Page 104 of Alexei

“You know, there were so many nights since then that I laid awake at night wishing I could turn back time. I would have listened. I swore I would but wishes are for naught.”

Alexei’s right hand came to my cheek and his thumb brushed the corner of my eye.

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

ChapterThirty-Four

ALEXEI

The old ghosts and anguish slammed into me like a freight train. No window. Not a single damn one. I lived for almost a decade like that and couldn’t handle a single day in a cold, dark basement without windows. Unless I was in charge and torturing someone. But even then, I preferred to have a window.

Irrational. Yes. Fixable. No.

I had been away from Ivan for two decades and the same old ghosts still plagued me. And she comforted me. Of all the people in the world, it was her that comforted me.Me, who cost her the cherished brother.

I had to tell her. Should tell her. The loss would be imminent, but I wasn’t ready for it. I’d never be ready for it.

I opened my mouth to admit my sins when a loud explosion blasted, and instinctively I wrapped my arms around her and turned us over so my body sheltered hers. The next second the door blasted open.

“Seriously?” Sasha’s voice was the last thing I wanted to hear. “You two are going at it like rabbits and we are saving your asses.”

Aurora stiffened underneath me, her eyes flared with fire. “Your brother is a jackass.”

“Agreed.”

I swiftly got to my feet and pulled her up. “Jesus, she’s in her bra and panties.”

“Stop looking,” I growled.

“Yeah, peeper,” she snapped at him. “Stop looking. We got shoved in here right after-” she cut herself off and her cheeks flushed deep red. “Just stop talking, jackass.”

Sasha grinned. “Fat chance. Now get moving, naked ass,” he taunted, throwing me a gun.

“Hey,” she objected. “I can shoot too. Give me one.” He eyed her suspiciously. “I can,” she hissed. “Now give me a gun, or I’ll kill you and take yours.”

Sasha grinned, clearly loving her challenge. She’d never be able to overpower him or beat him. I’d know, Sasha and I sparred often. We always ended in a tie and both of us were bruised up.

“Give her a weapon,” I ordered my brother.

Another blast sounded off and Sasha grunted. “Damn Vasili is intent on leveling this place to the ground along with Ivan and all his men.”

Aurora reached her right hand out and tapped her foot impatiently. She may have been barefoot, but she totally pulled off the boss vibe. Just five minutes ago, she was helping me through a goddamn embarrassing panic attack and now she was glaring at my hot-tempered brother.

For two heartbeats he just watched her before caving in. I knew he would. He pulled a gun out of the back of his pants and handed it to her.

“Ever killed a person?” he asked her as she checked the magazine to ensure it was fully loaded.

“I’m about to kill you unless you stop talking,” she snapped back. “Now, let’s go. Unless you want Alexei and I to lock you in this room.”

He chuckled. “No, thank you. I wouldn’t touch that bed with gloves given what you and Alexei were doing on it.”

She rolled her eyes and I had enough of my brother. “Get going, or I’ll shoot you myself, Sasha.”

Aurora gave him a sweet smile, while her eyes shone mischievously. She liked taunting him.

He turned around without another word and flipped the bird over his shoulder. Aurora glanced at me with amusement. Leave it to this woman to find humor in our situation. Every so often we’d run into Ivan’s men. Sasha and I took turns eliminating them. I had never been so goddamn happy to leave a basement.

It didn’t take us long and we found Vasili. He’d cornered Ivan in his office. Dead bodies lay around, blood splattered everywhere. Aurora’s gasp was the only sound that shattered the deadly silence.