Page 42 of Condemned By Betrayal
I lean back in my chair, groaning. “Everyone is so controlling nowadays.” A smile comes to me unbidden at the memory of Salvario—no, Hunter. He doesn’t like being called that, Wen, keep it in mind—not allowing me to drink.
Aunt Savi calls my name. “Wen.”
I look up at her. She’s sitting beside my mom. My mother’s face has regained its light after so many months. For the past year and a half, all I’ve seen on her face is worry. I hate that I was the sole reason behind that worry. Aunt Savi isn’t very different from my mother, her son, Kaz, is the reason behind hers.
He’s become what they’d call a perfect Pakhan, the cruelest one born in the Mikhailov family, and this family had Uncle Maksim’s grandfather, who was a literal demon. And the reason behind Kaz’s state is somewhat similar to mine. He loved someone who betrayed him and then vanished. It’s just that the reason behind that betrayal wasn’t dissociative identity, it was money.
He’s also searching for that person, like I was for Salvario, but his reason is to find him and torture him to death. Andyeah, he loved a man, which is a secret, since a gay Pakhan isn’t allowed in the Bratva.
“How are things going in Naples?”
I grin. “Perfect.”
“When will the rebuilding be complete?”
“It’ll take more than a decade, but the framework will be finished in two years.”
She smiles. “Never did I think that the little girl who used to cry over broken toys would become such a strong woman, who would bring a city back to life. I’m so proud of you.”
I smile. She doesn’t know the insane number of suicide plans I’ve had in the last six months. I’m anything but strong.
I push myself up from the chair. “I’ll be right back.”
I walk to the back of the house, away from the side where the party’s going on. I walk closer to the cliff where the hill ends. There are railings all around here so no one falls accidentally.
This area usually stays dark at night, but tonight it’s lit faintly by the mansion’s lights and the glow of the moon.
I pull my phone from my jacket pocket and call Hunter. I lean forward on the railing, watching the moon shine on the ocean waves.
“Hello.” His hot baritone comes through the line. I close my eyes for a moment, sighing, letting the sound soak into my veins.
“What are you doing?” I coo, running my finger along the cold metal railing.
“You’re drunk.”
I bite my lower lip, stretched in a smile. “Who says?”
“Your voice.”
I chuckle. “I only drank one glass of red wine. You can’t call me drunk for that.”
“I can, because you can’t handle even two sips of alcohol.”
“Okay, fine, I’m just a little drunk. Tell me how Rosie and Bruno are.”
“Good.”
“And you?”
“I’ll be good when you come back.”
I giggle. “I’ll be back on Christmas Eve.”
“I thought you’d spend Christmas with your family.”
I look up at the moon. “That’s what I’ll do. With you, Bruno, and Rosie.”
“What are you doing here?” Dad’s voice comes from behind me.
