Page 108 of Sinful Scars

“I’m so sorry, Elle.”

“You don’t get to be sorry.” She yanks her hands out of my grip, stepping away from me. “You could have stopped him, you could have?—”

She clutches a hand over her mouth to muffle her sobs.

“I know.”

“Do you?”

I hang my head, not knowing what else to say. I’ve told her everything, and it’s up to her now what she decides to do.

“It doesn’t matter that you saved my life,” she whispers, a cold hatred in her eyes as she turns to look at me. “Thatdoesn’t change the fact that you let my family die. You knew Igor was sentencing my family to death, and you didnothing! My parents, my baby brother are all dead because ofyou.”

I almost fall to my knees at the look of agony on her face.

This can’t be the end.

Because without Elle, my life is not worth living.

“How could you do this to me? Save me only to leave me alone?” She steps toward me with wild eyes. “You’re no better than Igor.”

“I amnothinglike Igor. I risked my life to save you that night. He beat me within an inch of my fucking life because I chose to disobey him and go into the fire because I heard your screams.”

“I’d take a beating over the death of my family any day!”

“Fuck, that’s not what I meant.” I run my hand over my face. “This is coming out all wrong.”

A dull ache is building in my temples, and I press my palms to the side of my head as I try to breathe through the pain.

“Igor is a cruel, sadistic man…” I grunt as the pain flares behind my eyes, “...who only cares about himself.”

“I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”

“You’re notlistening!” I throw my hands in the air. “You said so yourself that he threatened the life of his own grandchild! I would never fucking do that, Elle. He’s the real monster here?—”

“You don’t get to do that.” She shakes her head at me. “You don’t get to dismiss your own crimes because your father’s are worse.”

“He is not my father.”

“Heraisedyou. He clothed you and fed you. He is your father in every way that counts.”

Each word out of her mouth is like a knife to the heart. But I can’t deny the fact that she’s right.

I might have Koslov blood running in my veins, but I was raised as an Ivanov.

“I would give my life for yours if I had to, Elle. Can’t youseehow much you mean to me? I…I love you, goddammit!”

The words spill from my lips before I can stop myself.

Elle blinks. Her lips part, and for the briefest moment, I wonder if she’s about to tell me she loves me too…

But then it’s gone, and the coldness returns.

“All I see is your guilt, Lev. You’re trying to make yourself feel better by attempting to convince me that you were only protecting me. But you’re not protecting me, Lev. You’rehurtingme.”

“No.” I shake my head as the pain flares. “No, that’s not true, Elle.”

“Itistrue.”

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