Page 94 of Cruel Knots

I suddenly grab onto his arm.

Mikhail comes to a halt at once. “What’s wrong?”

“Since you’re buying me all this stuff, can you buy me one of those too?” I point toward a hot dog cart at the far end of the street.

“Hot dogs?” he asks, raising his brows at me. “Let me guess. The bastard didn’t allow you to eat that crap either?”

Looking at my feet, I shake my head.

“Fucking hell, Lucia,” he groans. “How have you been living all these years?”

“I’ve wanted to kill myself many times but if I did that, Dad would be left all alone with him. There’s no way I’m going to abandon him like that. That’s the only reason I’m still alive.”

“Thank fuck the old man’s still breathing.” Tightening his hold on my hand, he pulls me toward the hot dog stand. “Order whatever you like.”

“I’ll have one with mustard, ketchup, and relish,” I say.

“That’ll be two dollars,” the vendor replies at once.

Mikhail slaps a twenty-dollar bill on the man’s cart and mutters, “Keep the change.”

The man stares at the bill and then at Mikhail. “Thanks, I guess.”

After getting my hot dog, we move to a quieter corner. Under his watchful gaze, I take my first bite of the hot dog.

“Good?” Mikhail asks as I take a few more gigantic mouthfuls with all my favorite toppings.

I nod, my mouth too full of food.

“Where do you want to have dinner?” he asks. “I’ll take you wherever you want.”

“It’s kind of early but that’s fine,” I say with a small laugh. “How about that diner we passed by on our way here?”

“They serve fried chicken, steaks, and all-day breakfasts.”

“I love fried chicken,” I say with a sigh.

“I’m guessing fried chicken was missing from the menu at the mansion too?”

I nod. “He didn’t allow me to eat any junk food.”

“Why is your brother so fucking twisted?” he asks me in a grim tone.

“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “He doted on me when I was a child but something changed. My parents sent him away to keep a distance between us but they never mentioned anything to me. It was only when he got back from Europe seven years ago that I realized something was very, very wrong with him. My relationship with Callum isn’t the same as you guys have with Lilja. You’d never hurt her.”

“Our dads would skin us alive if we hurt their precious baby,” he says with a roll of his eyes. “That’s the reason she’s grown up to be such a spoiled brat.”

“I love her.”

“Huh?” He stares at me. “You’re in love...?”

I playfully hit him in the chest. “Not like that! I mean...as a friend. She’s been the only one who’s shown me any kindness since you guys kidnapped me.”

Grabbing my wrist, he pulls me against him. “How do you want me to treat you, Lucia?” he asks in a husky voice that sends a shiver through me.

“The way you’d treat your mate.”

Surprise flits through his eyes. “You want to be a part of our pack?”

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