“It’s complicated.”
“So that massive diamond on your finger doesn’t have anything to do with it?” she asked. I quickly hid the ring, but it was too late. She had already seen it. Alessia sighed. “Please tell me you aren’t a mistress to some rich guy.”
“I’m not.”
“Amy.”
“I am the wife of what I’m pretty sure is a Russian mobster.”
I answered truthfully, and my sister went pale. She stared at me for the space of several heartbeats, and then she began giggling.
Two seconds later, I joined in because it was funny. A few weeks ago, I was a nursing school dropout, desperately trying to keep my family afloat, and now I was the wife of a mobster and never had to work again.
“You fell in love with a bratva?”
The laughter died on my lips. “I don’t think love has anything to do with what is between Alexei and me.”
My sister’s eyes narrowed. “You married Alexei Petrovov? Jesus Amy. Why would you do that?”
“Have you heard of him?”
“Everyone has heard of him. He’s dangerous, Amy. I don’t like this. You need to end it now. Get out while you still can.”
“I can’t,” I whispered.
The blood drained from my sister’s face. “He’s paying for all of this, isn’t he? That was the deal: you marry him, and he pays for my treatment?”
I remained silent because she already knew the truth.
“Fuck, Amy, I am not worth that kind of sacrifice.”
“You are worth every sacrifice, Alessia. It’s really not that bad. Honest.” I lied. “I don’t have to work, so I can spend all my spare time with you, and that’s worth a little coldness.” I reached for her hand and squeezed. She squeezed back, but her grip was a lot weaker than mine, and her skin was clammy.
She was getting tired.
“You should rest now. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
She clung to my hand. “At least tell me he’s not a monster. Tell me he isn’t cruel to you, Amy.”
Lifting her hand to my lips, I brushed my lips against it. “He isn’t cruel to me. He barely talks to me at all.”
There was no way I was going to tell her about last night. It wouldbe better if Alessia never found out that we had been intimate. She wouldn’t understand that I would do anything to keep her alive.
“Good. Because if he hurts you. I’ll kill him.”
I laughed because that’s what was expected of me, but deep down, I knew nothing and nobody could help if Alexei decided to be cruel. There was a man waiting in the hallway when I stepped out of Alessia’s room. The same man who had brought me here.
He stepped forward.
“You didn’t have to wait for me.”
He looked at me like I was stupid. “That’s my job, Mrs. Petrevov.” He said in accented English. “Alexei wants to make sure you are safe.”
I rolled my eyes. Alexei didn’t care if I was safe or not, and everyone knew it. “You mean he wants to keep tabs on me.”
He nodded his head.
“Thought so. What is your name?”
