CHAPTER 28
Sera
"Hey, Sera," Gabe says. "We need to talk."
For a moment, I can't move. Can't breathe. Can't process that my brother is standing in front of me after months of silence.
He looks...good. Better than good, actually. He's filled out, his face isn't gaunt anymore, and his clothes are new. Expensive, even. Not like someone who's been on the run.
Not like someone who's desperate.
It pisses me off.
"Gabe." My voice comes out strangled. "What are you doing here?" I look around. There’s no one here but that can change in an instance.
"I needed to see you." He steps into the changing room, and I instinctively back up. "We don't have much time. Your fucking husband has this place locked down, and your guard will be back any minute. Plus, the feds are on my ass, and the Morozovs have people everywhere."
"You shouldn't be here." It feels like a moot point, but I say it anyway.
"I'm out of options." He runs his hand through his hair,and I notice his watch. Tag Heuer. At least five thousand dollars. Fucker. "I need your help, Sera."
My eyes narrow. “You can’t be serious.”
"I know you're angry?—"
"Angry?" My voice rises. "You used me as bait, Gabe. You led me into that alley knowing what would happen. You could have gotten me killed. You could have gotten my baby killed."
"I didn't have a choice!" He shakes his head. “Plus, I didn’t know you were pregnant.”
"That doesn’t fucking matter,” I snap. “There's always a choice." I grip my bag tighter. "Adrian told me everything. The arrest. The deal with the FBI. The embezzlement. All of it."
His face hardens. "Of course he did. He’s a piece of shit.”
I move toward the door, but he blocks it. "Get out of my way."
"Not until you listen." His voice drops. "I'm in trouble, Sera. Real trouble. The feds want me to testify against the Morozovs, who also wants me dead for stealing from them. I need money to disappear. Start over somewhere they can't find me."
"Money?” I laugh. “What? Having problem moving your product?”
He glares, and I know I’m right.
“Look Ser, I just need a few million. Your rich now, it’s not like?—”
I cut him off. “No.”
"No?" He blinks.
I meet his eyes. "I'm done saving you, Gabe. I'm done being your safety net while you destroy your life."
"This is different?—"
"It's always different. It's always the last time. But it never is." I shake my head. "I have a child to think about now. A family. I can't keep lighting myself on fire to keep you warm."
Something ugly crosses his face. "A family. Right. Your mafia husband who forced you to marry him. That family?"
"You don't know anything about my marriage."
He leans closer. “I know that if you don't help me, I'll make sure he goes to prison. I've been feeding information to the feds for eighteen months. I have recordings. Documents. Enough to bury him."
