Page 47 of Like An Animal

“He won’t be able to get away with it. I’m the only heir for my family, just like Jeremy is.

My father will start a war over my death and Dimitri will sign his own death certificate if he kills you.

Jer has killed and nearly killed men for way less where you’re concerned.

Don’t even get me started on what Xavi would do. ”

Xavi. What?

“Of course Xavi would be upset. He’s my friend. Just like you.”

Massimo scoffs. “So you’re just as blind as Jer. Got it.”

Blind?

My eyes narrow with confusion.

“Xavi is your friend, Bronwyn. He would kill anyone to protect you, but that’s not because he’s your friend.

He’s been nuts about you since middle school, but he has kept it to himself because he respects Jeremy and would never do anything to sabotage your relationship.

The only reason I have confirmation about it is because he made a drunken confession to me the night Jeremy was arrested.

We knew there was something between you two even if you guys didn’t say it out loud.

That’s why he stopped being Xavi after that point.

It was the point he accepted that he never had a chance with you.

I know we have this whole thing to deal with right now, but when we get out of this, you need to let Xavi go for his own sanity.

You need to let him live his own life away from your little family. It’s killing him.”

I never would've thought Xavi had a thing for me. He’s always been openly flirtatious with everyone. The only time he ever went above and beyond with me was when he was trying to mess with Jer.

I don’t want to be the reason he’s hurting, but what about Charlotte? She is so beyond attached to Xavi that I don’t know how she would cope if he wasn’t there every day.

However, witnessing his slow decline full of pain would be worse.

I love Xavi as my friend but that’s all it's ever been. If space is what he needs, I’ll give it to him gladly. I want him to find happiness no matter what way it presents itself.

“Okay,” I concede. I squeeze Massimo’s hand so he can feel how serious I am. His fingers tighten back.

“Thank you.”

Suddenly, the car comes to a stop and I look at Massimo’s serious face before looking out the window.

We made our way to a mansion about half the size of the compound we have been living in with a long driveway keeping it far away from the main road.

I open the door and climb out with Massimo following right behind me.

“Where are we?” I ask him since Dimitri hasn’t gotten out of the car yet. As soon as we got out, he put his phone to his ear and doesn’t look like he’ll be getting off the phone anytime soon.

“This makes no sense. He brought us to Jeremy’s house,” Massimo mutters. “I smell bullshit. Stay by my side.”

Grabbing his hand, I squeeze his fingers, more for my anxiety than anything else. “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”

I feel the same thing that he does. Something is very wrong. I just don’t know what it is.

What would Dimitri have to show me at my husband’s house?

My heart slams against my chest with every breath I take.

“Take my phone out of my back pocket and put it in yours. If shit goes south, you’re going to go inside, turn down the first hall you come to.

You’ll go to the last room on the left. Inside the closet you’ll find a panic room.

The code is your date of birth. It can only be opened with that code.

Once you seal yourself inside, I won’t even be able to open it from the outside.

Stay in there, call Jeremy, and wait for him to get here.

You will not open it for anyone except Jeremy.

Do you understand? This is crucial. No matter what you see or hear, you will not open that door. Swear it to me, Bron.”

He darts his emerald green gaze down at me with determination making them glow.

“I swear.” Emotion clogs my throat as I squeeze his fingers. “Just in case we both don’t make it out of here–”

“Don’t talk like that,” he snaps.

“I just want you to know that you and Xavi have always been my family. I love both of you more than I would any blood brother. If this is how I go out, I’m glad that at least you’re here with me.”

His body stiffens, but a small smile pulls across his lips, one full of tension. “I’ll protect you with my dying breath, sokrovishche.”

Sokrovishche.

Treasure.

It’s the pet name Xavi has always called me by, but it seems much more fitting coming from Massimo. He means it in a much more innocent way.

This is innocent.

I think deep down Jeremy knew how Xavi felt about me because I have always been physically affectionate with both Massimo and Xavi and yet he only got defensive when it was Xavi. He ignored it when I would hug Massimo or even sit in his lap, which I did a lot in high school.

Granted, a lot of that was to help him get rid of unwanted female attention, but Jer would rage if I sat in Xavi’s lap. Not Massimo’s though.

Maybe he knew Massimo was never a threat.

Dimitri climbs out of the car while straightening his blazer.

“What the fuck are we doing here?” Massimo demands as I squeeze his hand, but then I see three black vans heading our way down the driveway.

I know immediately what is happening.

“You fucking bastard,” I gasp as my hands shake and I look back to Dimitri who is unmoved. “You double-crossing son of a bitch!”

“What? What is it?” Massimo asks.

“It’s a set up, Massimo Aronin. You see, my grandson can’t divorce her.

That would look very bad, especially so soon after he married the slut and no one in our world wants to marry a divorcee.

It would be bad for our family image if I had her killed so the only option left is for her to go back to where she belongs, with The Fathers of Jephthah to do as they please with her.

After a while, she’ll be declared legally dead and Jeremy will be free to marry whoever will most benefit the family instead of this useless thing . ”

“Oh, yeah? And what about Charlotte?”

“She’ll be safe with her father. You’re the problem, Bronwyn. You always have been. A nasty thorn in my side and now you’ll disappear from our lives forever. They can do whatever they please with you as long as you are out of this family.”

What the fuck did I ever do to him to make him hate me this much? This can’t just be because I killed Kathy. There has to be more to it.

I want to know, but I doubt I will ever find out.