Page 13 of Demitri

“He sold her.”

My voice is raw, barely audible, but I know she heard me when I hear her intake of breath. I can’t look at her, not with the guilt I carry with me every fucking day.

“Dem, it’s not your fault.”

“Yes. It is.”

“No. It’s your father’s fault, and you had no control over him or what he did. You were just a fucking kid, for God’s sake. Fuck. I’m so sorry.”

“That’s not all of it, Mia. She’s dead. And it’s all my fault. Because I loved her, she’s dead.”

“No.” She shakes her head almost violently, cupping my face and turning it to her. “No.”

I close my eyes and all I see is Mika’s body, beaten, used. Too thin.

“They knew I was close to finding her. He fucking killed her because I almost found her. And he sealed my fate and made sure I’d never try to leave again.”

“But you did.”

“It took years, Mia. Years of watching and waiting. Knowing things that he did to other people. How can I not be just as dirty as he was? I…I did things, too.”

“You did what you had to do to survive.”

We sit in silence for a few minutes, neither of us knowing what to say now that my pain and shame have been unleashed into the room. She finally looks at me, but I don’t see pity. I see determination.

“What happened tonight?”

I tell her about the theory that I have a sister and how I think I probably have more than one. When I’m finished, she nods her head.

“Then it’s settled. Until you can talk to this Aunt Linda, who I’m going to need to meet, by the way, you’re staying with me. Here.”

“I can’t put you in that kind of danger, Mia. I just told you what those people are capable of. If this is real, and they are looking for me, you’ll be in their way. I can’t have you be collateral damage.”

“So you’ll just disappear again like you did four years ago? Ghost and leave me in the dark? For how long this time?”

“I—”

“No. I’m a fucking adult, Demitri Pavlov, and I make the decisions about my life. Not you. Not your family, who may or may not be a threat. Me. And my decision is to help you. To fight with you.Foryou. Do you understand?”

CHAPTER FIVE

MIA

Shut up!Shut up! Shut up! What the fuck are you doing, woman?

“Mia.” The way he says my name snaps me to attention. “No.”

“Yes. No one knows you’re here. You’re safe until we can figure shit out. Deal with it.”

He chuckles, his shoulders vibrating with the motion, and he shakes his head.

“Stubborn woman.”

“Yeah.” I’m not going to argue with that.

“What a fucked-up pair we make.”

“I don’t think we’re that bad. Trauma bonding at its finest, right?”

---