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I close my eyes briefly, trying to steady myself, but even then, the tears keep flowing.
I can’t stop them.
I can’t hold back the flood.
“Everything will be alright, Chiara.”
Alessandro says, his voice confident, almost like a promise.
I nod my head at him.
Time passes as the two men speak to each other, involving me too whenever needed, as the minutes stretch into what feels like hours.
Throughout it all, I only think about what’s to come.
My family.
They’re coming for me.
But with that thought, another one, one which features a pair of Russian twin brothers, appears in mind.
I find it a little harder to breathe, to fill my lungs with air.
How will Papa react?
How will Dario react?
A lump appears in my throat.
How will Nikolai react?
How will Mikhail react?
Finally, there’s a knock at the door, and the heavy sound of it makes my heart skip a beat.
A man enters—Russian, a soldier—as he bows his head when he approaches Isaak.
“Pakhan.” He says. “The men are here. Should we bring them to this room?”
I freeze, my breath catching in my throat.
They’re here.
Papa.
Dario.
My family.
Isaak nods slowly, his cold, authoritative demeanour taking over.
My heart flutters slightly as I realise that this isn’t the way Isaak was with me. He was much softer, much more fatherly.
“Bring them here.”
Isaak says, his voice firm.
The man nods, turning as he leaves the room. Every step towards the door is a step closer to me reuniting with my family again.