Page 23 of Final Installment

Devil nodded.“You can borrow shoes and clothes, too.”

The little invisible angel on his shoulder begged him to go home and sleep, but Devil’s encouraging smile won him over.“Fuck it.Let’s go.”

Devil laughed, his gravelly voice filling the cab of the SUV.It would be the last clear memory Luka would have of that night.

Chapter Six

DAD

Check in with me.I’m worried.

I’m fine.

Fine?

Yes.

Your mother is behaving?

Yes.Mostly.

I can have my plane ready in half an hour and be on the ground before that dinner party from hell ends.

Appreciate the offer but I’ve got it.

I’m here.If you need me.

You always are.

“Dafina.”Igentlyrubbedmy sister’s shoulder as she sobbed on top of her pink comforter.“The shower is hot.You’ll feel better once you’re clean.”

“No, I won’t.”Her sobs were nearly hysterical now.She’d been mostly calm before that idiot Luka came to the door.Hearing his voice sent her into a spiral of tears and self-recrimination.“I’m such an idiot!I shouldn’t have been drinking at all.I deserved this.”

“You don’t deserve any of this.”Regardless of the nasty things we had said to each other earlier, she was still my sister, and I didn’t want to see her suffering.“You’re not the first bride-to-be who got nervous and drank too much, and you won’t be the last.”

She uncovered her face and stared up at me with bewilderment.“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“I’m your sister.”There was nothing else to be said.

“That’s it?”

I might have been imagining the hopefulness in her voice.Nevertheless, I admitted, “I love you, Dafina.Every catty, petty, bitchy, spoiled last bit of you.”

Her face softened, and she started to weep again.“I love you, too, but I’ve been so mean.I told him about the E Cup thing.”

“I know.I heard.”

“I’m sorry.I shouldn’t have done that.It wasn’t right.But I didn’t tell him about theother thing.”

My stomach twisted.Images of Nikolai flashed before my eyes.Knowing that Luka and Nikolai were close meant it was only a matter of time before the truth was revealed.“He’ll find out eventually.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, and it’s not your secret to keep.Anyone who Googles me can find the breadcrumbs that lead right back to my mistake.”I knew that first-hand unfortunately.Usually, people were kind about it, pitying even, but sometimes, they were gross and accusatory.

If they only knew about the other, even worse secret I was hiding.

“I’m sorry for being so awful to you.”