Page 97 of Scarlet Secrets

I haven’t been upstairs yet, only getting back a couple hours ago and I’ve been neck deep in shit.

Something feels amiss with Sergio’s intel. The other day I understand, if Niko got wind of us heading in, I can see the coward ducking out of things. But last night he shouldn’t have known and yet…

I glance at my sister and step outside, stealing her coffee as I call Ilya, who’s out getting me intel.

“Boss?”

“You still got a contact within the Augusto mafia?”

“Da.”

I sip the coffee. It needs sugar and milk and maybe no alcohol. “I don’t like how Niko keeps getting the jump. Contact your guy and have him keep an eye on Sergio. Anything suspicious and I want to know about it.”

I end the call and go back in. “Did you have some bourbon this morning?”

My sister narrows her eyes. “And last night with your love.”

“My what?” I snap.

“Love. Erin?”

My heart lurches. “Love is for idiots.”

And then I realize who I said that to and I suck in a breath. “Angel, I’m sorry?—”

She takes her coffee back. “It’s fine. It’s you.” She gestures at the machine. “Do you want one? A nonalcoholic coffee? And no, it’s not a thing, me putting booze in the drinks. I just… it's been a terrible couple of days.”

I swallow and nod. My phone lights up with a message from one of my men. I text him back. It’s about a shipment coming in, and I want it to go ahead as planned.

Alina speaks to me and I grunt at her in response, slightly irritated at every fucking thing.

She snatches my phone and lays it face down. “I asked if you wanted an extra sugar. Since you’re in such a good mood, I should just make it two more than usual.”

“Sorry. A lot on my mind.” And I grab my phone back, sliding it into my pocket.

She puts her coffee down. “So… Erin…”

“What about her?” My gaze goes to the door, but it’s still slightly too early for Sasha.

“Maybe you should try being less you and more… what’s that thing you don’t believe in? Romance? Love? Maybe try the romance.”

I go still. “Did she say something?”

Alina just shakes her head and hunts around for something to eat, settling on a banana, which isn’t much for breakfast and I know she’s been losing weight, but I’m not about to say anything.

“Does she have to?”

“She’s here, that’s enough. She’s not locked up, either.”

“Demyan…” She stops and comes up to me, putting a hand on my shirt. “You started by punishing her, taking her baby from her for a mistake that—that she’s sorry for.”

Oh fuck, Alina thinks I was out of line.

And I’m pretty sure my sister’s right when I look at it, but what was I meant to have thought? Done? Fuck. Fuck. I told her to move in. I’ve let her out. We’ll get married and this won’t be an issue. To ice that damn cake, I’ll make my sister better on one level by taking out the fuck who killed her love.

She believes in love. I don’t. I believe in trust. Sex. Family. Power. What else is there?

“You think I was wrong?”

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