Page 167 of Dirty Grovel

But I can already sense my resolve waning. Happiness blooms like a drug in my veins, as addictive and as irresistible as the first hit after a lifetime of sobriety.

I have to be strong.

I have to tell him.

We don’t have a future. We’re just pretending right now.

And even if we did love each other, is that love strong enough to endure a lifetime of differences?

I can only be sure of myself in this instance. I know what I’m capable of.

But him? Him, I’m not so sure about.

I just have to tell him where I stand and resist his attempts to charm me.

I’m about to open my mouth and tell him exactly that, but he beats me to the punch.

“I have something to tell you.”

That sends a shudder down my spine. “What is it?”

He sits up and turns in my direction, those golden eyes of his blazing. “It’s about your sister.”

Immediately, the panic races up my throat. I feel as though I’m going to gag on it. Oleg must see the panic in my eyes, because he leans forward and grabs my hand.

“Don’t worry, Sutton: Your sister’s fine. She’s going to be free soon enough. The charges against her were dropped by the D.A.’s office.”

My jaw drops. “W-what?”

Oleg nods. “Yesterday, I was paid a visit from Detective Cooper. She told me that Anton was the one responsible for the break-in at Boris’s home. He was the one that beat him to a bloody pulp. Probably acting on the Martineks’ orders, not that Detective Cooper is aware of that part. At least, she didn’t say as much to me.”

“Okay,” I murmur, trying to connect the dots. “I’m still having trouble figuring out how that gets Sydney off the hook.”

“Because the D.A. had to launch a full-scale investigation into Anton and his dealings the last year or two. They came across evidence that supported our defense that Sydney was abused at Anton’s hands.”

I frown. “E-evidence…? What kind of evidence?”

“Video tapes.”

“Oh my God,” I gasp, hand settling over my heart. “So… she’s not even going to stand trial?”

“The D.A. isn’t going to want the bad press. And putting a battered and abused woman on trial for snapping and killing her abuser is going to come off really bad in the public eye. Especially with the team of lawyers I’d put together. They’re satisfied to have Sydney complete her term at Alice Matlin and be done with this whole ordeal.”

My heart soars. I’m on the verge of throwing myself right into Oleg’s arms.

“Sydney won’t be going to jail,” I breathe, reveling in those sweet words.

“I would never have let that happen, Sutton,” Oleg assures me confidently. “I would have done whatever I needed to do to make sure she never saw the inside of a prison.”

Tears prickle at the corners of my eyes. “Oleg… I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything. I promised I would take care of you and I intend to keep that promise. That extends to anyoneyou care about. I know you may not always like how I go about it, but I’m never going to stop making good on that promise.”

A tear slips down my cheek. “I’m sorry I got so mad at you… I was?—”

“Scared for your sister,” he finishes for me. “You were scared and panicked and desperate. You needed to let off steam and I was your punching bag.”

I wince. “Yes…”

---