Page 100 of Sinful Scars

“Fuck.” I point down to the street. “Anton and Danil are down there.”

It seems the majority of the Koslov bratva is wanting to pay Elle a visit this morning.

I have no doubt they have more men nearby, which means not only am I completely outnumbered, but I’m also completely trapped.

There’s no way in hell this is going to end well.

“Shit, okay. There’s no need to panic. You can just wait in here while I get rid of them.”

“How?”

“I’ll think of something.”

“Elle…”

“Nobody knows you’re here, so it’ll be okay.” She disappears from the room.

She’s probably right, but that’s not what I’m worried about.

It’s only a matter of time before the Koslovs discover the link between me and Elle. And when they do, whatever chance we could have had at building a life together will be shattered for good.

25

ELLE

I try notto panic at the thought of Lev being so close to Lucia and Mikhail.

What the hell are they doing here? I’ve never known them to stop by my apartment so early. Usually, if Lucia drops in, it’s because she’s been shopping nearby and wants to drop off various gifts that she’s picked up for me. But she’s always either alone or with Vivi.

So, I’m even more nervous to know why Mikhail has decided to tag along.

Does he know that Lev is here?

Surely, if that were the case, I would have woken up to the sounds of him breaking down my door, so it must be something else.

Whatever the reason, I can’t ignore their incessant banging any longer.

As I head across the lounge area, I smooth my hands over my hair, hoping that I just look disheveled from sleep and not because I spent the night riding Mikhail’s half-brother.

With one last deep breath, I plaster a smile on my face and throw open the door.

“Hey. This is a nice surprise.”

“I didn’t realize you were such a deep sleeper.” Lucia’s wrapped up in an oversized puffer coat with a cute bobble hat and matching scarf. As always she looks effortlessly beautiful with a bare face and her dark hair loose around her shoulders. She holds up a paper bag. “We brought coffee and bagels!”

“Wow, uh, that’s so…thoughtful.”

I force a smile as my eyes flick to Mikhail, who looks just as stone-faced as ever. He’s swapped out his usual suit jacket for a black bomber that he’s rolled up to the elbows to expose his tattooed arms.

“Hey, Mikhail.” I’ve not spoken to him since the night I stormed out of his house, and the awkwardness of the current situation is making my palms start to sweat.

Though that might also be due to the fact that I’m secretly harboring his half-brother in my bedroom.

Mikhail dips his chin at me in response, and I figure that’s as close as I’m going to get to a truce with Mikhail Koslov.

When his eyes glance past me into my apartment, I cringe as his eyes linger on the closed door to my bedroom.

“So, are you going to make us eat our breakfast out in the hall or…” Lucia chuckles.