Page 82 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

Her jaw tightens. “Why are you so sure I’m wrong?”

“Because I know you are. You don’t think Jennifer and I have done our digging?”

She frowns. “Jennifer is still on this case?”

“Of course. She never stopped.”

“So she knows more about this than I do?”

I nod. “She has earned that right.”

It comes out harsher than I intended. Hurt ripples across Olivia’s face and she takes a step back from me. “And I haven’t? I turned my back on my family for you, in case you forgot.”

“For me?” I ask. “Or did you choose me because I was your best bet?”

“I’m carrying your baby. You tell me.”

“I think I’ve made myself very clear already.”

“Yeah,” she spits, “you’ve made it clear that you think I’m a brainless idiot just like everyone else does. You’re questioning my judgment. Just like Rob, just like Mia, just like Hargrove.”

“This doesn’t concern you.”

“If it doesn’t concern me,” she retorts, “then how the hell does it concern Jennifer?”

“She’s good at what she does.”

“Right, exactly.” Olivia nods emphatically. “She’s a good actor. You are, too, aren't you, Aleks? That’s what you’re doing right now: acting. That’s what you’ve done since the very moment you tracked me down.”

“There’s no reason to work yourself up. Think about the baby.”

She puts her hands on my chest and shoves hard. It doesn’t do anything, but I imagine it makes her feel good.

"You’rethe one who told me not to make it so easy for other people to bully me,” she reminds me. “And I won’t do it anymore. Not even with you.”

I sigh. “I’m not trying to bully you.”

“Aren’t you?” she presses. “Because all I hear is you telling me to calm down, sit down, and shut up whenever I ask questions you don’t like.”

“You’re too emotional to be given information, Olivia.”

Her eyes flash. “Excuse me?”

I don’t back down, though perhaps I should. “You’re a wild card. Today, you’re upset with your siblings. But what happens tomorrow, when you reconcile with them? Are you going to tell them everything I’ve told you?”

“You really believe I would do that?”

“I wouldn't put it past Hargrove or your siblings to try talking you into it."

A sob bursts from her lips. “Do you really think I can be manipulated that easily? Why will no one give me a single fucking ounce of credit?”

“Listen to me,” I growl, reaching forward to grab her. She tries to slap my hand away, but I persist until I have her pressed against my body. “It’s not about being manipulated, Olivia. But youwantto believe that everyone you love is innocent. That there’s a way forward, where all of us end up one big, happy family. That’s the good in you speaking.”

She struggles, baring her teeth at me. I just wrap my arm more firmly around her waist.

“But it is not going to happen, Olivia. It’s always going to be us versus them. It cannot be any other way.”

“Not everything is a war, Aleks.”

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