Stepping away from him, I closed the distance between Sarah and me. “I’m Maksim, D-Dr. Whitfield, and you’re right. Those are my brothers, Aleks and Lev.”
“Unbelievable,” Lev muttered under his breath.
Ignoring him, I said, “I-it’s a p-pleasure t-to meet you.”
When I extended a hand to her, Sarah eyed it with disgust. “I unfortunately cannot say the same.”
“I’d like to once again give you my apologies for the actions of my associate who kidnapped you. His heart was in the right place, but his head–”
“Is completely psychotic.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Oh, I would,” Sarah grumbled.
“Count me in on that one,” Aleks teased.
Gritting my teeth, I snarled, “I t-think we’re good here. I’ll call you when I need you.”
Lev nodded while Aleks replied, “It was nice to see you again, Dr. Whitfield.”
Sarah pursed her lips. “I wish I could say the same.”
Her response caused both of my brothers to snicker as they headed out of the living room. The bastards were loving the venom she was shooting at me.
“Won’t you sit d-down?” I asked, motioning to the couch.
Sarah reluctantly took a seat before staring up at me. “Is this the part where you promise no harm is going to come to me as long as I comply?”
“No harm will come t-to you regardless of whether you help me.”
Sarah’s dark brows creased in confusion. “Excuse me?”
“The last thing I would ever d-do is hurt you or allow you t-to b-be hurt.”
“If you say so,” she muttered.
Although my brothers would’ve thought I was a fool, I decided to be as honest with her as I could. “I would like t-to explain why I need you.”
“If you think explaining your deranged reasons for having me kidnapped is going to change my mind, you’re full of shit.”
The corners of my lips quirked. I’d prepared for her to be frightened of me. After all, I was the boss of the man who had kidnapped her. Her fire was certainly unexpected.
“You’re not afraid of me?”
A mirthless laugh burst from her lips. “Are you kidding? I’m fucking terrified.”
“B-But–”
“Why am I acting like a bitch?”
I chuckled. “T-Tough is what I was g-going to say.”
“It’s a defense mechanism from living with a schizophrenic brother.”
“I’m very sorry.”
Her chin trembled as she turned her head, and it took everything within me not to cup her cheek and tell her I’d do anything to ease her pain. Instead, I sat down across from her on the couch.
