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I lean forward, reaching out to take his hand in mine across the table.
Immediately, he flips his hand around, holding mine tighter in his.
“It doesn’t feel like you have one, Chiara.”
Again, I open my mouth to speak—to defend myself, to defend them—but Nikolai beats me to it.
“We get it; she’s your sister. Naturally, she’s yours to protect.” His voice drops lower. “But she’soursto love, and we don’t take that lightly.”
Dario’s shoulders slump, all the fight finally leaving him as he reluctantly begins to accept this—acceptus.
“If you ever hurt her,” he murmurs as his eyes dart between either one of theirs. “I’ll end you both. Bratva heirs, or not.”
A breath of laughter escapes Mikhail.
“That’s the spirit, Dario.” He says. “The protective big brother act—I respect it. I might even need to take a few tips from you when it’s time to meet my own little sister.”
I roll my eyes at him, unable to believe thatthisis where our conversation has led to.
Squeezing Dario’s hand even tighter, I lean back into my chair, looking between both Nikolai and Mikhail.
“My brother means it, you know.”
Nikolai smiles down at me.
“We know he does, darling.” He says, amusement clear in his tone. “We would be disappointed if he didn’t.”
Again, Dario says something under his breath—but there’s less heat to his words.
A lot less fight too.
This is a step forward in him accepting them both.
This is something I’ve been desperately waiting for.
dario
I should be punching them.
I shouldn’t stop until they’re both so bloody and bruised up, my sister has a hard time recognising which twin is which.
I should make them pay for taking her.
But I don’t.
It’s not because I like them—fuck, never that—but it’s because my sister’s hand is still wrapped around mine.
Her eyes, the same ones as our Mama’s, are staring up at me with pure hope.
Hope that I won’t mess this up for her.
Hope that I’ll let her leave again.
Withthem.
It’s what this is, though.
It’s about letting Chiara go, and letting them both have her.