Page 75 of Stolen Seconds

Irina’s face portrayed an internal war as her gaze flicked to me and I didn’t think she realized that her eyes were searching mine for comfort.

As if she knew the predicament we found ourselves in, she shook her head in defeat and my heart pinched tightly.

“I’m the daughter of Ivan Morozov,” she whispered, averting her eyes from me. “ThePakhan’sdaughter.”

My blood ran cold in disbelief as I stumbled back. That was impossible.

“And Nicolai is my brother.”

There was a ringing noise blaring in my ears as we all stood stunned by her words.

Irina being the daughter of the Bratva’s leader was one thing but Nicolai being her brother. . . that was catastrophic.

It suddenly made sense why Roman appeared to be a second away from pulling the trigger.

She wasn’t in Italy to visit her best friend; she was here to take Nicolai away.

Everything she told me was a lie, and I fell for it.

“Tell me one good reason why I shouldn’t spill your disgusting blood across my table.” Roman asked.

I pulled the safety off my gun, the sound powerful. “You do that and yours will follow.”

I hated Irina in this moment because even though she played me like a fool, I would always carry this burning need to protect her.

“I told you to stay away from her, Luca.” His eyes had turned a dark shade of midnight, a brutal current blazing in them. “And now you’re defending a traitor.”

“You don’t order me around.” I shook my head, fury rippling in my veins. “Not when it comes to her.”

Aurora wrapped her hand around his biceps, urginghim to calm down. “There must be some sort of explanation to all of this.”

Irina eye’s glossed over in an ocean blue as she watched her best friend defend her even now when she’d hidden her true identity.

If I knew anything about this woman, it was her love for Aurora, and I knew it must’ve killed her keeping this secret from her.

“What explanation,anima mia?She’s a fraud who tried and failed to take away my so-”He paused, closing his eyes as the muscle in his jaw worked. “Nicolai.”

“Irina.” Aurora gazed at her, tears streaming down her face as she shook her head in bewilderment.“Why?”

“I’m sorry for lying to you but I won’t apologize for who I am,” she stated before turning to face Roman, the end of his gun now pressing against her forehead. “This is your one and only chance to kill me.”

I stared between the two of them, my skin buzzing from uncertainty. I swear if he pulled that trigger. . .

“If you don’t, you’re going to wish you had.”

Aurora stepped back as if she’d been slapped in the face. I could see the perplexed look in her features as she saw a side of Irina she hadn’t seen before.

Thiswas Irina Morozov, daughter of thePakhan.

Nico was the one who interjected and held a firm grip on the gun, pushing it away from her head. “She’s my sister. Please, Roman.”

The air became dense as the minutes ticked by before Roman spoke again. “Get her off my property.”

Irina didn’t waste a second before she stalked out of the dining room and disappeared.

If she thought this was how we’d part ways, she was fucking delusional.

I took a few steps in the direction she left in before Roman’s voice boomed in the air. “If you follow her, we’re no longer brothers.”

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