AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I think I’d prefer to be left alone with an enemy instead. My younger sister has to be the nosiest woman I’ve ever met. She asks more questions than even a monk would be able to patiently answer.
And I’m far from some kind of monk.
Isabella watches her leave, puzzled by the sudden change in atmosphere. I can see her trying to piece together what just happened, but I refuse to indulge her curiosity. This isn’t the time or place for such discussions.
“Isabella,” I say, my voice firm but controlled, “you need to learn to knock before entering. You don’t know what I could have been doing in here.”
“Sorry, Dami,” she replies with a smirk on her lips. “It’s not like I could have guessed you’d be getting funky with it in your office.”
“Isabella.” My voice is a warning, but it doesn’t affect her like it does everyone else because Isabella isn’t afraid of me. And if I’m being honest, she doesn’t have a reason to be. She’s my youngest sibling and my only sister, and probably the person I care about most in the world.
My dad always taught me that there’s nothing more important than family.
“Don’t you have a rule against dating people you work with?” She cocks her head to the side. “Especially girls who look like your dead ex-girlfriend.”
I take a deep breath. I should have seen that coming. Isabella isn’t exactly known for being coy…or keeping her mouth shut.
I walk back to my desk, sitting down in the chair. “I don’t want to talk about this, so if you don’t need anything else, leave.”
“Dami,” she says slowly, her voice tinged with disbelief. “You can’t possibly think I would leave it alone just like that because you asked me. That woman…she looks so much like Mikayla. You had to have known I would ask questions. I mean, who wouldn’t? That’s probably why you’re hiding her in here. Who is she?”
My heart stutters at the mention of Mikayla, but I force myself to remain impassive, unwilling to let my emotions betray me. I got over her death years ago, and I’m not going to let Isabella, or anyone else for that matter, send me down some kind of rabbit hole all over again.
“Isabella, don’t concern yourself with things you don’t understand,” I warn, my tone cold and controlled. “It’s not your place to question.”
In our families, women are supposed to be seen not heard, not as a form of oppression but out of respect. The head is in charge, and in this family, that’s me. Not that Isabella has ever respected me a day in her life.
“Oh, don’t try that with me,” she protests, her eyes wide and pleading, searching for answers she won’t find. “What’s her name?”
This is the only question I plan on answering, just to get her out of my hair. “Annalise.”
I should have known she wouldn’t be sated by me just answering one question. “How is she related to Mikayla?”
“Isabella, knock it off.”
“Just answer the question!”
“Enough!” I snap, cutting her off. My patience is wearing thin, and it takes all my restraint not to unleash my frustration on her. “This is not up for discussion. What happens in this office stays in this office. Do you understand?”
Isabella bites her lip, clearly unhappy with my response. She’s always been far too smart for her own good. “Damian,” she whispers, breaking the silence. “Is there something going on between you and Annalise?”
What do I have to do to make her just drop it?
“Absolutely not,” I reply sharply, cutting off any further speculation. “I don’t care to engage in anything with any woman, or did you forget that I’ll be married by the end of summer?”
“How could I forget?” she scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Petra. Even her name sounds evil. I mean, couldn’t you have picked someone…anyone better than her? She’s horrible. You’ll never be happy with her.”
Her words ignite a flicker of irritation within me. “Isabella, it’s not about happiness.”
My sister’s frustration at the mere mention of my arranged marriage is palpable, her eyes narrowing. “Damian, you don’t even love her,” Isabella spits out, her hands on her hips as she stares me down.
“There isn’t some ‘happily ever after’ like you read in your books. This is the real world, our dark world. Love is hardly an important factor in these situations,” I explain, maintaining a steady gaze. “The alliance with the Petrov family will bring strength and security to our bratva. It’s about ensuring the safety and stability of our family and those who rely on us.”
“So you don’t care about being happy?” She shakes her head as if she’s unable to believe what she’s hearing. “You know, there was a time when you used to be so happy, when you believed in the happily ever afters, but ever since Mikayla died?—”
“Don’t bring up her name!” I roar out, making Isabella flinch. “She’s dead. Leave her in the grave. And you need to start growing up and getting real because your fate is the same as mine. You’ll end up getting married off too.”
Her lips form a tight line, and I can see the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “You can do whatever you want with your own life, but you can’t control mine.”
