Page 53 of Heartless Sinner

“Okay.” Vince nodded and let me go. “Jack will have to follow you.”

I didn’t argue. This was my life now, I reminded myself. A bodyguard always shadowing me, keeping me safe, watching over me. And while I highly doubted Tatiana Petrov would attack me just because she felt insulted, you never knew in our world. And there was still someone after my family. Someone who’d stabbed poor Sonya almost in front of me.

I wished there hadn’t been a dumpster in the way. I could’ve seen them, identified them, even. But then again, the fact that I hadn’t seen their face was probably why they had just taken off instead of killing me too.

“Thank you. I’ll—I’ll go visit my brother,” I said. “I’ll keep in touch. I won’t be out late.”

Vince nodded again. He seemed to know that there was something going on, something wrong, but he didn’t try to stop me or ask me what it was. I appreciated it, that respect for my space, and then I cursed myself for appreciating it. My heart was beating so fast I was sure that Vince could hear it. I felt like if I didn’t get out of here soon I was going to do something drastic—like blurt out my feelings for him.

I took a quick shower and changed into a proper outfit. Vince busied himself on the phone, taking care of what sounded like the usual family business with shipments. As I got my shoes and purse to leave, Vince walked over, still talking on the phone to whoever it was, and kissed me softly on the cheek.

My heart didn’t know what to do with that unexpected show of affection. It felt like it was flipping over in my chest.

I smiled and hurried out the door, with Jack following behind.

Alexander seemed surprised that I wanted to see him when I called. “You… want to get lunch,” he said, almost skeptically.

“Yes. What, can’t I want to see my brother?” There was a bit more bite to my voice than perhaps there should’ve been. But for crying out loud, Dmitri had just died, wasn’t I allowed to be a little clingier to my remaining sibling?

To be fair, my brothers and I hadn’t exactly gotten along well the last few years as they’d insisted on chasing away any guy who came close to me and I’d resented them for it. I had never told anyone about my plans to leave the mafia life. I’d figured they would try and stop me so I’d been waiting for a good moment to just make it happen.

But I think, subconsciously, Dmitri and Alexander still knew. And they figured any man I seriously dated would help me get my foot out the door.

“Of course you can come,” Alexander replied.

“If you’re busy… I know you’ve had to handle a lot since…”

“No, no, it’s good. It’s mostly funeral arrangements, that kind of thing.” I could practically hear him wincing at his words as soon as he’d said them.

Alexander had never been good with his words, unlike Dmitri who’d been far too good at them. Good enough to piss someone off and sign his death warrant, apparently.

“It’s all right, Alexander,” I said softly. “Just let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. I know Mom and Papa won’t be much help.”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “We can meet at the deli place around the corner from my office.”

Alexander’s ‘office’ was the building where we handled the money laundering and accounting. I knew the place pretty well, since I’d visited a few times in service of checking the books to make sure Papa hadn’t messed up our bills again or Dmitri hadn’t tried to hide some large spending spree he’d been on.

I knew the deli he was talking about too, although it wasn’t to my taste. I’d never been a big sandwich person, but this was more about conversation than enjoying the food.

When I got there, I texted Alexander, and he met me a couple minutes later at one of the shiny linoleum tables, while Jack found a more inconspicuous place to keep an eye on me. Close enough to keep me safe if something happened, but far enough away to give me some privacy with my brother, which I appreciated.

“Feels like it’s been ages since I saw you,” Alexander said.

“I know the feeling,” I admitted. So much had happened in the last week, it felt like years.

My gaze roamed over him, double checking him. He looked as handsome as ever, but as though he hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep. That was pretty typical for Alexander, though. He usually looked tired. He had this stern look about him and he wasn’t afraid of violence so he was the enforcer. Dmitri had been the heir apparent. If there’d ever been any resentment over that, I hadn’t known about it.

“How are you, Alexander?” I asked softly.

Alexander shrugged. “I’m all right.”

“You were never the ‘let’s hug it out type’ but you know you can talk to me if you’re upset,” I said. “We’re all upset.”

“I don’t think you would understand the type of upset I’m feeling,” Alexander replied cryptically, his eyes a shade darker than usual.

I folded my arms, my contrary sibling nature rising up in me. “Oh? Try me.”

Alexander shook his head. There was no trace of mirth in his eyes, no sign that he found me amusing. He had always been serious but this was a new level for him. I found my arms falling to my sides.

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