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I don't give in and grab her for a high five, knowing that if grumpy Marcello's made an appearance it's not long before growly Marcello will follow suit. And I know that then I won't hear the end of it.

"I told you I've been training with him. I'm not helpless." She pushes her chin up, standing up to him defiantly.

"These people are trained killers, Sisi. It doesn't matter how much training you have. And you're a girl too," he continues, and I almost groan, knowing he just dug himself a grave.

"What?" Sisi blinks as the words set in. "I'm a girl," she speaks slowly. "So that means I can't fight? That I can't defend myself?" She places her arms over her chest and I know we're inseriousterritory.

For someone like Sisi, who enjoys having control over her own life above all, being reminded that her gender might hold her back is akin to the worst insult.

Thing is, she might be a girl, but she's a damn kick ass girl and anyone should feel fucking lucky to have her by their side.

Knowing how heated she must be, I join her, draping an arm over her shoulder.

"Aren't you the same person who told us that our gender shouldn't hold us back?" She narrows her eyes at Marcello.

"Yes, but it's not the same," he replies. "You can choose whatever profession you want, but that doesn't mean you should dive head first in front of danger. And this," he waves at the bodies on the ground, "is even worse than normal danger."

"'Cello, calm down. As long as Sisi's with me there's nothing to worry about. Besides," I say as I look down into her gorgeous face, "shecankick ass," I praise her and I'm rewarded with a radiant smile.

"You?" He all but yells.Again."You're the most unstable man I've ever encountered, Vlad. Yeah sure, you're guarding her from danger because you're the worst danger," he mutters, annoyed.

"Are we doing this again?" I raise an eyebrow. "I told you Sisi is in good hands. I'd never willingly letanythinghappen to her."

"What about unwillingly? Everyone here knows about your episodes. It's not a secret that you'renotnormal. Who's to say that instead of protecting her, next time you'll kill her yourself?"

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath.

But I can't control my own body's reaction as I leave Sisi's side, and in two seconds I have Marcello by the throat, backing him into the wall.

"What are you insinuating, bro-in-law?" I can barely contain the raw anger radiating from me. It's in every pore as it seeks to be let out.

"This!" He looks at me in the eye, not even blinking as I lift his entire body's mass off the floor, my fingers tightening around his pulse. "This is exactly what I mean. You're unpredictable."

I grit my teeth and instead of proving to him that Iamindeedthatdangerous, I let him go, fighting against myself and trying to regulate my breaths.

As if through a haze, I feel Sisi's small hand reach for mine, cradling it to her chest as she looks worriedly at me.

"He's doing better, Marcello," she says loudly, her eyes only on me. "He's been working on himself and he's doing much better. He hasn't had an episode since New Orleans, and I'm proud of him."

Fuck, but is there any way I could love this woman more? In her eyes, I see everything I've been craving my entire life.

Love. Tenderness. Acceptance.

She knows my deepest secrets, and she's never once turned away from me. Not only that, but she's publicly stood up for me, time and time again, even against her family.

I don't think there's any universe in which I wouldn't adore her.

"Sisi…" Marcello starts, but one sharp look from Sisi is all it takes to promptly shut him up.

"Youdon'tunderstand, do you?" she asks, her voice grave. "There'snothingyou could tell me about him that would make me love him any less. I know who he is and what he's done. I knoweverything.And I'm still here." She takes a deep breath, and I can tell she's trying very hard to keep her temper in check.

"All my life I've been told how to be, and hownotto be. Yet no one's ever asked me whatIwant. No one but him." She points her finger at me. "If I told him I wanted to fight, he taught me how to fight. If I told him I wanted a tattoo, he gave me a tattoo. If I told him I wanted to kill someone, he gave me theopportunity to do so. He never once doubted me, never once told me I shouldn'tdo somethingbecause I am a girl."

She's breathing hard, her fists clenched by her side as she looks up at Marcello, unflinching at his harsh gaze.

"You may disagree about our relationship, but to me, he's the only one who's given me wings to soar, instead of dragging me down and chaining me to the ground. Andthis,my brother, is the last time we're going to have this discussion."

She narrows her eyes at Marcello, before doing something that completely floors me. Taking a step forward, she lifts her fist, banging it against her chest. "He. Is. Mine," she says, emphasizing every word. "The end."