Father interrupts him with a cold fury. “If you’re about to ask me about our business arrangement, I would rethink that. Take your daughter and get out before I choose to kill you all. You conspired with my son, and you are lucky I’m letting you keep your lives.”
Don Bastone bows, pulls his son up off the couch, and they hurry away. The doors open, and I want to look back so badly—I might catch a glimpse of her in the hall—but I don’t do it. Father’s watching, and if I disobey him, he will make good on his promise.
The image of Siena in my bathroom bending over to pull on a pair of lacy black panties while she smiles shyly is the last image I’ll ever have of her.
There’s no coming back from this. I’ve seen Father angry—but never like this. He won’t forgive me, and he won’t forget.
Which means that if I ever so much as speak of Siena, he’ll murder her.
I can’t let that happen.
God, what have I done? She’s going home with her father and brother, and I don’t know what they’ll do to her. I can’t protect her, because if I try, my father will end her life.
This must be what hell is like.
The doors close again and I’m alone with my father.
No, not my father.
My Pakhan.
“Look at me, Maxim.” I meet his eyes again. “You’re angry.”
I nod. “Yes, I am.”
“Good. Be angry. It means you still have a soul. But know this.” He steps closer. We’re an arm’s reach apart. “What really kills me is I’ve grown to like her. If you’d have come to me in good faith and told the truth, I would’ve supported you in marrying her. Siena is a clever, strong girl. She’s worthy of you. But you snuck around like a mouse in the dark, and I cannot ever forgive it.” He takes a long breath and lets it out. “That girl’s life is forfeit the moment you disobey me. You will work, and you will work twice as hard as you have to this point. Feliks is now my heir, and if you want to continue to be a part of this family, you will earn your place. Do you understand?”
I nod sharply. “That’s nothing new.”
His eyes widen. “Excuse me?”
I should bite my tongue. I should shut my mouth.
But I can’t help it. “I’ve been earning my place since the moment you adopted me.”
“Careful, boy.”
I bow slightly. “Yes, Pakhan. I will obey, because I love my family.” Even if my family doesn’t love me.
He grunts a dismissal. I turn and walk away.
I shove open the doors. Oleg watches me warily. I ignore the old guard. He’s only following orders. I walk up the stairs. On the second floor, I spot Emiliya crying while Galina comforts her. Jasha and Feliks stand nearby, drinking. My brothers raise their glasses to me.
I nod back and keep going. I can’t handle being around them right now.
My cousins. My siblings.
Gods, what am I?
I reach my room. I close the door.
I pick up the towel from the bathroom floor and breathe it deep. Her smell still lingers.
She’s gone.
And now I am nothing once again.
Chapter 23
Siena
My life is a sick cycle.
I didn’t believe Feliks when he told me to pack what I could. I thought it was some kind of trick, and when I begged, and begged, and begged to see Maxim, he only told me that Maxim was gone and I could never speak to him again.
It was like I’d been given my life back—only to have it ripped from my hands.
I was numb when Feliks led me from Maxim’s rooms. It hadn’t quite hit me yet—that I’d never see Maxim again.
I break down during the elevator ride back to the bottom floor. My father says nothing. Enzo puts his arm around my shoulders and hugs me, and I sob into my big brother’s side, but nobody speaks.
There’s nothing to say.
My life is a long, drawn-out series of failures and broken hearts.
Papa dumps me back at The Velvet Rope. My heart’s ripped from my chest, and it isn’t surprising. Since when did good things happen to me? It was only a matter of time before Maxim was taken away too. Zita waits on the front sidewalk to welcome me with a big smile like nothing had ever happened. Enzo frowns and looks like he wants to say something, but he stays in the truck and doesn’t speak as I walk toward my fate.
I feel like I’m bleeding from a torn and bruised heart.
Papa leans out the window. “Rot here, daughter of mine, and don’t make trouble.”
Then they drive off, and I find myself in the one place I never pictured I’d return to.
My life is a comedic tragedy.
And now here I am. Back in hell.