I don’t know if Gavriil wants me to actively observe what’s going on, but that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Why else would he want me to sit in on a meeting?
But will Dominik really leave Gavriil to die? A few days ago, I would’ve been all for that plan. Now, though, maybe I can convince Dominik to offer Gavriil his help at least with strategy if not fighting the Irish. I don’t want him to turn his back on his brother completely.
“I’ll find out everything I can,” I promise him.
“Good girl,” he says with a smile that breaks my heart as he pushes a lock of my damp hair behind my ear.
Dominik and I sit and talk for hours until our eyes are heavy. We eventually lie down on his mattress together, facing each other with our hands joined.
“Tell me the truth, Alina. Are you really okay?” Dominik asks quietly. “How…cruel has he been to you?”
I swallow hard, feeling a wave of emotions threatening to crash down on me. That question hits me harder now after everything that I’ve been through.
“It’s more what he says that’s cruel than what he does,” I admit. “Gavriil knows I miss my brother. That I miss you, but I was also angry with you for pulling the trigger. Lately, he’s beenmore erratic. I never know what he’s going to do or say. I don’t even think he knows half the time.”
Dominik nods. “It does sound like he’s more rattled than usual.”
I lower my eyes. “One of the guards made comments about him treating me differently.”
“You’re distracting him, and that’s not a good thing,” Dominik replies. “I need you to be careful, Alina. When Gavriil starts to lose control, he lashes out to protect himself. I don’t want you caught in the crossfire if he does.”
My stomach flips with nervousness at his warning, but deep down, I don’t believe that Gavriil would truly hurt me. Manipulate me and torment me? Sure. But he wouldn’t harm me.
I keep that thought to myself, though.
The cell door suddenly opens, and I automatically scoot closer to Dominik as two guards walk inside.
“Don’t,” Dominik warns them as they come closer.
It’s useless, though. Hands rip me away from Dominik’s side and drag me out of his cell despite our protests. I don’t even get a chance to look at him. No goodbye. No promise. Nothing before I’m taken out of the prison and back up to the bedroom.
None of this makes sense. Gavriil is moving me around like a chess piece, and I don’t think he has any clue what the hell he’s doing either.
When the guards lead me into the bedroom, I see Gavriil. He’s sprawled in his bed like a king who’s already won whatever game he’s playing.
I clench my jaw, a confusing mixture of desire and frustration hitting me.
“Where do you want to sleep tonight?” Gavriil asks me, gesturing to the cage and then his bed, the empty space next to him.
I feel that familiar tug that I shouldn’t. This time, I deny it, remembering Dominik and the time we just spent together. I’m not betraying him again, so I give Gavriil the answer that hedoesn’twant to hear.
“The cage,” I say cold as steel. “Gladly. And if I find out you’re torturing Dominik, I’ll rip your dick off.”
A chuckle is his only response to my threat.
23
Gavriil
Nothing is going as planned.Not outside of my house and not within its walls.
Which is why I can’t sleep yet again.
Uneasiness claws its way under my skin as I leave my bedroom to pace around my office. My eyes repeatedly flicker to my computer screen as it displays an arrangement of live video feeds. Only two things matter to me right now, though.
Dominik’s cell and my bedroom.
It’s late, an hour or so before sunrise. Alina lays curled up on her mattress in the cage, constantly tossing and turning. Dominik is also awake, slowly pacing around his cell like we’re reflections of each other. In some ways, I guess we are.
