Page 180 of His Hell Girl

My eyes widen as I note a couple huddled together next to a bed. The male is obstructing my view of the girl as he places himself in front of her in a protective stance.

"Nero?" The name slips from my mouth, but even then I know that thisisn'tNero.

Their faces are identical. Short black hair and blue eyes. But this man is bigger. His body is that of a professional body-builder, his muscular built dwarfing that of the girl behind him.

"You're Nero's brother," I state.

The one who supposedly died twenty years ago.

"Nero?" His voice differs completely from Nero too. There's a hoarseness to it as if he'd stretched his vocal cords to the extreme. "Nero…" he repeats, his features clouding as if he's trying to remember something long forgotten.

"I'll be damned," Marcello mutters when he sees the man, he too noticing that he's almost identical to Nero.

"It's his twin brother," I add grimly. "Sisi, please stay back." I stretch my hand to keep her out, recognizing the protective stance he has over his female and knowing he might be dangerous if he thinks we're a threat.

"It's okay," I start, giving him a quick outline of who we are and that we're going to get them to safety.

"Brother?" he asks, frowning. "My brother?"

"Yes, Nero is your brother. He thought you'd died years ago," I explain.

But then a small voice calls out from behind him.

"We're free? We can leave?" the girl asks, peeking slowly over his shoulder.

"Shh," Nero's brother turns to her, "I don't know if we can trust them,Bia mia.You know I'd never put you at risk."

His voice is completely different as he addresses her. Softer, warmer.

Full of love.

"Nothing will happen to you. I vow to you. We are currently evacuating the entire compound," I feel compelled to explain.

"Please, T," she continues, and I see her hand reach out to caress his shoulder, that one touch rendering him incapable of refusing her.

"If you think to cheat us, you will die by my fists." He turns to me, his gaze grave.

"Agreed." I shrug.

I'm already getting restless as I think of the imminent meeting with Miles, my temples throbbing as I imagine just how I'm going to drain the life out of him—slow and painfully.

The man helps the girl sit up, and the first thing I notice is the slight bump she's cradling with her hands, her stance protective as she takes a wary step toward us.

When the light hits her face I freeze.

Dark hair that flows down her back and reaching to her knees, pale skin that almost looks translucent in the stark neon light, and dark eyes that I see every time I look in the mirror.

"Katya?" My voice trembles as I utter that word. "Katyusha?"

She blinks slowly, her eyes focusing on me as if she doesn't recognize who I am.

Still, the features are identical to the Katya I used to know. The Katya from ten years ago.

Her lips quiver, her eyes glossy as she takes a step forward.

The man, noting the change in her, instinctively reaches forward to place himself between us.

"No, T. I know him," she utters softly. "I know him…" she continues, her voice breaking in a sob. "He's my brother."

---