Page 271 of Inferno

Drago swallows.

“She will be deeply hurt. I lied to her all of these years by hiding you and Isabella from her. I won’t be welcomed back, especially with Emil still alive. There's a lot of skeletons in that family's closet. I hoped, one day, to be in a position where I could tell Tatiana the truth, which would have saved both you and her. The risk against you and Isabella was too large for me to rely on her. And who knows what the brothers would have done to her. I’ve worked under Vlad for long enough to know the sincerity behind his threats. Perhaps one day I will see her again, and I can explain.”

I nod. Tatiana is a mystery, that’s for sure. I have no bad blood with her; how was she supposed to help me when she was also kept in the dark?

If anything, I feel sorry for her. Trapped in that family.

“We can’t risk you going back there. I think we’ve both exhausted our time in Russia, don’t you?”

He scoffs.

“I never believed I would ever say this. But yes. I believe that is true,” Drago replies, a sadness filling his voice.

“So, you’re really staying here?”

He nods.

“Well, I gotta see this damn chocolate factory, haven’t I?” He grins at Isabella.

“And it tastes soooo good, Uncle Drago. Like, out of this world.” She even claps with excitement.

“You think I could live the rest of my life not watching her grow up? Never.” He shakes his head, and my heart swells.

Isabella has no idea how lucky she is.

“I think it will be good for all of us, and Drago is exactly the kind of man I want in my organization. A man who will risk his life for my family.”

Wow.

“Thank you,” I mouth to Declan.

“We have all the time in the world to catch up, Charlotte. I’m safe here, I’m getting stronger every day. It won’t be long until I’m back. Then we can get back to training.”

I offer him a soft smile.

“I don’t think that’s the Charlotte I want to be anymore, Drago. I think my fighting days are over.”

He arches his brow.

“Fighting is in your blood. You lived and breathed it, even before Vlad. Don’t let him destroy your memories and your passion. Even if it’s to teach Isabella or other kids. Don’t lose your skill. Let it be your outlet and your peace. It was never meant to be a weapon, Charlotte. It’s an art.”

I wipe away the tears, thinking about my teenage years. How free it made me feel.

“Okay. You convinced me.”

“You are not evil, Charlotte. Your skill doesn’t make you a monster, it was him. Don’t let him steal any of the parts of you that you love.”

I nod, and Declan is already by my side, wrapping his arm around my waist.

“Words of wisdom, Drago. I always needed those.”

“I didn’t initially think I’d say this, but I like this guy,” Declan whispers, and I giggle.

“Me too.”

It’s good they don’t see each other as any sort of competition or enemy. They both add different things to my life.

Mine and Drago’s friendship will never die, and hopefully, he and Declan are at the beginning of starting something pretty cool.

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