Page 38 of Secret Bratva Twins

After they all left, Sergey crossed his arms over his chest and kept staring at me. Anyone would shiver from the weight of his stare, but not me or any of my brothers. “Why’s your ass still glued to my chair?”

“I have something to say.” I threaded my fingers together and leaned out from the chair. “It’s about Gianna and I.”

Sergey cleared his throat and drew his attention to me. “I’m listening.”

“I’m not letting her go when all this is over.” It was a decision I made while I drove down here. I’d lost Gianna once, and I’d missed five years of my kids’ life. I’d be a damn fool to let that happen again.

“Does Gianna agree?” he asked. “Does she want you to be a part of her and the kids life?”

“She doesn’t need to agree for now, but I’ll grovel for the rest of my life to gain her trust if I need to.” I paused and exhaled. “I’m not asking for your permission, and I’m not telling you because you’re capo. I’m letting you know because you’re my brother.”

“What about her mother? Does she believe you didn’t kill her?”

“I told her I didn’t this morning. I’m not sure she believes me, but I’ll find out who did that.” Though I had a feeling Paul had a hand in it. If that asshole could threaten to kill his grandchildren and send his own daughter to her death, I wouldn’t put it past him to kill his wife. Animals like him could do anything for power.

Sergey held my gaze. For the first time in years, I saw his capo mask slip. The man looking at me right now was my big brother, nothing more. “Do you love her?”

“I care about her.”

He shook his head. “That is not what I am asking. Do you love her or not?”

“I can’t live without her. For the first time in my life, I want to hold on to something so badly that I’m afraid I’ll die if I lose her.” I heard that unfamiliar desperation in my voice, that longing to have someone by my side.

I’d somehow convinced myself I didn’t need to love a woman—that I didn’t love Gianna even when I spent years searching for her. I’d told myself I did that because she seemed so lonely, and she reminded me of myself, but that wasn’t the only reason. I cared for her, more than I’d ever cared for anyone.

For six whole years, she was my every waking thought. And when I met her again, despite that rage that burned me, I couldn’t let her go. That was the reason I went against my brother’s suggestions and took her hostage.

Sergey bobbed his head. “That is all the answer I need.” He sat back in his seat. “I always worried about you, if I’m being honest. I was afraid you’d end up all alone. You see, Maxim, our world is too deep and dark. Men like us need someone who can love us and help us keep that human part of us; otherwise, it’s way too easy for us to be consumed by all the brutality and bloodshed.”

My chest warmed, hearing my brother’s approval. Sergey had always been like that, putting us before everything else. I knew deep down that he didn’t completely trust Gianna yet, but he was still willing to take the risk for me to be happy.

“Thank you, brother.”

A smile flickered on his face, but he did a good job at holding it back. “Enough with the emotional bullshit, get out of my house.”

I chuckled and rose to my feet. “See you tonight.”

His voice followed me out of the living room. “Don’t forget to bring the girl.”

“I won’t.”

Ms. Popov was directing one of the younger maids on how I liked the house cleaned when I got back home. There was no sign of Gianna anywhere. She could be up in her room or the library. Panic rose in my chest still.

“You’re back.” Ms. Popov grimaced. “Are you looking for the girl?”

“Was it that obvious?” I asked, rubbing my neck and smiling back. “I’ll have to do a better job at hiding it then.”

“Gianna is the library,” she said. “I can make something for you to take to her. She likes black coffee.”

“I’ll make it myself.”

Ms. Popov’s eyes widened. “You? Make Coffee?”

“I’m a terrible cook, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make a cup of coffee for my woman.” I winked at her before I left the kitchen. I made two cups of coffee for Gianna and carried them up to the Library.

She blinked up at me from the book she was holding, her gaze following me as I set the cups on the coffee table and sat next to her on the plush, velvet couch.

“You came home sooner than I expected.” She shut the book and sat up. “What did your brothers say? Did they agree to help us?”

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