He nods. “Never. It infuriated him that I would never do what he ordered. No matter how many women, men, and children he threw at me, I never gave in. I took every beating, every torture they could imagine. It’s one of the reasons Lane noticed me.”
I scowl at the mention of her name. “I’m still not sure how I feel that you got yourself wrapped up with her.”
A brow arches. “You’ve been gone a long time, Aurora. And while I get that you distrust her, and with good reason, she’s nothing like you think.”
“So she’s not insane, homicidal, and a giant pain in the ass?”
His lips twitch. “Fine, yes, she’s all of that, but she’s also one of the only reasons this entire plan worked. The parts of her that she had to sacrifice to get it done, and the lives she saved in the process. You may hate her, but without her, you’d be dead, I would be dead, and countless men, women, and children would be going through hundreds of pipelines throughout the world right now. She went about it in a way few will understand, but I think the result justifies the means.”
I stare at him, and I hate that I can see his point. Damn it. I don’t want to feel bad for her. I don’t want to feel anything for her.
“I’m never going to be her best friend.”
“I doubt she wants that either. You have too much between you, and you’re connected to the world that put her here in the first place.” I narrow my eyes at him. Wait, she told him her story? “She’s told me enough. I know how she got to that school, and I know that her family sent her away. Now, you’re here, and you’re going into a family where her biological sister and cousinsare living their happy lives, only just wise to her existence. And none of them like or trust her. She can’t have what you will.”
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
I don’t want to understand this. Or feel pity for her. But he’s right
“Is that why she’s fixated on Ilya? She sees a chance for herself to have a family?”
“I think she’s finally realized that there’s more to life than death and contracts. To hiding who she is. Maybe that will be enough for her, maybe it won’t, but it’s up to her to figure that out.”
“So she’s going to give up the assassin work?”
“I don’t know. Right now, the only thing I want to focus on is getting my father’s territory and men under control. I have some dismantling to do, and some men to get rid of. It was the agreement I made with Lane when we started this. Get my home back, and I’d make sure that no more trafficking happened here. And I’d work with Ilya to keep it that way.”
That last part came out on a grumble, and I chuckle. “Not a fan of him, huh?”
“Remains to be seen. And his security was lacking. I got into that house multiple times without ever being seen or caught.”
A thought hits me. “It was you that left the rose on my pillow, wasn’t it? Not Simeon.”
He nods. “I thought it might clue you in, but I never considered you’d think it was my idiot brother. He never even left his room, so there was no way he could have done it.” He gives me a pointed look and I try not to flush. Yeah, yeah, I missed the obvious. I was tired, sue me. “But I saw the way you looked when you thought it was your man. You’ve got it bad for him.”
I grin, not the least bit embarrassed. “I really do. I think you two could actually like each other if you tried.”
“Don’t push it,solnyshko.”But there’s another small smile pulling at his lips. “All I care about is that you’re happy. Past that, we’re on opposite sides of the crime world, and that’s where things will stay.”
“Fine.” I don’t bother to point out that being in my life means he’s going to have to deal with Alonzo, and probably his family and the Carusos, too. He’ll figure that out soon enough.
I look back at the house and see Alonzo standing there, watching us, arms crossed over his chest. I look back at Mishka. “I hope you find this one day. Someone to love, and who will love you back just as fiercely.”
“Love is a pipe dream in my position, Aurora. And I have no interest or time to worry myself with these things. I’ll leave that to you. Now, go back and soothe your man before he has a coronary.”
I chuckle. “Alright. When are you leaving?”
Before he can answer, I hear Lane behind me. “We’re leaving now.”
I whirl, seeing her standing there in the darkness, an unreadable expression on her face. I really don’t like having her sneak up on me. Old habits die hard, I guess, and I don’t fully trust that she won’t still try to maim me.
I glance around, and I don’t see Ilya. “Where’s your man?”
“He’s asleep.” I see the smug smile pull at her lips. “He’ll wake up in about twelve hours, but we’ll be long gone by then.”
I stare at her, slowly computing what she’s just said. “What the hell? You drugged him?”
“It’s our thing. Trust me, he might be a little pissed when he wakes up, but then he’ll be pleased when he sees what I’ve left him. The thrill of the chase and all that. I’ve already made it clear he’s mine, and no one else will ever get to have him.” Her smile turns lethal.
