Page 97 of Claimed By Desire

Not even his own son.

But if I’m honest with myself, it’s mostly guilt. I made this happen. If I had just married Adriano, Lev would still be free. And I know that eventually, Dad’s going to force Lev into the marriage, and it’ll be my fault.

I can yell and threaten all I want, but I can’t change all my selfish mistakes.

“I heard what you were saying in there.”

My chin jerks up. Lev’s standing in a nearby doorway, watching me. His eyes are narrowed but he’s smiling slightly in his sly, mischievous way.

“How long were you listening?”

“When you came stomping through the house, I figured something interesting was about to happen. I didn’t expect you to confront him like that.”

“Yeah, well, someone had to. Might as well be the black sheep daughter.” I walk over to him and put some distance between me and the office. Dad’s still in there, the big asshole.

“For what it’s worth, I appreciate the sentiment, I really do.”

“I meant what I said in there.” I slump beside my brother and look at the ceiling. “I know I screwed up. Running from Valentin was bad enough. And honestly, I was going to marry Adriano, but?—“

“But life happened instead.” Lev’s talking quietly now. “I get it, Nat. I really do. You know, I heard the way you and Alex were talking at Fed the other night, and I’ve been thinking about that.”

“Really? What do you mean?”

“About the baby. About raising it together.” He’s staring hard down at his hands. “It could be worse, you know. You could be pregnant with that child and married to Adriano. Alex would go insane, knowing another man was raising his baby. Could you imagine?”

“He’d be the fucking worst.”

“Right? So self-righteous and depressed all the time. I’m glad that didn’t happen.”

I smile slightly. I know he’s joking around to make me feel better, but I don’t know why. “You don’t have to do this, you know. You have every right to hate me.”

“I don’t. Not really.”

“Why? Seriously Lev, why not? I fucked up everything.”

“You’re my sister. No, seriously, that’s all there is to it. You’re my sister and we’re running out of family, right? Step’s gone and losing him put a lot of shit into perspective for me. I was pissed when you ran off with Alex, but now I get it. I see the way you two are together, and I get it.”

I nod, feeling miserable. “What are you going to do?”

“We both know I don’t have much of a choice.”

“That’s the thing. You should.”

“Yeah, maybe, but that’s not the way things are. Step died and I was pushed into his position. No choice there. You got pregnant, and now I’m doing what you couldn’t. Still no choice there. I’ll survive, because it’s what I do.”

“Lev—“ I try to say something, but there are no words. My throat swells with tears and I have to blink them away. I don’t wantto start crying and make him feel freaking worse than I already have.

“It’s okay. I’m glad you got to yell at Dad a little at least.” He gives me a sideways hug, pulling me against him briefly. “Good luck, little sister. I mean that with all sincerity. I want you to be happy.”

“Yeah, Lev. I want you to be happy too.”

He only gives me one of his big, charming smiles, before walking off. I watch him go and something about that feels weird to me.Good luck? Why is he sayinggood luck?

But before I can chase after him, Alex appears at the end of the hall. I go to my husband and he kisses me, and I tell him about what happened with my father as we get the hell out of that house, but something still isn’t sitting right as he drives me back home to the apartment.

Chapter 38

Alexander

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