Page 77 of Unhinged

When he leans in, his eyes locked on mine, he gives me a wicked grin.

"We’ll discuss that later, won’t we?” He shakes his head at me. “My little witch, always casting spells."

I step out of the car. He’s close. Too close. His hand presses against the small of my back, the warmth bleeding through my top like the brand on his own skin. I tense, and he feels it—his fingers flex slightly. Not reassurance—a warning.

"Tell me again, who’s here today?"

"Rafail, obviously. And his wife, Polina, who I’m sure you’re eager to meet."

I’m not sureeageris the right word. I’m nervous as fuck.

"My cousin Semyon, second oldest and second-in-command. His wife, Anya. Her brothers are here often, but they’re not here today.”

Anya. Pretty name.

I nod, trying to keep track as he goes on. "That’s all?"

"It’s an intimate gathering," he says quietly. "Vadka will be here as well. He’s one of the family’s enforcers, not related by blood."

I know the name. I know all their names.

Still, I want his reassurance.

"And Grandfather will be here, as always.”

Oh.As always.

Thank god his parents aren’t coming.

"No Rodion?" I ask. I was kind of looking forward to watching Matvei with his best friend.

He shakes his head. "Not today."

The door is opened before we reach it, a uniformed attendant nodding and smiling graciously before she looks at me. "Welcome."

Her smile falters, her eyes widening.

"My god," she whispers. "The resemblance is uncanny."

"I know," Matvei says quietly. Me. They’re talking about me. I swallow hard.

With a sharp tilt of his chin, he dismisses her.

"Why are they staring?" I whisper, uncomfortably aware of everyone’s eyes on me.

"You’ll understand in a minute," he murmurs back.

His hand finds the small of my back again. This time, I don’t mind.

I’m breathing rapidly, my pulse fluttering. He turns and looks at me, almost curious.

"You ran—repeatedly—from one of the Kopolov family’s most dangerous men," he muses. "And you expect me to believe you’re afraid of a little dinner?"

We both know it’s more than that. I’m about to face the man that has every right, in the eyes of the Bratva, to slit my throat and bury my body. I’m about to face the sister I never knew I had, the one who ended up married to the man I ran from.

I’ve never wanted to run so badly in my life.

But I smile at him anyway.

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