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He didn’t stop playing, his voice eerily calm, as if commenting on the weather. “I’m young, but I’ve seen a lot of shit in my life, Niko. I’ve fought in wars. I’ve spent weeks in hellholes, barely surviving. I’ve met demons so twisted even hell wouldn’t take them. But through all of that, I always knew I’d make it. I always knew I’d come home.”

His words tightened something in my chest.

Guilt.

Because I had let him go.

I had let him fight those wars alone.

“But this time was different, Niko.”His voice was low, grim. “I knew the moment I looked into Antonio Rasili’s eyes that I wasn’t walking out of there alive.”

I gripped the controller tightly, my teeth clenching, “he’s not sane, Niko. Not in the head. He’s willing to do anything to get Selina back. When he talks about her, he shakes—like a junkie deprived of his fix. He was going to kill me. If Selina hadn’t done what she did, I’d be dead.”

I realized what he was doing. I dropped the controller and turned to face him. But he didn’t meet my eyes. Not until he scored the winning goal.

Finally, he set the controller down and looked at me.“If she had told you, you would’ve stopped her. And I’d already be dead by the time you figured out a solution,moybrat.”

I closed my eyes, exhaling harshly.

“When Sasha called to make the deal, Antonio had a gun pressed to my head. But… I won’t lie—I had a great time describing your perfect little family to him. Especially the sounds you and Selina make at night.” And the bastard laughed.

I buried my face in my hands, groaning. Just the thought of Roman dead—

I shook my head.

No.

When I looked back up, Roman was already staring at me, his bruised, swollen eyes unwavering. Antonio Rasili was going to die.

Not before he suffered every ounce of pain he’d inflicted on the people I loved.

Roman saw it and he smirked. A cold, merciless smirk.

“I know that look,moybrat. But wait until I’m back on my feet. I’ve got a few scores to settle myself.” his smile was ruthless, filled with the promise of retribution.

I nodded.

“And another thing…” he met my gaze head-on, “Selina isn’t going anywhere,” I narrowed my eyes.

“Not until we find out how Antonio keeps tracking her, not until we kill him and free her for good. And even after that, she will stay. You know how I know that ?”

I said nothing.

“Because she willingly walked back into hell for you, Nikolai.” His words hit me like a punch to the gut.

“She risked everything. Not just for me—because sure, maybe she likes me. Maybe she wanted to save my sorry ass. But deep down, it was for you, so you wouldn’t have to bury your idiot little brother.”

He gripped my shoulder tightly, his jaw tensing, his gaze lost in the distance. I reached out, gripping his forearm in return, my other hand clasping his shoulder, “I’m glad you’re home,moybrat.”

Roman grinned, “me too,moybrat. Me too.”

I nodded. Then I stood up, stretching my legs. The lingering numbness in my body was completely gone now.

Good.

I would need all my strength for what was coming.

For Selina.