“We’re here,” Lev said. “Let Wexler watch Sienna. I’m sorry it can’t wait. We need to talk now.”
“Understood.”
I knew I owed my brothers an explanation. I stood, shrugged off my jacket, hung it in the closet, and stepped out of the room. Wexler still stood there waiting.
“Mr. Safin, I know it isn't my place to ask, but how is Mrs. Safin?” Wexler asked.
In all the years I'd known Wexler, I'd never seen as much emotion on his face as I saw then. I guess I wasn't the only one Sienna affected.
“She'll be okay. She's just exhausted from everything. And she'll be out for a few hours.”
I watched relief wash over his face.
“Check in on her,” I added. “I’ll be downstairs with my brothers if you need me.”
“Yes, sir.”
When I walked into the living room a few moments later, they were spread between the sofas and armchairs, all eyeslocked on me as I entered. Like me, they still wore their dress clothes from the auction, jackets discarded. I sank into one of the armchairs and leaned forward.
“I’m sorry about the way you found out today,” I said. “It wasn’t how I planned to tell you.”
“We know,” Lev replied. “But now that we’re here, we want the truth. About everything.”
So I told them.
For the next hour, I laid it all out: the books being off, my not wanting to burden them after the hell they and their wives had been through the past few years, tracing it back to Jasper, how he offered Sienna to pay his debt, and how I agreed because he was a piece of shit who would’ve pawned her off to someone worse
At least with me—with us—she’d be safe.
I told them how I wanted to save her because I couldn’t save Mom and Ninel. How I forced her to marry me to make it look like I’d forgiven Jasper, and to make sure he didn't try to give her to someone else. Why I kept him close to uncover who he was supplying. The deal Sienna and I made how she’d help me, and once it was done, she’d get her freedom.
I told them how hard she worked every damn day to get information on Oskar. How she snuck into the warehouse to help me when I was trapped. How Pyotr warned me she could be in danger, but I ignored him. And how now it was my fault she was upstairs, injured, because Oskar managed to get his grimy hands on her.
When I finally stopped talking, I leaned back and closed my eyes. The room was silent as my brothers processed everything I’d just confessed.
Lev was the first to speak. “We checked in on Mandy. She's safe, but she'll have a headache for a few hours.”
I nodded, relieved.
“With that being said, what you did for Sienna was honorable, and I'm proud of you for doing it. While I would've preferred that you came to us at the first sign that something was off, I respect you for trying to fix the problem. But when things became more than you could handle, you did what you were supposed to do. You got us involved.”
“And I told you that AI video with Lev and me talking to the heads of the Triads would work,” Jaroslav smirked.
“Didn't stop that bastard from trying to take me out, though.”
“And we have a lock on Anya's location,” Marten grunted. “We'll keep them both under surveillance. Never know. That asshole might come in useful in the future.”
“All I want to know is when are you going to tell Sienna how you feel about her?” Pyotr asked.
“In a few days, after she's recovered. Today wasn't the best time.”
“And what if she doesn't forgive you for letting her walk away in the first place?” Marten asked.
“Honestly, I don't care about her forgiveness,” I said. “What I'll need to convince her of is that I'm worth giving another shot, every day for the rest of our lives.”
“And what if you can't convince her?” Marten pressed.
“I'm not giving her up. So she'll have to give me another chance or be single for life. I'll do whatever it takes to win her back.”
