Page 32 of Betraying Family Vows

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Dimitri slams on the brakes.

The tires screech and the car jolts to a stop. I lurch forward, my hands braced against the dash, heart pounding in my throat.

He turns to me, eyes cold.

"You're going to lie to me. Now. After everything?"

"I'm not lying."

"Try again."

I cross my arms and look out the window. "Just drive."

He waits a moment and then starts driving again.

A few minutes later, he pulls a manila envelope from the console and tosses it onto my lap.

"What's this?"

"You tell me."

I open it and see the images.

"Pictures."

"Yes, of me. My brothers. My sister, Calli," his voice is sharp now. Accusing. "Someone's been tracking us. And they gave this shit to you."

"I don't know who took them," I say, "if that's what you're implying."

"But you carried them."

I don't reply.

"See what else is in there."

I sigh, already knowing. I pull out the wedding invitation.

"That's how you got in," he says. "Forged fucking copies. Pretty little setup you've got."

I go to speak, but he cuts me off.

"Oh, and that medical examiner's report on Cosmo?" He glances at me. "You know that was fake, right? It lists me as cause of death."

"Screw you," I say, mainly because I'm embarrassed.

I knew it was bullshit. I knew. But I wanted so badly to believe it that I let it slide.

"Someone played you, Alepoudítsa," he says, eerily calm. "And you let them."

"No one played me. I knew what I was doing."

"Do you?" He turns to look at me again, his blue eyes penetrating my armor. "You don't even know what you're a part of, do you?"

"I know enough."

"You don’t know shit." He looks back at the road. "You really think someone like this John G. gives a fuck about you? About your parents?"

The cold dismissal in his tone makes my blood boil.

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