“I’ll listen!” I stammer quickly. “I will. Just… please.”
He leans closer, smile razor-sharp. “You always thought you could run, didn’t you? That if you hid long enough, the past wouldn’t catch up.” His fingers dig deeper into my arm. “But here I am.”
“Anatoli—” I start, but he cuts me off with a hiss.
“Our parents will be so, sothrilledto learn you’re alive. Imagine their faces when you walk through the door after all this time.”
He’s going to send me back. Back tohim.
Suddenly, I can’t breathe.
My hand itches to press against my belly, but I can’t risk it. Not here. Not with him watching me like a hawk.
“I want no part of that life,” I manage through clenched teeth.
Anatoli chuckles coldly. “That so? Then explain your new husband. Explain that ring. Don’t lie. Our parents will be so hurt when they find out you married without them. Didn’t even invite your brothers to the big day?” He shakes his head in mock disappointment. “Ungrateful.”
Dread curls in my stomach.Heknows. Somehow, he knows.
“I’m not married,” I lie.
“You think you can hide it from me?” Anatoli says. “There were hundreds of guests at that wedding. Sidorov was there. He had his photographer take pictures. Thought it would be his daughter in white. He was happy enough to hand them over when I pressed him.” He shrugs. “Well, happy under the barrel of a gun.”
It’s pointless to deny it.He knows. He’s seen proof.
I plant my feet and narrow my eyes. “If you know who my husband is, then you know what he’ll do to you if you don’t let me go.”
For a flicker of a second, his grin falters.
Then fury hardens his face.
He shoves me against the wall. The impact rattles through my bones. A couple of students glance over, frown, but keep walking. No one wants to get involved. I pray no one gets involved.
“Petyr can’t touch me,” Anatoli growls. “I’ll kill him. And you’re going to help me.”
“What?” My head shakes before I can stop it. “No. Never.”
“Yes.” His breath is hot and sour against my cheek. “You’ll be loyal to your family. You’ll tell Petyr I found you, that I want a truce. You’ll lure him in. Then I’ll put a bullet in his skull.”
My blood runs cold. Petyr can’t die. I won’t let him. The very idea of betraying him makes bile rise in my throat.
Here my brother is, demanding that I trade the only good thing I’ve found in years for the approval of the family that broke me.
Rage tangles with terror until I can hardly breathe. I can’t do it. I won’t. No matter what threats he makes, I am not going to hand Petyr over.
He’s my husband. The father of my child.
He’s…
The man I love.
I can’t believe it took me so long to admit this to myself. That it took fucking Anatoli waving a gun at me to realize I’m in love with Petyr Gubarev.
But I am. I love him.
And God help anyone who wants to take him from me.
“I won’t help you,” I whisper, my voice shaky but firm.
