Page 78 of Villainous Kingpin

I nodded.

Holding out his hand, I put my fingers into his palm and he pulled me to my feet.

“Wyn?”

Standing chest-to-chest, I tilted my head so I’d meet his gaze. “I’ll never betray your trust.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “But if either one of them hurt you again, I’ll kill them. Promise or no promise.”

It was all a girl could ask for.

“Again?” he asked and I nodded.

I’d go as many times as necessary.

Until I could beat men like Gio DiLustro. Because I swore to myself that I’d make that man pay one day.

I’d break him, just the way he broke my mother.

Just the way he attempted to break me.

CHAPTER31

Wynter

Three weeks since I felt Bas’ lips on mine. Three weeks since I inhaled him deep into my lungs. Three weeks since I felt alive.

I stepped into the shower and turned it on. Cold water washed over my skin, raining droplets, but before shivers started, the water turned hot, painful against my skin. Yet, the pain didn’t compare to this all-consuming ache in my chest. I leaned back against the wall and slowly sank down.

The kingpin necklace Basilio gave me no longer hung around my neck. Instead, I wrapped it around my wrist and used it as a bracelet. I kept the kingpin skull hidden under the chain, worried someone would recognize it.

Pulling my legs up against my chest, I started crying. I missed him. No matter what I did, I’d never be able to forget him. Each breath I took was for him. Maybe he just wanted my cursed connection to the Russians, but all of it couldn’t have been a lie.

Could it?

I’ve asked Sasha to look into my grandmother. Winter Volkov. I needed to know more about my family. They’ve kept me in the dark long enough.

The history wasn’t a good one. It began with a kidnapping by my grandfather. Like a thief in the night, Grandpa snuck into Russia and stole a young woman. My grandmother. In order to ensure the Pakhan wouldn’t join the Syndicate. He fell in love. But my grandmother died giving birth to my mother and the war between the Brennans and the Volkov Pakhan escalated.

Jesus Christ.Grandfather never stopped mourning her. Even now, after all these years, he never spoke of anyone but the woman he lost. The woman he stole from her home, but he failed to mention that part.

Was it his punishment? To lose something which wasn’t meant to be his and then have a reminder in his daughter and granddaughter. How many times has he told me I looked like his true love and the reminder was always bittersweet.

Just like everything reminded me of Bas.

A scent. A word. A song.

The image of Bas kneeling in front of me, with my dirty foot in his hands and looking up at me like he owned me. His father’s words were killing me slowly from the inside. Poisonous and shattering words that altered my world forever.

Yet, what if they were lies? Uncle lied too. Yes, his intentions were good, but he had lied to me for so long. Maybe Gio lied too.

Or maybe I was a fool.

God, this was torture. I was falling apart on the inside.

When I was around Sasha, I was able to maintain my composure. It was required of me since I started competing. No outbursts or reactions in public were ever tolerated. But when I was alone, my heart shattered over and over again.

I dragged myself out of the shower and put on my clothes. White jeans and a green t-shirt. Throwing a fleeting glance in the mirror, I made sure the reflection that stared back at me didn’t look like my inner state. Thankfully, I looked fine on the outside. Probably thanks to Sasha. He bought me some new clothes and got some of my stuff from the girls so I’d feel more comfortable.

With a heavy sigh, I put my ‘I’m fine’ face on and padded to the living room where a large floor-to-ceiling window offered magnificent views of the city. It was only nine in the morning and Sasha had actual work to do today, so I’d spend it alone.