“I’ve known that you were attracted to both genders for a long time.”
“How long?”
“Since Dad broke your legs after finding a guy in your room.”
I scoff. “And you never said anything?”
“You never said anything either.” She pouts. “I thought I was special, but apparently not.”
“I just didn’t think it was worth it since I was hiding it from Dad and everything.”
She reaches out and takes my hand in hers. “You don’t have to hide who you are, Yulik.”
“I won’t. Not anymore.”
“That’s how it should be. I’m so excited to meet the guy who puts up with your shit.”
“Hey!”
She grins and releases me. “But first… Levy! Come in.”
My head whips to the side asLevysteps into the room, wearing a dark suit. He radiates calm and danger, and I don’t like that.At all.
His gaze slides to my sister, and when his stoic face breaks into a smile, she smiles up at him like an idiot.
He places his hand in hers as she says, “Levy, meet my brother, Yulian. Yulik, this is Levian.”
I step toward him and take his outstretched hand, squeezing hard enough to inflict pain. “You hurt her, and I’ll slice your throat open. Alina has a family, and most importantly, me—your grim reaper. If anything, and I meananythinghappens to her, you’ll be held responsible.”
“Yulian,” she hisses.
“I’ll protect her with my life, not because you threatened me or for a deal.” He stares down at her, squeezing her shoulder. “But because she’s the woman I love and my future wife.”
Disgusting, I think as he drops a kiss to her forehead. I don’t want her to go to Boston, and I don’t want her marrying someone who seems at least eight years older than her, but as I watch them together, I know I don’t have a say in this.
And really, even if I do get married, Dad will find another bidder for Alina. So at least she’s choosing this.
And she does look happy in a way I’ve never seen her before.
He better protect that happiness, or I’ll castrate the motherfucker.
“I’ll go talk to Dad.” I start to leave, but Alina takes my hand.
“Talk to Lukas as well.”
“Why would I talk to Lukas?”
“He’s been up to something.”
“How is that new? That nuisance isalwaysup to something.”
“This is different. He’s on the verge of breaking through.” Her expression softens. “We had a talk the other day, and I don’t think he hates us. He’s just…jealousof us because we lived well off, which can’t be said about him and Mikailo. Dad refuses the notion of a, quote, unquote,bastardinheriting from him, so it’s like they’re caught in limbo. We vaguely know the hell they went through in Russia, but from the stories they told me, it wasreallybad. Like, it’s a miracle they’re alive, you know.”
“Are you seriously sympathizing with Lukas and Mikailo, who want to kill us?”
“They don’t. They just want to be given a chance, especially Lukas.” She stares up at the man who’s stroking her shoulder. “After knowing Levian, I see our half-brothers in a different light. Lukas spent his entire life surviving, which isn’t that dissimilar to how you and I lived under Papa’s dictatorship. Maybe we all just need to talk it out. We never did because Papa always said we were different than them, and he probably said something similar to Lukas and Mikailo to drive a wedge between us.”
“Divide and conquer?”
