Page 70 of Plus-Size Bratva Possession
“We’ve never seen Elena like this,” Gio hissed. “What did you do to my sister, you piece of shit?”
Carlo and Dino were on their feet now, too, and moved to stand beside me.
“How is she?” I asked, before I could stop myself.
“Like you care!” Dante spat. “Elena didn’t come because of you, and when we finally did find her over at our lake house, she was a fucking mess. You hear me? A mess!”
The muscles wrenched around my heart, and I clenched my fists, thinking about her in a lake house, all by herself. Elena always loved company. And now, she was hiding away. She’d become a prisoner of her own mind, all because ofme.
But Federico started ranting before I could tell them I made a mistake. “She defends you, you know. Even now. She told us through tears that you're a good man.”
“But she still won't come home! She’s telling us nothing more about this alleged fight you had!” fumes Dante.
My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might crack. But I had no words, no justifications for what happened. “I want to talk to her…Please,” I added.
“If you dare step one foot close to our sister-” Luca roared.
“Look,” Dino cut in, stepping slightly in front of me. “I don't know what's going on between my brother and your sister, but storming in here like this isn't helping anything.”
“Stay out of this,” Dante warned.
“No, you stay out of it,” Carlo countered, his voice deadly quiet. “You’re out here, threatening our brother when he’s worried sick about Elena, too. You know you aren’t the only ones who care about her, right?We all do.”
“Maybe. But you haven’t seen her state,” Gio said in a gentle tone. “Larissa goes over every day, and Elena’s only getting worse. She’s heartbroken, and it’s clear whatever happened between them wasbad. She’s losing weight. She isn’t eating. She isn’t sleeping. And she won’t talk.”
The wordheartbrokenhit me like a physical blow. When she first left, I imagined she was mad. I pictured her mad. Mad was better than heartbroken.
“I didn't—” I started, then stopped. What could I say? That I didn't mean to hurt her? I had.
“You didn't what?” Gio pressed, taking another step toward me. “You didn't think she'd actually care when you treated her like garbage?”
Dino moved between us. “That's enough. You've said your piece. Now get out before this gets ugly.”
Gio was about to say something, but Caspian put a hand on his shoulder. “We should go.”
He then looked me straight in the eye. “We just came to tell you that whatever it is you did, fix it, before she breaks even further.”
None of us said a word until the Lebedevs were gone.
“I need to talk to her,” I said, more to myself than to them, my eyes still at the door.
Carlo nodded. “Yes, you do. But first, maybe figure out what you want to say.”
***
Later that night, after an hour of mustering up courage, I finally called her number. I had stopped calling two days ago, but after today’s confrontation, I knew I couldn’t just…stop.
I thought I was helping her by giving her space. But now I wonder if that was the entirely wrong strategy. After how I spoke to her, how bad I hurt her, I needed to beg for forgiveness. Even if it took weeks, months, or years.
The phone rang, and when that little click came on, my eyes widened with shock. She picked up. Sheactuallypicked up. The adrenaline coursed through me so hard that I jumped to my feet.
“Hello?” Her voice was hesitant. Just the sound of it made my chest ache.
“Elena,” I breathed. “It's me.”
“I know,” she said, after a pause.
“Your brothers came by today,” I said, for lack of anything better. “Told me where you were.”
