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"They're at the museum with their teacher. Stay, Sisi. Stay and see them. You really don't have to go," Lina continues to plead with me, and the pain in her eyes only serves to renew my own.

"I can't Lina," I whisper, my entire being rebelling at this situation I find myself in. Oh, but how I wish I could have both, my familyandmy love.

But one can't have everything one desires, I think that should be pretty clear by now.

"After the baby…" I trail off, taking a deep breath and wanting to explain to her so that she understands. "I was in a very dark place. So dark I didn't think I'd ever come out of it. Vlad was the only thing that made me feel better, like my old self. He's the one who keeps me sane when the pain threatens to spill over."

She purses her lips, sorrow on her features as she listens to my words. I know it's not fair to her, since I hadn't letanyoneinabout my problems. And it's because I'd held everything in that I'd lost myself to the pain.

"I don't know if it makes sense, if it's anything less than insanity but…" I raise my gaze to hers so she can see the sincerity of my words, "He's myonerequirement to live."

Just then, the door opens slightly, and Vlad strides in. His lip is busted and I assume Marcello wasn't satisfied with putting a hole through his chest, he had to punch him too.

The bag drops from my hands as I hurry to his side, my fingers tracing the already bruising flesh.

"You didn't even defend yourself, did you?" I ask softly. I'd already expected him to not put up a fight and accept whatever Marcello dished at him. Deep down, I think there's a part of him that believes he deserves it because he betrayed his friend.

Because that's just the type of man Vlad is.Honorable.He might be a killer, but he's a principled one, and I respect his honor system, skewed as it is.

"Why would I fight when I know I would win." He shrugs slightly, catching my hand.

"I…" Lina mumbles something, and I realize she's still in the room. "I'll go now," she says, her eyes skirting from Vlad to me before hurrying out of the room.

"I'm sorry," he mutters as I redirect my attention to the luggage. "I didn't think he'd be this unyielding." He sighs deeply.

"At least he didn't kill you," I point out with half a smile.

"At least there's that," he chuckles, walking around the room and helping me pack.

Opening a drawer he stills, his expression strained. I turn to him, my own features drawing up in pain as I see him lift the small ultrasound picture.

"Hell girl," he groans, opening his arms for me to run into. "Fuck, I'm so sorry. Marcello was right. I should have been here.I should have been by your side," he speaks in my hair, holding me close to his chest.

I'd tried all day to be strong, but somehow the sight of that one picture makes me break down, sobs racking my body as I finally let the tears fall.

"Shh," he coos, taking me in his arms and placing me on the bed. "When you hurt, I hurt," he whispers, slowly stroking my back.

31

MARCELLO

Lina gives me a worried look as she hurries out of the study after Sisi. Left alone with the bane of my existence, I close my eyes, breathing deeply.

Before I can help myself, my fist makes contact with his jaw. I already note the way his eyes follow my every movement, or how he just allows my knuckles to bruise his flesh without putting even the smallest effort into defending himself.

He blinks. Slowly. Then a twisted grin appears on his face as he wipes the blood from his mouth, bringing it to his lips.

"Not bad." He shrugs, "But nothing compared to your sister's," he says, and it takes everything in me not to pounce on him again.

He's trying to bait me.

A few breaths later and I have myself under control. I can't fall for his mind games, especially since I know Vlad never does something without a purpose, and the last thing I want is to invite danger into my own home.

Turning my back to him, I take the decanter from the table and I pour myself a strong drink. Already I can feel the hint of a headache emerging when I think about Sisi's claims of love.

I snort out loud, the thought so incredibly absurd I want to laugh. But more than anything I want to know how Vlad managed to brainwash her like this. What is in it for him?

I've never known him to be interested in a woman before, and besides Bianca, I don't think he's interacted with many either. A cynical smile pulls at my lips as I realize that Sisi was right in one respect—Vlad isn't exactly a ladies' man.