Page 126 of Sinful Scars

Alexei’s eyes narrow on me, as if he doesn’t believe any of it to be true. Though I don’t blame him. I can hardly believe what I’m hearing either.

“You can let him go, Alexei.” Dimitri sets a hand on his brother’s arm. “Lev is innocent.”

“Oh my god.” Elle sobs from the doorway as Alexei releases his hold on me. I suck in a lungful of air as my legs threaten to buckle beneath me.

Innocent.

I never thought that word would ever be used to describe me.

I know I should be feeling relief, but I don’t.

For over a decade, I was made to believe that I had murdered Andre Koslov and his wife in cold blood. Igor used to describe it to me in grave detail to the point where I started to see them bleed out in my dreams.

Their deaths have shaped who I’ve become.

Their blood has stained my hands for so long that I’m not sure who I am without it.

I had no choice but to distance myself from everyone Iloved and cared about for most of my life in order to protect them from what I was.

A monster.

But now?

I have no idea who I am.

Elle sobs. “Lev.”

I barely register her throwing her arms around my neck and kissing me. Not even the feeling of her soft lips against mine can snap me out of my thoughts.

“Did you hear what Dimitri said?” She pulls away, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes. “You’re innocent, Lev.”

Innocent.

“Elle.” I bend down to take her face in my hands, kissing her fiercely.

I don’t care that there’s a room full of people watching us. All I care about is the woman right in front of me, and the child that is growing in her belly.

When we finally pull away, blood burns my cheeks as I realize all eyes are on us.

I wrap my arm around Elle’s waist and pull her against me.

“Do you remember being in the hospital?” Dimitri sinks into an armchair and tosses the police report on the coffee table as if it’s nothing more than a parking ticket.

I’m too stunned to even think straight, let alone remember one of the many times I woke up in a hospital.

“Honestly, no.”

“But you said there’s CCTV footage, right?” Elle’s eyes fill with hope as she looks from me to Dimitri. “So, it checks out.”

“Elle—” Alexei starts, but she holds up a hand to silence him.

“I don’t want to hear it, Alexei.”

I don’t miss the flash of anger in the bratva Pahkan’s eyes, but he doesn’t push Elle any further.

“Is Lev free to go now or what?”

Alexei’s eyes flick to mine, and I hold my breath.

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