Page 69 of Plus-Size Bratva Possession

“Do I have to go back with you tonight?” I asked. “I'm not trying to worry anyone, but I just... I need a little more space.”

Larissa considered this. “Your overprotective brothers are not going to like that idea.”

“I know,” I sighed. “Please?”

She studied me for a long moment, then nodded. “A few more nights. I'll convince them.”

Relief washed over me. “Thank you, Larissa.”

“Don't thank me yet,” she grimaced, standing up. “I still have to face the firing squad outside.”

As she headed for the door, I called out, “Larissa?”

She turned back.

“Do you think...” I hesitated, vulnerable in my question, “Do you think he really cares about me? Or was I just... convenient?”

Her expression softened. “Elena, my brother has never been a good actor. What he feels shows on his face. I’ve seen how he looks at you. Whatever was happening between you two, it was real. At least on his side.”

She slipped out the door, leaving me with those words echoing in my mind. Real. On his side.

I picked up my phone, scrolling through the missed calls until I reached Gastone's name. My finger hovered over it for a heartbeat before I set the phone down again.

Tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow I will be ready.

Chapter 22 - Gastone

I tried to focus on what Carlo and Dino were saying about the new shipping routes they had formed, a necessary measure we had taken once we learned our employee Marconi had shared all operation plans with those nasty Espositos, but I found myself asking them to repeat themselves.

“All okay?” asked Carlo.

“Yeah, yeah,” I waved his concern off. “Just tired.”

I was lying again. I wasn’t tired. I was harrowed. It had been a week since Elena had left, and all I did, every waking moment, was think of her.

There was a hollowness in my chest that wouldn't go away, no matter how much I worked. I’d stopped drinking, though. I couldn’t after I drank myself into such oblivion that I wasn’t even there to stop her when she left.

This wasallmy fault.

“Gastone? Are you even listening?” Carlo snapped.

I blinked, forcing myself back to the present. “Yeah. Naples. The new routes.”

Dino exchanged a look with Carlo. “We were talking about Palermo for the last five minutes.”

“Right,” I muttered, rubbing my temples to help with that constant headache I’d been feeling.

“Look,” Carlo sighed. “We can do this another time. You're clearly—”

Just then, the door to my office burst open. I sat straighter on seeing who it was. Elena’s brothers. All six of them.

And they lookedfurious.

“Gentlemen,” I rose, motioning at them to sit. Had it been any other time, I would have kicked them out. But today, I was hoping they were here with news of Elena. For the first time in my life, I needed something from them.

“We aren’t here to sit,” said Caspian.

“What is this about?” I asked, meeting each eye.