Page 64 of Claim

Song- PLEASE, Ex Habit, Omido

https://lost.exhabitmusic.com/please

I’m so overwhelmed,I can’t stop myself from crying.

I thought when my mom died, so did the last of my family. But now I have a brother, and a niece, that I never knew existed.

“I guess our dad liked to sow his oats, huh?” Jax pushes his curly dark hair back and gives me a lopsided grin.

There’s no denying he looks exactly like Papa, just twenty years younger.

It makes my chest ache missing him.

Yet, at the same time, my heart is suddenly so full I feel like it might explode.

“I have so many questions.” My voice is hoarse.

“Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time for all of them.” Lara looks up at me, then pats the chair near her. “Come here and tell me how you two met.”

I chew on my bottom lip as I sit.

“Well, I guess he’s been taking care of me for years. Ever since the night that Papa died.” I glance up to see Nikolai wince.

“So, when Ivan took me?—”

Lara inhales sharply. “Ivan, our father?”

I nod.

Nikolai curses under his breath as Mila takes his hand.

“Ivan has caused a lot of pain.” Her lips thin. “I’m so glad Mikhail rescued you. Did Ivan want you to get him information? Or did you already have it…”

“Well—” I twist my dress between my fingers. “—he wanted me. He was trying to make me marry him.”

“Jesus fucking Christ.” Jax shakes his head and bunches up his fists. “You guys gotta let me beat that asshole to death.”

Alexei giggles, showing a silver tooth. “I think everyone here has dibs on him. That’s pretty messed up Ivan was planning that. How did you get away?”

“I stabbed him in the face and then jumped out of the window.” I still can’t believe I did that.

“Holy shit,” he says with a broad grin. “You’re a badass.” He wraps his arm around Lara, then leans over and kisses a faint scar on her cheek. “She’ll definitely fit in this crazy family.”

Lara smiles at me, and pats my knee. “You’re lucky to have gotten away.”

By the time Mikhail returns, I feel as if I’ve been amongst them my whole life.

Nikolai still seems a little reserved, he gets a pained expression every time he looks at me.

“Ana, we have to go. I have a meeting and I want you there with me.” Mikhail holds out his hand until I grasp it, then he tugs me against his side.

“So soon? I was having fun.” I let my lip stick out in a pout, but follow him out the door.

Once we’re in the solitude of the elevator, I thread my arm around his waist and set my chin on his wide chest. “Where are we going?”

I can see his jaw work under his balaclava.

“One more sister to meet, along with my father’s last wife.” He pulls me tightly against him.

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