Page 88 of Savage Bratva King

“Mel?” I drop the lamp and fling myself into my sister’s arms, my tears finally spilling.

She hugs me tightly, holds me at arm’s length, and then hugs me some more. When we finally pull away and sit on the edge of the bed together, both our faces are streaked with tears.

“Are you hurt, Gi?” Her eyes search my face for signs that I’ve been abused by my captor as she instinctively tugs my hair forward over my shoulders. “I’ve been so worried about you. When you didn’t get off that flight, I didn’t know what to think. I thought… Well… I’m just glad you’re alright. You’re safe here now.”

“Is that why Xander locked me in this room? To keep me safe?”

I feel a stab of guilt at the look of hurt that flashes across her eyes, but my sister needs to understand that I’m not a pawn in her husband’s war against the Russians.

“He was worried about you. We both were.”

“Not so worried that it stopped him from using chloroform on me.” My head spins and my stomach lurches to remind me that I’m still suffering the aftereffects of Xander’s brotherly concern.

“You were fighting him, Gi.” The expression on her face is unreadable as she narrows her eyes. “Do you remember punching him in the face?”

“Yep, and I’ll do it again if he walks in here right now.”

Mel covers her mouth with one hand like I just suggested walking naked through the house to fetch some coffee. “What did they do to you, Gianna?” she whispers between her fingers before lowering her hand and reaching out to touch me.

I pull away from her. She doesn’t get it yet, and until I can make her understand that being away from Leo feels as if my right arm has been wrenched from its socket, I can’t bear for anyone to touch me. Not even my sister.

“They didn’t do anything to me. At least not what you’re thinking.”

She breathes deeply. “Let me get you some food and coffee. Are you hungry? Did they feed you?”

“Mel, I’m fine. They looked after me.” I don’t mention the incident in the cold room shortly after I arrived—I’ve practically erased it from my mind with everything that followed. “I-I didn’t want to leave.”

“What?” She furrows her brow. “Why not? What did they say to you about Xander?” She stands up and paces the room. “Oh, my fucking God, they’ve been brainwashing you. They’ve turned you against your own family. No wonder you look so different.”

I shake my head. “You’ve got it all wrong, Mel. Leo isn’t a bad person. He looked after me. He would’ve protected me with his life.”

“Leo?What the actual fuck, Gianna. The guy fucking kidnapped you, and you’re calling him Leo.” She turns away like she can’t bear to look at me. “Wait till Dad finds out. He’ll go fucking apeshit. Xander is going to fucking rip the man apart limb from limb, as if this war wasn’t crazy enough.”

“That’s why you have to help me stop him, Mel.” My chest feels like it’s been ripped open, and my heart is being pulled in two different directions. “This war has to end. I need you to help me get back to Leo.”

It’s Mel’s turn to shake her head as she backs towards the door, and I’m worried that she’s going to call Xander to come and knock me out again. “You don’t know what you’re saying. Did the Russian put you up to this? Did he turn you against Xander?”

I take a deep breath and set my shoulders back.

“I’m a grown woman, Mel. I can make up my own mind about your husband and he was never my favorite person. To begin with,” I quickly add when I see the way her expression crumples. “Andthe Russianhas a name. It’s Leonid Ivanov, and I’m in love with him.”

She swallows hard, steps closer and reaches for my hand. This time, I let her take it. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You’re suffering from a classic case of Stockholm Syndrome, Gianna. We’ll get you the help you need. We’ll…”

Her voice trails off when she feels the huge stone on my finger. Turning my hand over, she traces the diamond and sapphires with her fingertip and then raises her eyes to meet mine.

“Gi, what the fuck is going on?”

“I told you I’m in love with Leo.” I keep my voice steady. If my own sister won’t believe me, I don’t stand a chance of convincing Xander to end this war and take me back to him. Mel is my only hope. “This is his grandmother’s ring. I’m going to marry him next week.”

“No.” She closes her eyes briefly. “Xander will never allow it. He’ll?—”

“Listen to me, Mel. Xander isn’t my father, and he can’t stop me from marrying the man I love.” She’s about to interject, but I shut her down. “Do you remember how you felt when you first met Xander? You knew he was the enemy, but he kissed you once, and there was no turning back. You were smitten.”

“That was different. Xander didn’t kidnap me on a fucking flight back from Montenegro.”

“No, but he kidnapped me tonight.”

Deep breath. I need her to listen, but all she knows about Leo is what she has heard from her husband, and he isn’t exactly nominating Leo for the mafia boss of the year award.

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