AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ollie’s grip on the steering wheel tightens. I can’t look at how fast he’s going. I reach a hand to his arm. “Please, Ollie. Driving faster won’t make this go away. Please, slow down.”
He lets out a long breath and begins to slow down. “Sorry. I didn’t realize I was doing that.”
“I know.”
We sit in silence for a moment. He reaches his hand to my leg and strokes his thumb along the bare skin.
“My brother didn’t mean to hurt me. He saw the next step forward for our family and was taking the brunt of my father’s rage.”
“That doesn’t fucking matter,” Ollie mutters.
I sigh. “But it does. I’m not saying it was right, but he told me later that he was trying to protect me, and marrying into this other man’s family was the best choice.”
“The damage was done, though, Renata. He hurt you. He scarred you.”
“I know,” I say softly. I swipe at my cheeks, remembering how it was after that night. “After that, he didn’t trust himself not to hurt me, so he disappeared. There was a rift between us, a constant reminder of how far he had fallen.”
“Renata.”
“Yes?”
“Is there still a part of you that believes Carlos can be redeemed?”
I turn my head and don’t answer right away.
“Yeah. I still remember what he was like as a boy. How he took care of me. It’s… complicated. He might be a monster in your eyes, but he’s still my brother.”
“I know.”
“The brother I loved is still in there somewhere, Ollie. I know he is.”
The view outside our window has changed. The houses are farther apart now, and there’s more green between them. Wide fences mark property, and in the distance, the sloping mountains beckon with scattered clouds.
“Renata—”
“I know he is. Imagine if one ofyourbrothers turned his back on you. Hurtyou.You’d want him back, too, wouldn’t you?”
“First, the answer is… if any one of my brothers turned their back on my family, he’d be exiled. We aren’t united by blood, Renata. We were all adopted by my parents, our family forged on loyalty and love.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Second.” His voice takes on a darker, more serious edge. “I don’t appreciate being interrupted. I give you space to talk without interruption.”
I feel small and chastened. “Sorry about that.”
His voice is a low, soft command. “Interrupt me again, and you’ll find yourself over my knee before you realize what’s happening. Clear?”
My pulse races. I swallow and nod. “Mhm. Got it.” I look down at my hands and place one on top of his, my voice a low purr. “Yes, sir.”
His low growl of approval is all the answer I need. He may give me shit about my own kinks, but my husband is kinky as fuck, too.
“Your brother is our enemy. The brother you knew is gone, and if history is any indication, he will never return.”
I nod. It doesn’t hurt as much as I expected it would because he’s not telling me anything I don’t already know deep down in my heart.
“Renata,” he says softly. “You have a family now. A family that will protect you, cherish you, and fight for you no matter what. You’re a Romanov now, and we will prove our loyalty to you.”
