Page 116 of Unveiled

At another time and place, I’d have been horrified. But now… but now I see the truth.

Semyon Kopolov… loves me.

Eli flinches. I see it, the moment reality sinks in. The bruises, the hollowed cheeks. The way his hands tremble. He’s paid the piper too.

I drop to one knee in front of him. “Eli.” My lower lip trembles. He reaches for my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze.

“I’m sorry, Anya,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop it, I didn’t want you mixed up in all this.”

I give him a sad smile. “I know, but it’s too late for that. I thought you left.”

He scoffs. “Left? I might’ve made some bad decisions, but do you really think I’d leave you and Stefan alone like that?”

Yeah. Yeah, I really did think that.

“Maybe I did.”

Eli shakes his head. “I deserve that. I fucked up. Still, you should’ve run, Anya. Jesus, woman. Instead, you marriedhim.”

And for some reason I can’t explain, I feel like defending Semyon. “It’s not like I married the devil incarnate.”

Semyon quirks a brow. “Thanks?”

Eli lets out a ragged breath and drags himself to sitting, leaning against the wall for support.

“You’re welcome, by the way,” he says dryly to Eli. “And you and I aren’t done here.”

Eli holds his hands, palms up. “I won’t fight you anymore.” His gaze flicks over Semyon’s wounded shoulder. “And you’re bleeding through your stitches, dumbass.”

Semyon shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”

“Yeah, yeah, you fucking Bratva hardass.”

A beat of silence stretches. They haven’t forgiven each other, but are we getting closer to an understanding?

“Are you two done beating the shit out of each other or what?” I ask sternly, hands planted on my hips.

“I’m done,” Semyon says wryly. “For now. Depends on what I find out when I ask some questions whether or not I continue the well-deserved ass beating.”

Eli shakes his head. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Semyon only frowns at him. “You gonna tell me who the fuck had you?”

“As if you need any confirmation.”

Semyon’s body goes rigid. “I knew it. The fucking Irish.” He shakes his head. “Makes no sense why they’d just bring you back, though, unless they had something to gain by it.”

Eli frowns. “They want to dismantle your entire operation from the inside out. They took me because I owed them money, but somebody paid them off.”

Semyon frowns. “Did they?”

“Yeah. No clue who.”

“Still doesn’t make sense that they just let you go.”

“So yeah, can we figure this all out later, you guys? I think it would be really smart right now if you weren’t bleeding out on the floor when you have these discussions?”

Semyon rises to his feet, towering over Eli. “I told you, Anya. We aren’t done here.” He nods to the door. “Go. I’ll come see you after Eli and I talk.”

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