Page 135 of Wicked Vows (Suvorov Bratva 2)

Pavel nods and gestures Stepan away.

And that’s what I need. Space. As soon as he’s gone, I gulp down some air, struggling to keep my vision steady. I don’t know how much more I can take. It’s already awful enough being on the run in the middle of a war. With my best friend kidnapped and my brother’s lover carrying my nephew or niece—

“Liya?”

My eyes pop open, and I stare at Pavel. He looks concerned.

“Your phone is ringing,” he says.

The device buzzes across the table.

I grab it and stare at the screen. “Oh shit.”

“What?”

“It’s Willow’s father.”

Pavel stares at the phone. “Answer it.”

I have no choice but to obey. “Hello, Mr. Austin.”

“Liya, where thefuckis Willow?”

“Well, I haven’t quite figured out where—”

He hisses angrily. “Don’t give me the runaround. I want to know where my daughter isright now.”

I glance at Pavel. He nods.

I straighten my posture and respond, “We’re working on it.”

“Really?You’reworking on it?” He huffs with irritation. “You’re the one who got her into all this bullshit.”

It’s true. I did.

And I don’t know what to do about it.

“Ever since you met my daughter,” he spits. “She’s been getting into all sorts of trouble. I told her about you. I warned her about the Bernadettis. And she didn’t listen.”

I shake my head. “She’s my best friend.”

“She pitied you.”

“That’s not true.”

His agitated growl vibrates my eardrum. “I told her to stop giving you all that charity. I warned her that you would learn soon enough. That you would hang yourself with your own rope. And now see what you’ve done! You’ve gotten my daughter in the thick of your bullshit. And now she…Now she’s…because of you…!”

Something inside me snaps.

It’s like an egg has cracked, and the yolk is running everywhere. It’s gooey, messy, and rotten from sitting too long on the counter.

I’ve gotten in way deeper than I ever expected.

Whatever shell I created to keep up pretenses has shattered. I’m the runny yolk. I’m the goo. I’m exposed to the world for everyone to see.

Forget ruthless Liya. How about fucked up Liya?

Everything falls apart as easily as it was built.

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