Page 119 of Sweet Deception
He was thinking. Strategizing.
Gleb remained seated for several minutes, his expression unreadable. He looked lost, overwhelmed.
I shifted uneasily before breaking the silence. “Did I force you to choose between me and your family?”
His jaw clenched. “Yes. You caused it all. You should have never gone to Italy without my consent. You’ve complicated everything.”
“So it’s all my fault?”
“Of course it is.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “I went there to save your sister. And I succeeded.”
His fingers twitched into fists at his sides. “And now we could all die for it. I broke a decades-old agreement between our cartels. No matter how much we hate each other, we have always respected certain boundaries. That’s gone now.”
He exhaled sharply. “The only way to take down your family is to lure them out of Italy, ambush them, just like they did to us in Mexico years ago.”
“Is there something I can do?” I hesitated. “I can talk to my father.”
He scoffed. “You don’t even know who your father truly is. He doesn’t respect you. He might entertain a conversation with your sister, but you? Hell no.”
I swallowed hard. “Then I’ll speak to Maria.”
He gestured for me to join him.
“No, I’m fine.” I stayed where I was, arms crossed, guilt pressing down on me. I had messed everything up. And now, his grandmother was declaring war on him, on us.
His voice was quiet but firm. “If Grandma declares war, even if I win, I lose everything I’ve built.”
“I’ll talk to Maria,” I said, more determined this time. “Will you try speaking to your grandmother again? Maybe she’ll change her mind.”
He shook his head. “No. She’ll do what’s best for the family. But yes, you should speak to your people.”
I nodded, then frowned when I noticed him studying me. “What?”
“Why are you still standing?”
“I don’t feel like sitting.”
Without warning, he stood and lifted me effortlessly, settling me on his lap. I gasped, stiffening against him, but he didn’t let me go. His face was close, his expression raw.
“Are you angry?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes.”
“At me?”
He hesitated. “Yes. But I don’t want you to leave me again, so I can’t express it.”
My chest tightened. “You’re afraid I’ll leave?”
His grip on my waist tightened slightly. “I won’t be able to stand it this time. No matter what, do not leave me. Okay?”
Tears burned my eyes. “I won’t make you choose between me and your family.”
His gaze darkened. “Who says I’ll choose?” He cupped my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Just promise you won’t leave.”
A tear slipped down my cheek. Could I promise him that?
