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“What’s going on ?” Elif asked, stepping back into the room alone. She quickly moved toward Selina, “is she okay?”

“She’ll be better in a few minutes,” Selina answered as she groaned softly, bumping her injured hand against the couch.

“What have you done with your husband, littlekotenok(kitten)?” Roman asked sarcastically, emphasizing the nickname Grigori always used for Elif.

She turned her head sharply toward my younger brother, a dark glint in her eyes. “I buried him in the garden. If you don’t want to join him, shut up,mudak, (idiot)” she replied with an exaggerated smile.

Roman grimaced and raised both hands in a sign of surrender.

“And you, are you okay ?” Elif asked Selina next, gently pushing strands of hair from her face and wincing at the sight of her numerous bruises. Selina looked up at my sister-in-law, her eyes shimmering with emotion.

“Oruspuçoçugu !( son of bitch)” Elif swore in Turkish, brushing her fingers lightly over Selina’s bruised cheek.

Selina blinked, her eyes shining with unshed tears, “she needs a doctor for her fingers. Sacha, call one—”

“No need. I already found one. He was supposed to meet us at the motel before you kidnapped us,” Sienna grumbled, pushing herself up now that she had regained some color.

Sacha pushed her back down firmly but gently, “don’t get up,” he ordered through gritted teeth.

She shrugged off his hand, “Ne trogay menya, ublyudok!(Don't touch me, you bastard )” she growled in Russian, her accent slightly off.

“You speak Russian,” Sacha remarked, surprised—something that rarely happened.

Sienna ignored him and stood, grabbing her sister’s hand and Rafael’s, “let’s go.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” I stated simply as Sacha and Roman blocked their path. “You’re safe here,” I repeated, stepping closer, locking eyes with Selina.

“Safe ?” Sienna scoffed. “Don’t take me for a fool. I know exactly who you are—Ivanov.”

She scanned each of us.

“Grigori Ivanov, the eldest, head of the Russian mafia. Nikolaï Ivanov, his right-hand man.” She turned to me with disdain.

“Sacha Ivanov, the devil’s lawyer. And the youngest, Roman Ivanov, the family’s mad dog” her words made Sacha groan and Roman chuckle.

“And let’s not forget the mastermind behind keeping this family standing for years—Elif Ivanov,” she added, glancing at my sister-in-law.

“I like her,” Elif said with a smirk.

“You’re well-informed,” Sacha murmured darkly, stepping closer. To her credit, Sienna didn’t back down. “I prefer to know my enemies,” she retorted.

Their stare-down lasted a moment before I put an end to it, noting Selina’s pale face and how she clutched her injured hand.

“Enough. Roman, get a doctor. Elif, have something prepared for them to eat,” I said, removing my jacket. Sienna looked ready to argue, but I raised a hand, silencing her.

“Antonio Rasili called my brother. He suspects you’re here, probably because of our exchange last night,” I said, glancing at Selina, “you won’t be safe in that motel. And your sister needs help urgently. So stop being selfish and think about her.”

Sienna stiffened, her glare faltering.

“Don’t talk to her like that ! She’s only doing what she thinks is right—she didn’t save me out of selfishness !” Selina defended her, glaring at me as she squeezed her sister’s hand.

I met her gaze, intrigued by this newfound fierceness.

“I’ll show you to your rooms. Follow-me.” I turned toward the white marble staircase leading to the upper floors.

Chapter seven

Selina