Page 71 of Beautiful Trauma
“I know. I just can’t help how I feel.”
“The anguish your sister would’ve experienced at your death would have been overwhelming. She needed you then, and she needs you now. Just like your brothers do.” After exhaling a ragged breath, she said, “Just like I do.”
My heart began to pound wildly in my chest. “Do you still need me, Mila?”
“Of course I do. I can’t stay stuck in this hellhole the rest of my life,” she teased.
With a growl, I countered, “This is serious.”
She gave me a remorseful sigh. “I know. I’m just not good with feelings.”
“I am. I can be good with them for both of us.”
“Is there an us?” she questioned softly.
“I’d like to try.” Cocking my brows at her, I asked, “Do you?”
“I do…but it just seems impossible.”
“Because of our families?”
She nodded. “Even if Father refuses, I know Dima won’t allow what Brian did to go unpunished. That could start a war with the Byrnes, which would trickle down to your family.”
“After what Brian did, he’s dead to our family. I can assure you of that.”
“Even if you leave yesterday out of it, do you honestly think your family could accept me after what I did to you?”
I shrugged. “If I tell them to, they will.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Mila countered, “That doesn’t sound like much of a guarantee.”
“At first, they might not be happy about me pursuing something with you, but they’ll come around.” At her continued apprehension, I said, “I swear.”
She rubbed her hand over her eyes and groaned. “Here I am worrying about your family when mine is going to be a tough sell, too.”
“Excuse me? My track record is squeaky clean compared to yours. I even saved you from assault and marriage to a psychopath,” I protested.
Mila snorted. “Ah, so you think just because you’re a hero, all will be forgiven?”
“It sure as hell should be.”
Shaking her head, she countered, “How quickly you forget that in my brothers’ eyes, you’re guilty by association.”
“Because of Brian?”
“Because of Dare.”
I winced. Of course, there was my eejit older brother who had started this whole mess in the first place by not just picking up a fucking phone and telling Danill he was pulling out of the marriage alliance. “I see where that might be a problem at first.”
“You’re ridiculously optimistic.”
“Maybe if I throw some money your father’s way,” I suggested.
“Once again, you’re too optimistic. My father would rather lose money if it enabled him to hold a grudge.”
With my frustration rising at all the opposition we faced, I snapped, “Well, if he wouldn’t even bother with your rescue, why should he give a fuck who you date?”
The moment the words left my lips, I cringed. At the look of hurt in Mila’s eyes, I hung my head. “I’m sorry. That was a low blow.”
