29. Elle

29

ELLE

Anger radiates off both Lev and Alexei as I stand between them. The underground bunker was cramped before, but having two fully grown men locked in a standoff with each other is making the place feel suffocating.

I glance between the two of them. “Can we please get out of here?”

Their similarities are a little unnerving. I can see so much of Lev in him. Particularly, in the eyes.

I know Alexei is entitled to hate his half-brother for what he’s supposedly done, but I don’t want him to do something that he might later regret.

“Please, Alexei.”

Alexei’s expression softens as he looks at me.

I’ve never found him as intimidating as I probably should, given his reputation. But he’s never given me a reason not to feel comfortable around him.

I also know he would do anything to protect his family, including putting a bullet in Lev’s chest, so the sooner we can get this all sorted out, the better .

“I’m taking you back to Forest Hills. Lucia is waiting for you there.”

My stomach knots at the mention of my cousin. I’ve put her through hell over the past few weeks, and I really want to make things right between us again.

Lev looks at me. “You should go before Igor comes back.”

“Don’t even fucking think about it.” Alexei takes another step forward. “You’re coming with us.”

Lev’s fingers flex around his gun.

“Come on, Lev.”

It’s probably not such a bad thing that I’m in the middle of them. Though I know if they really wanted to brawl, it wouldn’t take much effort to knock me out of the way.

His eyes flick to mine, and I silently plead with him to follow along. I’m all too aware of what likely waits for us when we get back to Alexei’s place, but at least we’re being given a chance to reason with the Koslovs.

I’d face them over Igor Ivanov any day, and Lev seems to realize that too as he dips his chin.

Lev takes his gun and tosses it on the ground without a word before turning and heading up the stairs.

I let out a breath of relief that he’s cooperating.

Alexei nods his head at me to follow behind Lev.

When I climb out of the trapdoor and take a look at the half a dozen bodies littering the floor, my knees buckle, and I have to cling to Lev to stop myself from collapsing.

“I wish I still had that blindfold.”

I’ve never seen so much blood. It’s soaking into the floorboards and seems to coat every possible surface.

The coppery twang in the air is making my stomach churn, and I have to cover my mouth and nose to stop myself from throwing up .

“Let’s get you out of here.” Lev guides me toward the front door.

“Did you do this by yourself?” I ask Alexei who appears beside me.

“Yakov and Feliks are outside.”

“Not Mikhail?”

“I wanted to come here myself.”

Which translates to he wanted to be the one to capture Lev himself.

Two blacked-out Mercedes are parked behind Lev’s car, and Alexei waves a finger as we head down the porch steps and one of them roars to life.

“Yakov and Feliks will follow us back to the house.”

Another hidden warning for Lev to behave.

I want to scream at Alexei that Lev isn’t going to hurt anyone, but I know he won’t listen. So instead, I stay quiet as I climb into the backseat of Alexei’s car beside Lev and hope that the Koslovs are in a forgiving mood.

Neither Lev nor Alexei speak on the drive over to Alexei’s Forest Hills mansion, and I’ve never felt more uncomfortable.

I could cut the tension with a knife, and none of my attempts to spark up a conversation have worked.

I glance over at Lev, who is staring out of the window.

His face is pale, and he keeps balling his hands into fists.

I wish there was something I could do, but this is out of my hands. All I can do is stand by him and pray that Alexei and his brothers are willing to hear us both out.

I reach for his hand, interlacing my fingers through his.

They’re freezing cold to the touch, but I don’t care.

Without taking his eyes off the window, he squeezes my hand once, and I squeeze his back, running my thumb back and forth over the scarred skin .

A silent gesture that we’re both in this together.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, Alexei frowns at our interlaced hands.

I’m all too aware of what this must look like to him. That I’m betraying his family by becoming involved with Lev. But the truth is, I’m not convinced that Lev was even responsible for killing his parents.

This has Igor Ivanov written all over it.

He’s already made it perfectly clear how much he likes to torture Lev, so it makes sense for him to pin the murders on him. It’s sadistic to make Lev believe he was the one to kill his own father, which is exactly why I’m starting to believe this was all a set up.

But the fact of the matter is that Lev remembers nothing, so we may never know what truly happened that night.

