Page 186 of Shattered Altar (Makarova Bratva Duet)

“Actually, they’re paid to mind my business,” he retorts. “And you are currently my business.”

“You’re an asshole.”

He rolls his eyes. “You’ll get used to it.”

“I want to speak to my brother,” I say, changing the subject. “I haven’t talked to my family in weeks.”

“You know why that is.”

I feel my head spin as another bout of nausea creeps up my throat. My knees buckle, but before I hit the floor, Aleks scoops me up into his arms.

He carries me to the bed and sets me down gently. I expect him to back away immediately and put the distance between us that he seems to crave.

But instead, he kneels down in front of me. He runs his hand over my forehead and frowns.

“You’re clammy.”

I jerk away from his touch. “I’m fine.”

“Stop fighting me all the damn time. I’m trying to take care of you, for fuck’s sake.”

“I won’t ever stop fighting. Not until you realize you don’t own me.”

“Then you’re going to be really tired.”

I glare at him, but I’m still too dizzy to come up with a proper comeback.

Aleks stares back and then, to my surprise, something in his expression cracks. “Believe it or not,” he murmurs, “I’m not the enemy.”

In spite of myself, my hands twitch with the urge to reach out and touch him. It wouldn’t take much. Just a few inches to cup his face. I could press a kiss to his cheek. He looks so exhausted suddenly. Like he’s been waging a vicious battle for decades and it’s cost him everything he ever had.

“You may not have done what my brother thinks you did,” I say. “But you’re still keeping me here. Why not just tell him the truth?”

“Because he won’t listen.”

“He’s my brother,” I protest. “He’ll listen to me.”

“Even if that were true, you’re in no fit state for any kind of intense conversation. We can revisit this idea when you’re better.”

His eyes are so hypnotizing that I find myself leaning in. “And… and you’ll let me speak to my family?”

“Maybe.”

“Will I be able to see them, too?” I ask hopefully.

He looks skeptical, but he doesn’t say no, either.

“If I can just sit with him and explain,” I add, barreling through before he can reject the idea outright, “I know I can make him understand. He’ll drop the case, Aleks. I know he will.”

“He doesn’t have the power anymore,” he informs me. “He was reassigned.”

I stare at him. At his unsettling good looks and his raw power. It feels strange, these opposing feelings taking up equal space inside me. I want to run from him, but at the same time, I want to stay.

I want to be with him, but I also want to hide away in my old life.

I want to be brave, but I’m scared.

“Then why am I still here?” I ask. “You don’t need me anymore.”

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