Page 51 of Twisted Embrace

Her stilted laugh was enough to let me know she hadn’t given up. “Is Marla okay?”

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to her. Everything has been crazy.”

Lucia narrowed her eyes. “You have cuts on your face and hands. What happened?”

I finally pulled away, fisting my hand. The abrasions continued to sting, one knee bothering me, but I was grateful Enzo had tended to my injuries. Grateful. It felt odd to even be thinking that way. “Let’s just say the Russians are determined fuckers.”

“Enzo will protect you. If there’s anything he’s good at, it’s eliminating issues.”

“That’s a nice way of saying he’s good at killing people.”

“That’s what happens in our world. Be grateful this is the closest you’ll ever get.” Her deadpan look of acceptance sent a wave of nausea into my system. Would I ever be callous when hearing about another death or attack? Maybe becoming immune was the only way to survive being a part of their world.

“There’s something else I need to tell you.”

As she tried to sit up further in the bed, the wince of pain forced me to my feet.

“Don’t. Let me fluff your pillow.”

She tried to push away my hand. “I’m not an invalid. I refuse to just lie here in bed all day long.”

“Doctor’s orders.”

“Fuck the doctors.”

We both laughed and I shivered from trying to find the right words just how close we would become.

Or so I hoped.

“Enzo and I… Well, he’s not what I expected. I mean he’s just as virulent and powerful, far too dominating for my tastes, yet sexy as hell and well…”

“Spit it out. What are you trying to tell me?”

I wrinkled my nose, images of being in a white dress walking down the aisle cascading into visions of blood and gore, gunshots and tragedy. “We’re getting married.” There. I ripped the bandage off.

“What?” She stared at me the same way I must have looked at Enzo after he’d told me we were getting hitched. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“We made a deal. He’s protecting me and I’m providing leverage because I’m some Russian… princess.” The words almost stuck in my throat, the sudden feeling of suffocation, claws digging into my skin was so toxic I couldn’t breathe.

Gauging her reaction was impossible. Even her eyes were flat.

“Don’t be angry with me,” I finally said.

“Why would I be angry with you? Enzo is a pig. Once an asshole, always an asshole. Did he hurt you? Did he attack you?” When I was quiet as a church mouse, she snarled as only Lucia could do. “The bastard raped you? I will fucking kill him.”

“Whoa. Hold on. He didn’t rape me. That’s not what happened at all. He’s very… alluring and we have chemistry together.” I thought about how incredible the roughness of his fingers had been, the breathless kisses that had led into more passion than I’d ever experienced in my life and I was lightheaded and swooning all for the wrong or maybe right reasons. “He’s kind of amazing.” Dear God. I’d admitted my feelings to someone. I almost laughed, the push and pull with us as toxic as the damning situation we were in.

I thought for certain my bestie had just come into heart failure by the way she was gawking at me.

“You find him… attractive?”

“God, yes. Don’t look so horrified. He hides his real personality under all his bravado.” Even my laugh was telling about how I felt about him. It was still insane, but I was almost getting used to the thought of waking up in his bed every morning.

Lucia chewed on her bottom lip then snorted. “Fascinating. I guess my brother has more going on than I believed. To manage and capture you is extraordinary. Welcome to the family.” She reached out, gesturing for a hug and I gladly gave her one. At least for a few seconds the situation almost seemed normal.

Almost.

At least I could laugh for a few precious moments, forgetting we were in the middle of a warzone.

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