Page 56 of Plus-Size Bratva Possession
Even though I felt anger at her words, by her lack of understanding, a small part of my heart bloomed with affection. “You defended me against them?”
“Of course,” she nodded, her eyes still flashing with agitation. “Because despite everything, despite how unfair this whole situation is, I understand your pain. I understand why you wanted revenge.”
Her words left me momentarily speechless. Elena, who had every right to hate me, didn’t. Shedefendedme. One usually didn’t do that for people they were apathetic about.
“Could it be…” I asked with a grin. “That you’ve started growing fond of me?”
“Oh, stop it,” she flicked my arm, her eyes still burning. “Of course I’m fond of you, you fool. But I also can’t continue living like this. Do you have any idea how conflicting it is to know you believe my family—” She stopped short, as though she couldn’t bring herself to say Adriana’s name. Like it was too painful.
“They did it,” I said, my mood dampening.
“I talked to Federico,” she continued, her voice quieter now. “He's looking into what happened to Adriana. He swears they weren't involved.”
“You did what?” I roared. “I told you, specifically, not to say anything!”
“And I said you didn’t have to come for dinner that night. But you came and acted so hostile that there were questions. I had to say something!”
“You didn’t have to do anything.” I inched closer, until I was hovering over her.
She looked up at me, her eyes defiant but calm. “Well, I did. And I still think we should find the real culprits so Adriana’s death doesn’t go unpunished. Don’t you? For how long—”
“And if your family did it?” I growled. “If we find the real culprits, as you say, and discover they did it, then what, Elena?Then what?”
She gasped, her face turning pale. A strange silence fell over us, and I, too, realized I didn’t have an answer for that one. I thought taking Elena was enough of a revenge. I thought denying Giovanni of Larissa’s love was enough.
Yet, after each action, none felt enough in retribution, and I also couldn’t imagine doing what they did. I couldn’t imagine killing a woman precious to them. There was no answer to this insane situation, no revenge befitting enough.
And Elena knew it too, for she didn’t say a word now.
But I still wasn’t done. I needed more from her brothers; I needed them to suffer. I simply didn’t know what it would take to find peace and where to draw that line.
The silence stretched between us, taut and uncomfortable, until Elena’s eyes flickered to the door. “We should go back inside,” she said. “They’d be wondering where we are.”
I caught her wrist. “No. We're leaving. I’m not forcing you through this. I can see you’re torn.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “What? We can't just—”
“I'll tell them you have a headache. Nobody will question it.”
She looked like she wanted to argue, but then nodded, her shoulders sagging with what looked like relief. “Fine.”
Five minutes later, we were in the car.
I put up the screen, the tension from earlier still remaining.
“So, you’re not going to talk to me?” I asked.
“I would, if you cared to listen,” she hissed back.
And just like that, we were back at square one.
“And you think you listen, Elena? When I told you not to tell anyone, and you went to Federico?”
“My brothers have EVERY right to know why you hold an enmity against them. You have no idea how confused they are by your hostility!” she yelled back.
“They’re a bunch of actors. The whole lot of them,” I barked back.
“Don’t you dare call them liars!” Her eyes burned with fury. “You hear me? If they can prove their innocence—”
