Page 62 of Devious Obsession
“I’m trying not to throw up all over your dashboard.”
“You’ve never been nervous dealing with them before.”
“I’ve never been this in the wrong before.” I look at him through lowered lids. “Any chance you could just go in there, tell them I’m sorry, then whisk me away somewhere…is my apartment still available?”
He pulls my hand from my stomach and brings it to my face, pressing my palm against the rough stubble of his beard. “I’m here. Nothing will hurt you so long as I’m with you.”
“And if they realize we’ve been…”
“Fucking?” He provides when I can’t get the word out.
“Yeah.” I exhale. “Ivan had the captain of the varsity football team’s car impounded then crushed because his—and I’m using his words here—eyes lingered too long on me when Ivan picked me up from school.” I refused to let him or any of my brothers pick me up after that. “For this, he might have you put in the car first before crushing it.”
“I’ve made my intentions clear. We’ve worked it all out.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, but he’s already climbing out of the car. I shove open my door and jump out. “Artem. What does that mean?” I ask again, hurrying to follow him up the front steps of Kaz’s townhouse.
Before I’m able to step onto the front porch the door swings open, and light from inside shrouds the person in the doorway in a black silhouette. Artem steps to the side, putting me face to face with the hulking figure who steps onto the porch. The soft light from the porch lamp illuminates his face, and my mouth dries.
Alexander stands before me, his eyes darker than Satan’s soul and his hands clenched at his sides.
“Easy,” Artem says softly.
Alexander’s gaze sweeps over me, inspecting me from head to toe. His eyes land on the small wound on my chest. Artem removed the stitches yesterday morning. It’s healing, but still obvious to the naked eye.
“I’m fine,” I blurt out. “I’m not hurt.”
His jaw flexes.
“Alexander. I promise. I’m not hurt. And.” I swallow. “I’m sorry. About everything.”
“Elana?” Megan, his wife, calls from behind him. “Alexander, move, you big brute.” She slaps at his back.
His eyes soften at the sound of her voice. She lifts up his arm, and ducks under, jumping at me in a big hug.
“Thank god.” She squeezes me tighter. “What the hell have you been doing? I want all the details, but later, when your brother doesn’t look so murdery.”
I laugh. “When doesn’t he?”
“Get out of the way, let me have a turn.” Vivienne pulls Megan off me, only to pull me into another hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Of course I’m okay,” I say stepping out of her embrace. “I’m very good at taking care of myself.”
Artem clears his throat.
“Plus I had him lurking in dark corners like a psychopath stalker,” I add jerking my chin toward him.
Alexander’s eyebrow lifts to a peak.
“Let her inside,” I hear Kaz before I see him. Alexander turns, giving me enough space to walk past him into the house.
I glance at Artem, my stomach shaking again. Out of everyone, Kaz has had to bear the brunt of my actions. He’d been forced to marry Tony’s sister as a way to broker peace.
Artem’s expression says everything I need to hear. I’m safe, and he’s here.
When I step over the threshold into the house, I’m yanked into a bear hug. Kaz squeezes me so tightly, I squeak.
“If you ever do this again, Elana, I will let Alexander lock you away like he’s always threatening to do.” Kaz lifts me from the ground then drops me, grabbing my arm to steady me so I don’tfall back. It’s the same way he used to manhandle me when I was a kid. Though back then, he’d let me fall on my ass so he could laugh.
