Page 58 of Bratva Jewels Box Set

“I can’t do this anymore,” I say, bursting into tears the sudden emotion of everything hitting me full force.

They both sit there in silence with shocked expressions on their faces.

“What do you mean you can’t do it anymore?” Tomas asks, there’s a slightly angry tone to his voice.

“This, us, all three of us,” I say in a rush as my heart aches with each word.

“You don’t want to be with us?” Mateo questions me.

Making myself look up at Mateo, I see the hurt registering on his face, especially after I just told them I loved them. And now I’m doing a complete 360.

“You just told us you loved us?” Tomas states.

“I do, but ….”

“There are no buts, Zoe. You either love us or you don’t. There is no in-between when it comes to love,” Mateo says, raising his voice at me.

“I … it’s just …” What do I say to them that will make them understand that I must go to save their lives without telling them that. Because I know if they find out the reason, they will do everything in their power to bring Nikolai to justice which will put an even bigger target on their backs. The entire Bratva will be after them. They may be rich, but they cannot take on the entire Russian underground.

“I must go,” I say, standing up and pulling the blanket around me tightly.

“Go?” Mateo yells as he jumps up off the couch. “Where the hell do you think you are going? It’s not safe out there, Zoe. Not until your memory comes back. No, I won’t allow it. I will not let you go.”

Tomas walks over and places a comforting arm around Mateo’s shoulders, but he pushes him off.

“No. Don’t touch me,” Mateo yells at Tomas.

“Zoe, we don’t understand the sudden change,” Tomas asks.

I can see the begging for an explanation on his handsome face.

“It’s for the best.”

“The best. The fucking best. No, the best thing is for you to be here with us. We love you, Zoe. We fucking love you,” Mateo screams at me.

He looks so forlorn and confused, and all I want to do is rush toward him, wrap my arms around him, and tell him that I love him. I love them both so much, but that will only prolong the inevitable.

“Did something happen at that party?” Mateo asks as he rushes toward me, grabbing me.

I shake my head slowly, but my entire body is filled with panic over how close Mateo is to my secret.

Those chocolate eyes narrow on me. “You’re a fucking liar, Zoe. I know you. I know you better than yourself it seems. Something spooked you at the party and what just happened between us was your goodbye gift, wasn’t it?”

How the hell did he guess all that?

“Tell me that’s not true?” Tomas asks, standing right beside him.

The two of them looming over me, I bend down and grab my evening gown off the floor and hold it against me.

“Why won’t you look at us, Zoe?” Mateo sneers as he grabs my chin and makes me look at him.

I can’t because if I do, I will spill everything inside of me. I need to keep the distance between us.

“Did you remember something?” Mateo asks firmly.

How does he know?

I swallow against his firm hand which makes him scoff.