Chapter 26 #2
“Glasses?” I pick up the first pair. It’s lightweight with a thin plastic frame, similar in style to the ones I’m wearing now.
“Try them on.” He eases my glasses from my face and holds them as I try on the new, stylish pair.
“How did you get my prescription?” I ask, blinking through the clear lenses. Not a single scratch in place.
He deadpans, staring at me until I have to laugh.
“Of course. The same way you get everything else.” I move to the closet and open the door, checking myself out in the full-sized mirror.
“Try on the others.” He brings the box over to me so I can try all of them.
They’re all perfect.
“Okay, I get how you could get my prescription, but how did you get all these frames that look perfect on me?” I bend over, waiting for the frames to slide off my face like my old pair. “And they stay in place.”
“They used your photo to pick out the frames.” He taps the bridge of the glasses.
“You didn’t need to do all this.” I close the door to the closet. “You shouldn’t have.”
He puts my old frames in the box and puts them back on the dresser. “Why?”
“Because.”
His eyes narrow. “Tell me why.”
“Because it’s too much. And you’ve been generous enough letting me stay here. I’m sure my brothers will be back soon. They’re never gone for more than a few weeks.”
His jaw tightens at the mention of my brothers.
“Max, they haven’t contacted you, haven’t responded to any of your messages.”
“It’s happened before. I’m not worried.” Except, I am.
But now it’s not about their safety…not really. I’m worried about what happens when they come back and find out I’ve been with Lev all this time. What will Lev do when they return?
“You don’t see anything wrong with them disappearing on you like this?” His tone hardens. “Do you know what I would do if Nicolette didn’t answer me for a few weeks?”
“You’d have your men tracking her down if she didn’t answer you in twelve hours. But it’s not like that with my brothers.”
“They’re not your brothers,” he snaps.
I jerk back, the words hitting as hard as his belt ever could.
“They may not be my blood, but they are my brothers.”
“That’s not what I mean.” He jams a hand through his hair, making it stand in odd angles.
“You mean, they’re not like you, so they’re not good.”
“They aren’t good men, Max. You haven’t seen that yet?” He hooks his hands on his hips. A stance that only moments ago would have me drooling for him.
Now…
Now I can barely look at him.
“You don’t even know them.” My voice shakes.
“I know they made a mess and then left the country, not even telling you where they were or what was going on. I know they’ve opened credit cards and personal loans in your name, racking up over fifteen grand in debt.”
“They left the country?” Marion runs through my legs, purring. “How do you know they left the country?”
His expression falls. His thick throat works as he swallows around whatever bullshit he’s going to spew.
“You know where they are?” It comes out as a whisper, but it’s only because my rage is strangling my voice box.
He straightens up, eyes flaming with the same arrogant fire as when we first met.
“I’ve had eyes on them all week.” His confession hangs heavy and loaded between us.
“You knew where they were and didn’t tell me?” I accuse, my hands balling into fists.
Marion takes this moment to stand on her hind legs and knead her paws into my thigh.
“Until I knew what they were up to, there wasn’t anything to tell you.”
“You didn’t think I should know where they are?” I take a breath. “Where are they, Lev?”
Another pause. Like he’s warring with himself if he should tell me or not.
“They’ve been in Italy.”
“Italy?” Confusion fills me. “Why would they be in Italy. You said the men they were working with here are Armenian.”
“Yes.” He nods. “Which is why it makes little sense that they’re staying at a villa owned by the DeAngelo’s uncle.”
His phone dings, but he ignores it.
“Where in Italy?”
“What are you going to do, fly there and drag them home by their ears?” He demands as I scoop up Marion and pace the room.
“I don’t know,” I admit, sinking onto the bed and cradling Marion in my arms.
My chest is tight, and anger fuels me. I’ve always been on the outside, watching a family happening right in front of me. But this is different. Lev put me on the outside of my own life, my own family.
“I want to see them, Lev.”
He stares at me a long moment, before his shoulders drop.
“I’ll pay for my own flight.”
“It’s not about money.” He shakes his head. “If you go there, Max…it’s dangerous. We still don’t know who they’re actually working with. And now with the DeAngelo family involved, it’s more complicated.”
“Dangerous for me or you?” My head aches with all the thoughts swirling around. “Because if I go, they’ll find out you have men on them.”
His phone rings, but he pulls it out of his back pocket and declines the call.
“If they’re playing both sides, you being there could jeopardize them as much as you.” His jaw tightens. “Let my men keep an eye on them.”
“You don’t get it, Lev.” I look up at him, my eyes burn from fighting back tears. “They aren’t your problem. I’m not your problem.”
“Maxine—” His phone goes off again and he curses.
“Just answer it!”
He grabs it, pressing it to his ear as he says something in Russian. I can’t understand the words, but from his tone, and the harshness of his eyes, I fully comprehend the intent.
Two minutes later he hangs up and stares at me, his nostrils flare.
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Why?” My heart jackhammers against my ribs. Something’s happened. Something horrible. Are they dead? “What happened, Lev?”
“Your brothers are back.”