Seeing her so rattled twists my chest and stirs up that same furious heat I felt when Grigory first confronted her.
I want to protect her.
Sofia.
Leon.
Swallowing hard, I close my eyes and curl my fist tight. “You should rest, and we can talk tomorrow,” I tell her, knowing she’ll have questions about what just happened.
She nods, and I can tell she’s still in shock.
“Try to get some sleep, Avelina. I’ll be back in a while, and I’ll sleep just outside as usual in case you need anything.”
I back out of the room and close the door with a soft click.
As I go back downstairs, my gaze drops to the smears of blood on the polished hall floor. My fist clenches tighter just as Nikolai’s head appears around the corner. “Comms room, Viktor.” His smirk isn’t the usual easygoing one. This one is dark and dangerous. It mirrors my own. We have to figure out who was behind this—and how to retaliate.
Because this was personal.
Someone came for our family.
CHAPTER TWENTY
AVELINA
My hand clamps over my mouth as my lips quiver. My torso is on fire, my ribs throbbing as I lean against the lockers in the far corner, hidden away.
Tears blur my vision, and I choke back another sob from the pain, my fingers quivering against the cool metal as I try to pull myself together.
No one can see me. No one knows I’m in here yet. But they will if I’m not careful.
I suck down another gulp of air, trying to fight past the burn that each breath gives me.
It’s fine. It’s going to be fine. I just need to get myself together. And I can rewrap my ribs a little tighter, and then I’ll be able to run through my routine again—and I have to get it perfect this time.
Another shuddering breath leaves me as I try to gulp down enough air. My hand shakes against my face as I swipe away the tears that escape. Laughter echoes from beyond the door, and I know someone is on their way in here. I stand up straighter, earning me another searing white-hot flash in my ribs. More tears gather in my eyes, and I spin to face away from the peopleentering the locker room, hoping that it’ll buy me enough time to hide the fact that I’ve been crying.
If they find out.
If they know…
My eyes squeeze shut as I try not to let out a soft sob once more. Inhaling through my teeth, I push the air out slowly in a hiss, over and over again.
I hear a locker open and close. I peek around the corner before darting toward the bathroom.
In there, the water is cool against my skin as I splash it against my face and puffy eyes. My shoulders sag as I grip the edge of the sink and stare at my reflection. I can do this. I have to.
The slam of a metal door outside in the locker room makes me jump. I know it’s only a matter of time until they come back here. And if they see I’ve been crying... I shake my head and tell myself not to think about that possibility.
Because I’ll get in even more trouble if they find out I’ve been crying. They’ll call me weak and a failure. And then punish me more, telling me it’s for my own good because it’ll ‘toughen me up.’
The thought of more of their punishments, especially the ones from Gennady, makes me feel like I’m going to vomit. Panic and fear make my heart race in my chest as I continue to look at myself. I try to make myself presentable and hide that I’ve been crying.
But before I can fully compose myself, a rough hand grabs my shoulder.
I jolt as panic races through me.
And a scream rips from me…
