Page 139 of Corrupted Pleasure

“Get the fuck out,” she spat out. “Small world, huh?”

“Too small,” I murmured.

“Why are you here?” Wynter demanded to know, her eyes narrowing on them.

“Why couldn’t they fucking show up when we were doing nothing?” Ivy complained.

“And why is there a woman with a baby hiding behind them?” Juliette demanded to know. “You guys better not be some freaks and hurt her. I’ll get my brother to kick your fucking ass.”

The three of us scoffed. Killian was badass and all that. But these guys had at least ten years on Killian.

“Why couldn’t less scary dudes come after us?” Ivy whined. “We get some fucking MMA fighters.”

“You ladies know we’re right here, right?” Sasha drawled. A soft woman’s chuckle sounded behind them. Alexei’s eyes shifted, and mesmerized, I watched as his expression softened. Who was back there?

“Why are you here?” I demanded in a strong voice, while my insides shook.

“Keeping you all safe,” Sasha deadpanned. “It’s obvious you four needed saving. You have troublemaker written all over you.”

Wynter scoffed. “So do you! I bet you get in trouble all the fucking time.”

“She knows you already,” Alexei said, almost sounding amused.Almost.

I shoved my shoulder into Wyn and gave her a pointed look. “They are keeping ussafe,” I accented the last word.

“Well who sent you?” Juliette demanded to know. “We don’t deal with the Russians.”

“Liam Brennan.”

“No!” Juliette and Wynter muttered at the same time. “He doesn’t like Russians.”

Sasha shoved his tattooed hands into his pockets. “He seems to like us enough.”

“It could be a set up,” Ivy argued.

I blew an exasperated look. “If they’re here to keep us safe,” I told them all, “... we technically get to boss them around.”

Sasha chuckled and Alexei’s lip tugged up. At least somebody was having fun.

“I don’t think so, Mrs. Brennan,” Sasha snickered. The four of us shared a glance. It was weird being called Mrs. Brennan. It made me feel so much older.

“We’re taking you all home.”

I stood up straighter. “No need. We got this.”

A woman came around to Alexei’s side and a soft gasp escaped me. It was Aurora Ashford. No, Aurora Nikolaev. My sister. With a newborn baby in her arms.

Wynter recognized her too, because her hand slipped into mine and gripped it tightly.

“Hello, girls,” she greeted us, but her eyes were locked on me. She was beautiful, with dark hair and eyes. The coloring was even more stark next to the two Nikolaev men. “I’m Aurora.”

Juliette and Ivy glanced at me, their eyebrows raised. “Is that-” Juliette whispered and I nodded. “Did she hear us talking about her?”

I shrugged, unable to look away from my sister. It seemed surreal. My sister was right in front of me.

“Hi there,” Wynter greeted her. “I’m assuming you know who we are then.”

Aurora nodded and something in my throat squeezed so tightly, I couldn’t get enough oxygen. It made no sense. I didn’t know I had brothers and a sister until recently. I shouldn’t be so emotional about a perfect stranger.