Page 100 of Sweet Deception

She met my gaze evenly. “She left with the help of her sister and your grandmother. She said she wanted to help you get your sister back.”

My pulse thundered in my ears. “Tell me you’re fucking joking.” A cold sweat breaking out over my skin.

“I wish I were, Gleb”

My stomach twisted, my muscles locking up. I turned and slammed my fist against the wall, the pain barely registering. “And you just let her go?”

“You think I didn’t try?” Zoya shot back, her voice sharp. “Your grandmother was involved. Do you really think I had a choice?”

“You should have fucking stopped her!” I roared, my chest burning like an open wound.

“She was determined, Gleb! She said her family has done nothing but destroy you, and she couldn’t sit back and do nothing anymore. She thought she had a way to help. That she could fix things.”

“I was already handling it, goddammit!” I spat out. Seething. “She knew the risk. She damn well knew. And she still went.”

Zoya’s expression softened. “She did it for love.”

My breath hitched. Love?

No. That wasn’t...

Was it?

“That’s what you think.”

I turned away, my chest aching, my thoughts spiraling. Why? I told her not to feel guilty. I told her I wouldn’t hold her family’s sins against her. So why the hell did she still go?

“Zoya, you should have done something.” My voice cracked. My throat burned.

“I tried.” Her voice was steady, but there was regret in it. “I would have broken down that door if I could. But it’s a securitydoor, Gleb. Unless I brought in a bulldozer, I wouldn’t have gotten through.”

I exhaled harshly, dragging a hand down my face.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Zoya warned. “Going to Italy now is suicide. Anna’s sister would have told her parents how much you care about her. Now that Anna’s there, they’re probably expecting you. You know how dangerous those people are.”

I barely heard her.

“Please,” she pressed, her voice softer now, yet earnest. “Borris will have a plan. He always does. Talk to him. If you go in blind, you’ll be dead before you touch the ground.

“I hear you, Zoya. Now leave me alone.”

She hesitated, then nodded and walked away.

As soon as she was gone, I slumped against the wall. My chest ached, a tight knot formed in my gut.

How could she do this?

She knew how dangerous my family was, yet she trusted them to send her back to Italy. She knew how ruthless her own people were, yet she walked straight into their hands.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think.

Zoya was right.

This was a trap.

They’d be expecting me.

Didn’t matter.