Page 61 of Killer Love

Nina Lutrova places her hand over her heart the second we walk through the front door. She glares down at us from the stairwell in a silk, blue robe, her eyes hopping from Luka to Yuri to me to Fox. Then, finally, to Lucian yawning quietly in my arms.

“Yuri?”

“Oh, no,” he says, shaking his head at Luka. “Don’t look at me, Ma.”

Luka keeps his grip on my hand. She notices, her eyebrow popping upward. “Ma, I—”

“Wait—” She holds up a hand to silence him. “I have a feeling your father should hear this.”

She takes off down the hall with Yuri trailing close behind. Fox lingers with us, obviously as hesitant as I am to wander through the Lutrova family estate.

Luka looks at me and offers a reassuring smile. “It’ll be okay.”

“Will it?” I ask, doubtful.

He squeezes my hand a little tighter and steps forward, leading me down the hall. He gestures at Fox to follow along with us and Fox obeys.

I scan the dark entryway as we push forward. Several guards stand scattered in the halls as we pass by, as armed and alert as the ones back in Italy. The walls are practically bare with minimal decorations compared to the Zappia estate, but I say that with great appreciation. I always hated how flamboyant and colorful everything was there, almost like it was all a clever ruse to hide the darkness within. At least the Lutrovas seem to own their reputation as a notorious crime family.

Nina and Yuri disappear into a room down the hall. I instantly hear the quick chatter of voices, but there’s not nearly enough time to prepare Nikolai Lutrova for what he’s about to see walking through his house in the middle of the night.

We arrive in the doorway and he looks up at us from his desk with great confusion.

“What is she doing here?” he asks, glaring at me.

Luka pulls me into the room with him. “She needs help.”

“Where is Giovani? Does he know she’s here?”

“Pops, I…” Luka pauses, his voice failing. I don’t blame him.

I have no idea where to start with any of this either.

“I left, sir,” I say.

Nikolai and Nina draw sharp breaths. I suppose I’ve never spoken to either of them directly before now. While there was no law forbidding me from speaking with Nina, the Zappias sure as hell didn’t want her influencing me in any way and kept me far away from her.

“I ask for asylum.”

Nikolai shakes his head. “From what?”

Luka steps forward. “Gio tried to kill her,” he says.

Nina looks down at my blood-stained dress. “Why?”

Yuri glances at me from his spot against the wall behind his father’s desk, his eyes quickly falling on Lucian before descending right back down to the floor.

“It doesn’t matter why,” Nikolai says. “Send her back.”

“No,” Luka says.

Nikolai jolts out of his chair and takes wide strides around the desk toward us. “You brought a Zappia girl here?” he growls at Luka with wide eyes. “Are you mad?”

“They’re not going back.”

“Luka…” He barks at him as if I’m not even here. “Zappia family matters are none of our concern. Never have been, never will be. We do not interfere with their way.”

“Niko…” Nina says, staring at the bruise on my cheek.

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