But I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want her to hate me. I kiss her deeply, climb over the balcony, and walk off into the night.
Chapter 22 - Elena
