Page 42 of Tainted Ties

The awkward tension grew until Irina replied, her eyes clinging to the erotic art. “You’re part of the male population; of course, you’d think that way. And I don’t speak Italian,mudak.”

Over the years, I had learned enough Russian by being around my best friend to know she had called him an asshole.

My cheeks grew warm from silent laughter. A Russian and Italian arguing? I needed to flee the premises immediately.

Luca bent his head, whispering something in Irina’s ear before stalking off, leaving her flustered.

As color crept along her cheeks, I almost dared not ask what he said.Almost.

I grabbed her elbow. “What did he say?”

She ran her tongue along her teeth, irately. “Nothing. Now, let’s go. This place wasn’t as great as I thought.”

“Mhm.” I followed her lead as we left the building.

* * *

I had made my way up to the balcony, looking out at the slanting rays of the setting sun.

It was almost time for Irina to return to New York and I didn’t want her to go.

The sliding doors drew open and close before Irina came beside me. “Here,” she said, holding out a cup of tea for me.

I took it, letting the warmth of the cup soothe me.

She fidgeted beside me, inhaling and exhaling. I rolled my eyes, knowing she was holding back whatever it was she wanted to say.

My Russian friend never missed an opportunity to open her mouth, not even when it came to me.

She was as dear to me as I was to her, but we never strayed from being open with one another.

“Would you quit that?” I gestured to her with a wave of my hand. “And spit it out,” I said, realizing too late my voice came out harsher than I expected it to.

She hesitated, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear before speaking with caution. “Are you going to avoid my question forever?”

“Which is?” I knew what it was, but I didn’t know how to answer it.

“Aurora.” With the way she dragged my name, I knew she was calling out my act of ignorance. “What’s your plan? You can’t be a slave to him until he decides to end your misery and kill you.”

Leave it to Irina to be excruciatingly blunt, although that same question was tucked in the back of my mind, gnawing at me. Every. Single. Day.

Her question floated between us as I untangled my unrelenting thoughts.

“I can’t just walk out of here.” I threw a hand up. “It doesn’t matter whether he’s here or not. The man has eyes and earseverywhere.” I swallowed thickly. “It’s not the right time.”

Turning away from her, I made my way back inside because suddenly, being outside felt just as suffocating.

My hand was on the sliding doors when Irina’s voice halted me from taking a step further. “What is Enzo doing while you’re holed up here?”

Recalling the last conversation I had on the phone with my brother, I sighed. “He’s trying to get me out of here, but it’s been difficult when they had their money and people taken from them. Our father hasn’t been useful, but no surprise there, even though he still doesn’t possess his assets like he was promised.”

“That scummy old man has been out for you since your early teens.”

“No surprise there either.” I slid the door open, slamming it shut behind me. I was angry, not at Irina but at my circumstances.

The moment I walked through the house, navigating my way to my bedroom, I felt it.

The change in atmosphere. Like an electric current flowing all around me, pulling me in.

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