Page 86 of The Den of Sin
Isabella’s shoulders straightened, portraying her strength. The only betrayal to her nervousness was her hand gripping mine in a tight squeeze. I gently squeezed back, letting her know I had her back.
“Nobody told me,” she answered Raphael’s question, leaving Sasha in the dark. Eventually my little brother would catch up. “I’ve known it for a few years now.”
“How?” Raphael was suspicious. I didn’t blame him. Men in our world didn’t play fair.
“The first time I learned my mom had something to do with the famous and ruthless Florida cartel leader,” she accented the word cartel, letting him know she clearly didn’t approve of it, “was when she was in the hospital, under the influence of her meds.” She exhaled and continued, holding her big brother’s gaze. “After she died, I packed up our house and found her journal. I read it and learned-” she cleared her throat, her gaze going to Alexei and then returning to Raphael. “Well, I learned a lot. But that’s how I know about you and who my father was. I also know that my father was cruel and evil, and my mother never wanted me around him.”
Silence followed and the meaning of it lingered. It was as if everyone stopped breathing. This knowledge was a shock to everyone but Alexei and me. I still remembered that feeling when I learned who her father was. Three decades of fighting, and now, I would marry Lombardo Santos’ only daughter.
“What?” Sasha asked again, a dumbfounded expression on his face. I started to wonder whether it was smart to have brought him along. I prayed he didn’t do something stupid, like kill Raphael. Although I had to admit, it was kind of comical to see him push his hands through his hair, like he thought he was losing his mind.
Raphael, on the other hand, was tugging on his tie, like it was too tight. Isabella’s eyes remained on him, silently challenging him to contradict her statement.
“You are right,” he finally commented. “My father and my older brother were both cruel bastards. I didn’t agree with their methods nor their approach to things. But I’m not my father, Isabella.” He shoved his hands back into his pockets, but his eyes remained on his sister. “This world is different, rough, brutal, and unforgiving. Vasili and his men are not much different from me. But I promise you that I would never hurt you.”
“You fucking choked her,” Alexei growled. “Her neck is covered in bruises, made by your hand.” Alexei’s lips curved into a scowl and his body shifted, as if he was ready to attack. “And I don’t give a shit whether you thought she was Tatiana or not. Hurting either one of them was unforgivable.”
I agreed with my brother. But I had a feeling Isabella’s soft heart would give Raphael a chance.
“And you Alexei never hurt anyone, right?” Raphael spat right back. “I see you have been hiding under Nikolaev’s skirt, killing for hire for Vasili?” Isabella’s head snapped to her other brother. “Don’t you fucking preach to me, Alexei. When you fucking track people and kill them for money.”
I growled. “Alexei is my brother. And Isabella’s.”
It was Raphael’s turn to look surprised. Alexei was advancing on Raphael, ready to pounce on him. Those two were probably evenly matched, but if I tried to stop Alexei now, it would only cause him to fucking attack his sister’s other brother faster. Sasha was right next to Alexei ready to join in and Raphael had a knife pulled out of his holster. I guess the bastard really did come in alone because if he hadn’t, I was sure at least a warning shot would have been fired by now.
Isabella pulled her hand out of mine, and I immediately followed her movement. Fuck if I would let her have even an inch of space; not among all the fucking idiots on this lawn.
“Can we all calm down?” Isabella cut in between Alexei and Raphael, each one of her hands pushing against their chest. I did the same with Sasha.
“Behave yourself, Sasha,” I warned him in Russian.
“Bella-” Alexei started but she cut him off.
“I don’t care what you have done, Alexei,” she murmured, gently rubbing his chest. “I know you would never hurt women and children. I only care that you survived, and I know you did what you had to in order to do that.” He nodded, and for the first time since I found my brother, there was a small light that entered his eyes. He never thought anyone could love him, knowing what he had done. What he had to do to survive! But Bella was right, everything he did was for his own survival. My malyshka turned to her other brother. “And you, Raphael Santos,” she started and he tensed. It was fucking awesome to see her command both of these killers with just her words. “I might have purposely kept myself ignorant of this world you all live in, but I know the reputation you have versus the one your father and brother had.”
Raphael’s face tensed, taking her words as a conviction, but before he could say anything Isabella continued.
“I know you are against human trafficking and despite you trying to kill me yesterday-” Raphael’s eyes lowered to her slender neck where bluish-purple bruises colored her pale skin. “I’m giving you another chance. But you better not try hurting Tatiana or me.”
Surprise flashed in Raphael’s eyes, but he quickly got himself together. “You have my word, sister.”
“And you can’t hurt Vasili either,” she quickly added, a big smile spreading across her face. “We are going to get married. And you can’t hurt Alexei and Sasha. Okay, how about we say you don’t hurt anyone that works for the Nikolaev family or is connected to them.” Her eyes returned to me. “Am I missing anyone?”
“Nyet,” I murmured, pulling her into me. “How about a truce?” I locked eyes with Raphael. “It would seem we all have something in common, my future wife. What do you all say?”
“I guess, if we must,” Alexei muttered grudgingly.
Sasha agreed too. “At least we ended up with the two best Santos. Although I have to tell you, Raphael. Isabella outclasses you by millions.”
Raphael ‘s eyes traveled to his sister. “I agree. She certainly does.”
“I can’t believe I ended up with two big brothers.” Isabella shook her head in disbelief, a small smile playing on her lips. “Actually, it will be three with Sasha.”
Surprisingly, Sasha chuckled. “Girl, I have been your big brother from the moment you and Tatiana started freshman year. Don’t forget, I’ve seen you both drunk and almost arrested for indecent exposure.”
“What?” Raphael, Alexei, and I asked in unison, growling.
Isabella smiled sheepishly and then met my gaze. “I was hoping you’d come and rescue us, but Sasha ended up showing up. We were both in a bathing suit, swimming in the campus fountain. We were decent!” she mockingly glared at Sasha.
