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There’s nothing more I’d like to do than keep her, but after everything she went through, she deserves the chance to choose.

“You are my family. This is my fucking home,” she yells at me.

I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, hanging on the last strand of my morality before I say fuck it all.

“He’s your brother. You’ll be safe.”

Right then, Mika steps inside and his brows furrow as he takes us in. I debated with myself about calling him, but it’s time for him to know the truth. Postponing it won’t help anyone.

“What is happening here?” he asks, gauging the situation, his hard eyes set on her. “Did she try to kill you again?”

Luciana huffs and moves to the couch, where she sinks down just like my heart into the pits of agony.

Why is she still here?She’s free. I will always make sure she’s cared for and protected.

“No. It’s not that.”

“Then what the fuck is it?”

How do you tell your brother you’ve known, practically from the very beginning, who she is to him? All I cared about was soothing my pain, pacifying my broken heart, and relieving my need. I wanted her with me because I couldn’t live another day without her.

“I found out who she is,” I tell him, and he cocks his head instantly on defense. “Your sister.”

He whips his head to her, blinking. “That can’t be.”

“I am not that happy about it either,” she mumbles.

“Take her with you. Bring her home.” Or God help me, I won’t be able to offer her that chance ever again.

“I am not going anywhere.”

“Lu—, Julia,” I try, my heart racing, wanting to sprint out of my chest and kneel at her feet, begging her to take care of it.

She shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. Neither of them is my name anymore.”

Mika has been silent as his eyes fix on her, loosening his collar. The color on his face drains, becoming ashen.

This comes as a huge shock.

He moves to the sofa, slumping down, and I can see clearly the similarities.

“I want to know everything,” he says low.

She sighs. “I am sure you don’t.”

“When did you find out?” he asks, pinning me with an accusatory look. One I deserve.

“Months ago.”

His jaw tightens. “So you knew with which life you were playing to get her here.”

“I doubt revealing her real identity would have helped in bringing her back to us,” I snap. No one in this fucking world would cross every boundary, risk it all for her like me.

He gnashes his teeth so hard, I expect some to crack under the pressure. “Not to us. To you so you can entertain your desire. God knows what sick things you did to her.”

“Please, don’t make me throw up. Your brotherly concern is nauseating. And what I do is none of your business.” She waves him off, slipping that cold mask on so easily, reminding me again what we had was precious. But for the first time, I don’t notice the usual disdain coating their every interaction.

Mika slants me with a hurt and furious stare, his eyes becoming slits. These two have mastered the art of slicing through you with just a glance.