Page 77 of Sinful Scars

I wait for one of them to speak. I figure the sooner they say whatever it is they have to say, the sooner I get the hell out of here.

I notice Mikhail glancing at Alexei, who dips his chin.

“It’s Lev.” Mikhail breaks the silence.

“I’m not following.”

“The man who has been stalking you. It’s Lev.”

The Koslovs have been hunting Lev foryearsafter they learned he was the one who murdered their parents. I’m all too aware of who Lev is and what he’s done, and it’s laughable that they think this is the same man.

There’s no fucking way that the man who held me in his arms as I fell asleep, who worshipped my body with such tenderness, is capable of murder.

It doesn’t add up.

“You’re joking.”

“I wish I was.”

I glance around at each of the Koslovs in turn and when not one of them denies Mikhail’s claim, I realize that they’re not joking.

They're deadly serious.

“That’s impossible.” I shake my head. “T-that’s… No, you’re making this up.”

“It’s true.” Alexei leans against the kitchen counter, putting his hands into his pockets.

Like hell. “H-how do you know this? What proof do you have?”

I must sound hysterical, but I can’t believe that we’re talking about the same person here.

How could they possibly think my secret mystery lover is their missing half-brother?

Anton looks at me. “He’s been in contact with Nina. He admitted everything to her.”

I don’t miss the way the muscle in Anton’s jaw flexes as he looks at Alexei.

I want to scream at him that he’s got it all wrong, that they’ve got the wrong man.

He can’t be Lev. He just can’t.

“Why didn’t Nina come to me? There was no need to get you all involved like this.”

“She thought you might dismiss the threat if it came from her.”

“There is no threat! This has been completely blown out of proportion.” I shoot Lucia a look, and she winces. “Even if this manisLev, then he’s not a danger. Not to me, or to anyone.”

Mikhail takes a step toward me. “Elle?—”

“I haven’t seen him in weeks,” I lie. “If he wanted to hurt me, he would have done so already.”

Lucia lets go of Mikhail. “That doesn’t mean anything, Elle.”

Mikhail looks at her before turning his gaze back to me. “But we don’t want you to worry. We’re going to take care of this.”

I shake my head. “There’s nothing to take care of, so just leave it.”

Alexei shrugs. “Unfortunately, we can’t do that. You are a part of this family, Elle, and I don’t take threats to my family lightly.”

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