I expelled a long breath, trying to corral my tortured thoughts.
“I didn’t abandon you, Damien. I came right back for you a few minutes later, but there was a stranger there with Papa.” I swallowed hard, well aware of all the eyes and ears around me. If I told Damien the truth right now, everyone in this room would know about my horrid, shameful past. They would know my father had sold me off to a sick fuck who used my phobia to torment me for two long years.
Fuck it.I had to try to talk Damien down. I had to doeverythingin my power to save Annika. Every if it meant sharing my biggest secret.
“Bullshit!” he shouted. “You didn’t come back! I waited for you foryears, but you never came back! Youleftme with that bastard! You abandoned your pack!”
I closed my eyes, my chest caving in. “Ididcome back,” I croaked out. “I promise I did. But that stranger was there with Papa, and they made some kind of deal, and then Papa just sold me to him like I was one of his dogs or something. The guy drugged me and took me away. I was his prisoner for two years until I finally escaped.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Efrem flinch. But I didn’t lift my gaze and look at anyone. I didn’t want to see their reactions. I couldn’t bear their pity right now.
“Right!” Damien let out a snort of disbelief. “You expect me to believethat?”
I closed my eyes and sighed. Trying to convince him of the truth would probably be a waste of time. “What about the fire?” I whispered. “I was told you died.”
Another snort. “That wasn’t me, dumb ass. That was my friend, Billy. I was trying to kill Papa, but he conveniently escaped. I even timed it to happen while Mom was visiting Aunt Jenna, so she wouldn’t get hurt. Billy helped me plan everything. But then something went wrong, and Billy got trapped inside…” he trailed off, his breath hitching over the line. Moments later, he screamed, “But Papa got away! Thatbastard!”
My heartthump-thumped. Damien had set that fire to kill Papa?Jesus.The guilt I’d experienced before only intensified in that moment, wrapping around my heart and squeezing painfully.
“I figured you’d see the fire and come for me, Adrik. I waited and waited, but younever came back!”
I shook my head, my throat shriveling up.Fuck. He was right.When I’d learned he’d “died” in the fire, I’d stayed away. I hadn’t wanted to go back to the place where my father had sold me off like a dog. That was one memory I would never be able to erase, no matter how hard I tried.
I should have gone back. Then maybe we would have found each other again. And none of this would be happening now.
“I’m so sorry, Damien. I thought you were gone forever. I thought you were dead.”
The truth was a bitter pill to swallow. I’d failed my baby brother and he’d turned into a monster. Could I save him somehow? Could I find the little boy I’d left behind and bring him back?
“All isn’t lost,” I said quietly. “Nowyoufoundme.Tell me where you are, and I’ll come to you. Let Annika go and you and I can talk about this. We can work it out.”
“You’re fucking right we’re going to work this out. Only the best wolf can win this war. Keep your phone on you. I’ll be calling soon.”
The line went dead.
Closing my eyes, I heaved out a long sigh.Damien.Fuck.
I opened my eyes to see the Popovs had stepped closer. All of them. There was something different in the air now. Gone was the distrust. In its place was something new.
Regret.
And also, the one thing I didn’t want from them, but sensed nonetheless.
Pity.
Or maybe it was something else. Respect?
That, I could handle.
I straightened my spine, standing tall. My past my might be horrific and shameful, but I’d survived, and that was something to be proud of.
Fortunately, no one asked for the rest of my story. It was bad enough I’d let them hear that much. I could only imagine what they were thinking.
Not that I cared anymore. The only thing I wanted now was to save Annika.
Alexei broke the silence. “Your brother is behind Annika’s kidnapping?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I didn’t even suspect him until last night when I got a string of texts from him, and it finally clicked.”