Page 77 of Bound By Hate (Born in Blood)

I look out the car window, straining my eyes to see through the darkness. “I’m not sure. Everything was so disorienting that night. Just keep driving.”

He tightens his hands on the wheel. “I have an idea. Damien Petrov was there the night you were sold. He would know the location. We need to go see him.”

The idea of going to Damien is humiliating. I thought he was worthy of me, but he rejected me. I can’t show my face in front of him again.

But this is for Mila.

She could be getting sold at this moment.

“Ok,” I say. “Let’s find Damien.”

Aleksander turns the car around. “You know, you surprised me tonight.”

“What?”

“The way you charged into action to help save your sister. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

I stare at him for a moment. “You’d think I’d just sit back and let my sister get hurt? Either one of them?”

“I know you can be selfish.”

I huff. “Thanks a lot, Aleksander.” Alek. I can’t believe I called him that earlier tonight. I shouldn’t be giving him nicknames. It’s too personal.

“I’m not trying to insult you. I’m just stating a fact. You tend to only think about yourself. I didn’t realize you had a softer side to you.”

“Do you want me to have a softer side?” I’m not sure why I’m asking. I don’t care if Aleksander likes me or not.

He glances at me before settling his gaze back onto the road. “I like knowing you don’t always have your hard shell up. It reminds me you’re human.”

“And what did you think I was before? A monster?”

“No. A woman who’s lost. Who puts on a hard exterior to keep people at bay. I figured you did the same to your sisters, but I’m starting to see I was wrong about that. You care for them. I commend that.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not completely soulless.”

“I know.”

I can’t look at him for much longer without feeling my cheeks burn, so I focus on the outside, searching for familiar landmarks. The problem is that when Gleb brought me to the auction the first time, it was also night, and I wasn’t really paying attention to where we were going.

“I could say the same for you.”

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“You’re out here searching for my sister. You didn’t have to do this.”

“I saved you before, didn’t I?”

“Well, that was me, and you wanted me. You have no reason to save my sister. But here you are, doing just that.”

“I’m not completely soulless either. Even if I do come from the slums.” He tosses me a small smile.

A flash of guilt enters me. I judged Aleksander based on how he came from poverty. I’m woman enough to admit that that fact may not define a person.

I won’t admit it out loud, though. I can’t have Aleksander thinking he has any sway with me.

Because he doesn’t. I still hate him and think he’s not worthy of me.

“And I do have a reason, Viktoriya,” he adds.

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