Chapter Twenty Eight #2
“I love you, Lev,” I began immediately, not giving him a chance to talk.
“But I’m not going to help you with this.
Even if Lukyan wasn’t in the equation, I still wouldn’t help.
I’ve had your back this entire time. I’ve done everything you’ve asked, stalking and documenting Dimitri’s every move, all hours of the fucking day and night.
Being your little lapdog, doing this and that for you like I’m your personal assistant. But I’m done.”
“You can’t just be done.”
“Yes, I can.”
“You don’t care that he killed our parents?”
“No, I don’t.” I’d felt that way for a long time, but never had the courage to say it out loud to him.
Until then. “I don’t care, Lev. I don’t care the slightest bit.
They were never parents to me. Dad would beat me nearly every single day, and Mom would let him.
Neither of them gave a shit about me. Why should I give a shit about them? ”
“It’s the principle,” he hissed. “You don’t just let someone get away with killing someone you love.”
“I don’t love them. Never have.” I reached for his hands and held them tightly. “I love you. I would die for you, Lev. But I can’t help you with this. Not anymore. You need to let this go.”
He scoffed derisively. “Or what? Are you going to stop me?”
I said nothing, just staring at him.
“I can’t believe you,” he said, shaking his head. “You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to do you a favor and forget we had this conversation. You’re going to take some time and think about what you’ve said—”
“I’m not a fucking child, Lev, so don’t talk to me like one,” I warned.
“Well, if you stopped saying stupid and childish things, I wouldn’t fucking have to.”
I punched him in the nose.
“Christ!” Lev yelled, his head flinging back. “What the fuck, Lyla?!”
“You deserved that and you know it.”
He grumbled, holding his busted nose.
I blew out a breath, exhaustion fogging my mind. Though the conversation had pretty much gone exactly as I had expected, it still wasn’t the slightest bit enjoyable.
“I’m sorry it has to be this way, Lev. I am. I hate disappointing you.”
I hoped he would say that I could never disappoint him. That he understood and accepted my decision. Could almost respect it.
How fucking idiotic of me.
His eyes glazed over with hatred. “Well, you have. I will never forgive you for this, Lyla. Never.”
My heart fractured. “I’m sorry you feel that way.” I truly, truly was.
He shook his head. “Get out.”
“Lev—”
“I said, get the fuck out. I’m not staying here with you. I’ll get a hotel room, and figure it out on my own. I don’t need you.”
Yes, he did. So far, I’d done all the legwork. He’d done nothing but issue the orders. I didn’t say that, though. “It’s my car, Lev.”
“Well, it’s fucking mine now,” he growled.
I sighed. “You’re being immature.”
“Yeah. I’m taking a play from your book. Get out, Lyla.”
“You know what, fucking fine.” Maybe he needed a little bit of time to process what I’d said to him. Maybe the best thing I could do was leave, and try to talk to him when he’d had the opportunity to calm down.
I stepped out of the vehicle, holding the door open as I peeked back inside. “I’ll call you later.”
“Don’t fucking bother. Kane!”
His lapdog appeared beside me instantly. “Yes, sir?”
“Get in the car. We’re going to a hotel.”
“Right away, sir.”
“You’re being ridiculous, Lev,” I said as I backed away from the car.
He reached across the back seat and slammed the door shut. He wound the window down next, sticking his head out. “You’re being ridiculous!” he said pettily.
“No! You are!”
“You!”
“Call me when you grow up!”
“Call me when you stop being a little brat!”
Why I oughta—
The vehicle sped off. Lev was still stuck out the window. He gave me the finger. I gave it back. The car disappeared around the corner.
“Fuck’s sake,” I blew out. Several pedestrians gave me odd looks as they walked down the footpath. “What?!” I snapped. “You never seen siblings fight before? Mind your own business.”
I pulled my phone out and called Cedric. The phone rang and rang before eventually going to voicemail. I tried again. Still nothing.
“Oh, come on,” I groaned to myself. “I don’t need this shit right now.” I had no idea why he wasn’t answering, but whatever the reason was, it had better be fucking good.
I quickly organized an Uber, and three hours and forty-seven minutes later, the car pulled up in front of my house. My real house.
“Jesus. That’s one hell of a reno job you got on your hands,” the Uber driver said, tearing my attention from my phone.
“Huh?” My face dropped at the sight before my eyes. “What the fuck?!” I jumped out of the car as the Uber driver yelled out, “Please leave five stars!”
Fear and worry punched me in the gut. What happened? Is Lukyan okay? Is Cedric? Is this why he didn’t answer my call?
I jumped through the giant fucking hole IN THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE, whipping out my gun. The foyer and lounge room were almost completely destroyed. Plaster and wood littered the floors. The furniture was all over the place. Glass crunched beneath my feet with every movement I made.
“Lukyan! Cedric!” I yelled out, my fear going into overdrive. I swung my gaze left to right, searching. I knew the possibility of whoever did this still being there was slim, but I kept my gun up and my senses on high alert as I scanned the area.
“Lyla,” a deep voice groaned from somewhere in the lounge room.
That was when I noticed the body lying amongst the rubble. “Cedric!” I ran over to him, dropping to his side. “Fuck, are you okay? Where does it hurt?”
“Everywhere.” He groaned again. His face and clothes were covered in dirt and dried blood.
I ran my hands over his upper body. He cried out in pain. “Shit. We’ve gotta get you to a hospital. Where’s Lukyan?”
“He’s gone.”
“Gone?” I grunted with excretion as I tried to pick him up, but he was so heavy, it was a struggle. “What do you mean, gone?”
“It—was—his family,” Cedric wheezed out, flinging an arm over my shoulder and attempting to stand. He couldn’t. His legs buckled immediately, and it took all my strength to keep him up. “I—saw them. His—father. The Butcher.”
No. No, no, no. “Lukyan wouldn’t leave. He wouldn’t.”
His eyes locked onto mine, a mix of pain and sadness. “I saw him walk out, Lay.”
My whole world came crashing down.