Page 79 of Porcelain Lies

I shake my head, remembering Aleksei’s cold dismissal after our encounter. “The debt is settled. But Nick—” I catch his gaze, holding it. “You need to stay away from that world. No more gambling, no more… connections.”

“Of course, yeah, absolutely.” He nods eagerly, relief washing over his features. “I swear, Stell. I’m done with all of it.”

The earnestness in his voice makes my chest ache. He has no idea what his mistakes have cost — what I’ve sacrificed to keep him safe. But isn’t that what big sisters are for? To shield their little brothers from the harsh realities?

“There’s one more thing.” I force myself to continue. “You need to get out of town.”

“Out of town?” His brows pull together.

“You have twenty-four hours to leave Los Angeles.” The words taste like ash in my mouth. “Tarasov was clear about that condition.”

Nick’s face drains of color, his earlier relief evaporating. “Twenty-four hours? But I… where am I supposed to go?”

“Anywhere.” I grip the couch cushion to steady myself. “Just far from here. From his territory.”

“What about you?” Nick runs his hands through his already disheveled hair. “You can’t stay here alone, not after everything with Mom and Dad—”

“I’ll be fine.” The lie comes easily now, after so many others tonight. “I have the apartment, my job. Hannah.”

“But Tarasov—”

“Isn’t interested in me.” Another lie that burns my throat, especially with the lingering evidence of his interest still marking my skin beneath my clothes. “The debt is yours, and so is this condition.”

“There has to be another way.” Nick starts pacing, his sneakers wearing a path in our carpet. “Maybe if I talked to him myself—”

“No!” The force of my response makes him jump. I modulate my voice, trying to hide my panic. “That would only make things worse. Trust me, Nick. This is the best outcome we could hope for.”

“How do you know? What aren’t you telling me about the meeting?”

I focus on smoothing invisible wrinkles from my dress, avoiding his searching gaze. “I told you everything that matters. You’re free of the debt, but you have to leave.”

“I…” His face falls, defeat etched onto his features. “Okay. I guess you’re right. This is a good outcome.”

“Let’s get your things together.” I nod to where he’s stashed his few meager belongings. He’s been on the move for so long that he doesn’t have much, but what’s there makes my heart ache.

I help Nick stuff clothes into his old duffel bag, the one we used for swim team when we were kids. Each t-shirt, each pair of jeans represents another piece of our life together falling away.

“You should take my blue sweater.” I pull it from my dresser.

“But Mom knitted it for your graduation.” His brow furrows. “I can’t.”

“You need warm clothes.” I press the sweater into his arms. “And it’s… it’s a piece of her.”

He nods, fingers tracing the uneven pattern where Mom dropped a stitch. The sound of fabric rustling fills the silence between us.

The metallic sound of the zipper on the bag feels so final. Like sealing away our childhood, our family, everything we were supposed to be.

I grip the strap of Nick’s duffel bag, the worn fabric grounding me as I force out the hardest part.

“There’s one more condition.” My throat tightens. “No contact. With anyone here. Including me.”

Nick drops the sweater he’s folding. “What? No, that’s insane. You’re all I have left.”

“Nice. Didn’t remember this when you were arranging the funerals.”Boyana’s voice is dry.

“It’s non-negotiable.” I turn away, unable to bear the hurt in his eyes. “Clean break. New start.”

“But why? The debt’s paid. Why can’t we at least talk?”

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