Page 86 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

“Stop making shit up just to soothe me.”

“I am not doing anything of the sort,” she says with so much sincere force that I actually believe her. “Trust me on this one, Olivia. You guys… you are such a beautiful family. It really did make me want to be a part of it all.”

I feel that familiar lump begin to form in my throat. Twice as big as it used to be, now that Mom is gone. Actually, make that four times as big.

Because I’ve lost Rob and Mia just as surely as I’ve lost my mother.

“We’re not that family anymore.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s true,” I say harshly. “Our parents are both gone, and instead of banding together like they would have wanted us to, we’ve let this… thisnightmaresplinter us apart.”

“Okay, so change it.”

“I tried!” I snap. “I tried with Mia. She… she basically told me I was responsible for Mom’s death.”

Jennifer sighs. “That was a cruel thing to say to you.”

“Maybe she’s not wrong.”

“Sheiswrong,” Jennifer says firmly. “And deep down, you know that, too. Listen, Liv, I’m not trying to defend Mia here. But people say the most awful things to each other when they’re hurt.”

“This is Mia!” I protest. “She’s my big sister.”

“I know.”

“She was supposed to have my back no matter what.”

“I know.”

“And she chose a man over me,” I say, choking out the last few words. “I know that might sound hypocritical, but it’s different. They were trying to abort my baby!”

Jennifer leans forward and puts her hand over mine. The contact is so unexpected that I go completely still. I stare down at her fingers—so petite, so fragile, so innocent-seeming if I didn’t know better.

“Liv, look at me.”

Reluctantly, I raise my eyes to meet hers.

“You were protecting your family,” she reminds me softly. “You did what I would have done. You have nothing to feel guilty for.”

I nod slowly, letting those words sink in.

She gives me a soft smile and then she pulls her hand back. “If you can’t talk to Mia, then try talking to Rob,” she suggests. “He seems like the harder nut to crack, but he has a big heart.”

“Dad always said that about Rob. Used to call him Tootsie Pop, just to piss him off.‘He’s a tough guy with a soft center.’”

Jennifer chuckles. “We can all agree on that. Tootsie Pop—that’s funny. I wish I’d met your dad. He seems like he was a gem.”

She gives me a parting smile and heads for the door. The silence that follows her is foreboding, in the sort of way that only late-night silence can be when your thoughts are racing and sleep won’t come to the rescue.

I stare at my phone where I set it on the counter.Try talking to Rob,Jennifer said. He’s right there, one call away. I could do it. Speed dial number 4, two rings and he’ll pick up like he always does. And then we could just talk and wash all this away.

I close my eyes and take a breath. Jennifer says to call. What would Aleks say?

Don’t be a fool,probably. Orhe’ll just manipulate you.

There’s merit to both sides, I think. But I can only choose one. Either do it or don’t. I can’t eenie-meenie-miney-moe my way out of this one.

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