“Ourcruelty,” he corrects. “You’re my accomplice now, and I can only imagine what we might achieve together.” He purses his lips, a glint in his eye. He’s making a show of preparing to say something he shouldn’t. “I’m starting to think I chose the wrong sister.”
He wants me to react, so I don’t. I hold his gaze, but as the seconds tick by, I can feel my nerves fraying one strandat a time. I’m about to snap when he pulls out his cell phone.
“Be gentle with her,” he warns as he makes the call. “She didn’t want to speak to you. She still might not.”
Ilya puts the call on speaker, and I stare at the name on the screen until it blurs. I’m concentrating so hard, that I jump when the call connects.
“Hello?” a voice says.
My breath escapes in a sob.
“Blake, darling,” Ilya replies. “Your sister is with me. Now take a deep breath, you can do this. I’ll be here the whole time.”
I’m panting as I glare at him. How dare he make it sound like I’m a threat to my own sister. “Blake, it’s me,” I say, my voice quaking. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
“Why?” she asks coldly. “How can you worry about someone who’s dead to you?”
My knees tremble as if they’re about to give way. “I know what I said, and I’m so sorry,” I say quickly in case she hangs up on me. “It was just frustration. I care about you so much. I love you, Blake. We’ve always looked out for each other. Haven’t we?”
“Once upon a time,” she says. Again, no emotion. “But I have Ilya now. I don’t need any other family.”
“But I need you,” I blurt out. “Please, don’t shut me out.”
“You tried to break us up. I can’t risk that again,” she says. Her breath catches. “I’m happy, Jade. I don’t want you spoiling what I have.”
“I won’t,” I say quickly.
The fuck I won’t. Ilya’s been brainwashing Blake for a year and a half. Whatever spell he’s put on my sister will be broken. I’ll kill him if I have to.
“You never were a good liar,” my sister says, but despite the accusation, I hear a smile in her voice.
“I’ll do anything to keep you in my life,” I promise. I’d almost accepted that she was dead. I won’t lose her again.
Blake’s silent for a moment, and the pause makes me aware of Ilya watching me. Assessing my weaknesses. Taking notes. Making plans.
“Will you be nice to Ilya?” Blake asks. “Will you help him?”
Oh, well done, Ilya, I want to say out loud. You’ve recruited my sister to help with your manipulations.
I flick my gaze to him. I want to tell him to go to hell, but hell is where I’ll be if he keeps Blake from me again. “I’ll need to hear what he has to say first.”
Ilya quirks a smile. Our next round of negotiations has begun.
“I need to go,” Blake says. “Gizmo’s jumping up at me.”
“Gizmo?” The tension breaks for the briefest moment, and I allow myself a laugh. “You finally got your chihuahua?” It was Blake’s dream to have a little dog. That name had been picked out when she was a teenager.
“I’d told Ilya I’d always wanted one, and he does love to spoil me. You’ll like him when you get to know him,” Blake says. She giggles. “Ilya, that is. Although you’re going to love Gizmo too.”
“I loveyou,” I say, choking on my words.
“Oh, Jade, I love you too. And I’m sorry for not keeping in touch. I was just so mad.”
“No, it was all my fault. I should never have let you think I’d turn my back on you. I’m always going to be here whenever you need me,” I insist. After so many months of worry, I’m finally saying what I’ve longed to tell her, but I want more. I need more. “Do you think we could meet up?”
“One step at a time,” Ilya interjects. “Blake, darling, you’ve done so well, but it’s my turn to talk to Jade. Why don’t you take Gizmo out for a nice walk?”
“I will,” she says, her voice breathy. “Thank you, Ilya. I know you always have my best interests at heart.”