When we eventually pull up to the gates of the house, my heart rate spikes, and I’m about to be sick.

This is it.

By the time Alexei parks the car out front, my hands are sweating, and I might pass out.

“It’s okay,” Lev mouths at me.

I wish I could believe him, but the odds are stacked against us.

I’m barely out of the car before Lucia is running out of the house toward me.

She looks almost as pale as Lev, and her eyes are red as if she’s been crying. “Oh, my god, Elle.”

“I’m fine?—”

Lucia throws her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly.

“I’m so relieved you’re all right, I was so worried.”

“I’m all right, Lucia, I promise. ”

But she doesn’t seem to be listening as she pulls away and rounds on Lev, who has barely gotten out of the car.

“And you … I’m going to fucking kill you!”

She goes to lunge for him, but I step into her way.

“Mikhail, can you please come and stop your wife from committing assault,” I call over to Mikhail who appeared at the top of the steps.

“I think I’m good right here.” Mikhail leans against one of the pillars.

Lucia shoots her husband a wink, and he dips his chin before his eyes land on Lev, and his expression turns to one of cold fury.

Lucia narrows her eyes at Lev. “You risked my cousin's life, and you expect me to welcome you in with open arms? You’re a fucking psycho !”

I wince, but Lev doesn’t seem the slightest bit fazed. From what he’s told me of his upbringing, this must be tame in comparison. But that doesn’t mean he deserves to take shit from every single member of my family.

“Lev was just trying to protect me. He knew that Igor was dangerous, and I wasn’t being reasonable. He did what he had to do to keep me safe?—”

Alexei scoffs. “Yeah, and nearly got her killed in the process.”

I turn around and glare at him.

“Three times he’s saved my life now. I get that you’re angry at him, but at least hear him out?—”

“Hear him out?” Alexei’s dark eyes flash. “He murdered my parents.”

“No one knows that for sure. Lev can’t remember what happened, and Igor is sadistic enough to be the true mastermind behind this. ”

Mikhail stands taller. “That’s what he wants you to think.”

“Can’t you just…give him the benefit of the?—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” Alexei snaps, and I flinch at his tone.

“Don’t you fucking talk to her like that.” Lev moves to step in front of me.

Mikhail turns to the door. “Let’s go inside, now . We’re going to get to the bottom of this, once and for all.”

“I think that’s a good idea.” I place a hand on Lev’s arm.

His jaw clenches, and he doesn’t tear his eyes away from Alexei, even when I tug at the sleeve of his hoodie.

Alexei tilts his chin toward where his brother still stands. “If Lev is responsible, he will pay.”

I look at Lev, but he only nods, as if he’s already admitted defeat.

I want to scream at everyone that they’ve got the wrong man.

Can’t they see? Lev isn’t the real threat here.

“Alexei,” I plead as he takes Lev by the arm and yanks him toward the house.

“Come on.” Lucia takes me by the hand.

We follow behind Lev as if we’re in some kind of twisted procession.

My heart aches as his shoulders slump and his head bows.

“This way,” Alexei barks at Lev once we enter the grand foyer of the house.

I bristle at his tone but before I can reprimand him, Lucia is tugging me in the opposite direction.

“Let’s go into the kitchen.”

“No, I want to go with Lev.” I try to pull away from her.

“Elle, you need to let them sort this out between them. ”

“But they won’t listen to him. They’ve already decided he’s guilty, and I’m the only reason Alexei hasn’t already put a bullet in his skull.”

I look over my shoulder just in time to see Lev disappear into the lounge with Alexei and Mikhail, where I have no doubt that the rest of the Koslov bratva are waiting.

“Lev.”

But he doesn’t look back.

The sound of the door slamming shut has me swallowing a sob, and I let Lucia lead me into the kitchen where she forces me to sit at the breakfast table.

“Why don’t I make us some cocoa?”

Her chipper tone is forced, but I’m glad something is occupying her for a moment so I can just sit in my heartache.

I’m desperate to know what they’re talking about.

Is Lev standing up for himself? Or is he letting himself take the fall for a crime he likely didn’t commit?

“I can’t just sit here.”

“Yes, you can. I’ll restrain you myself if I have to.”

I look up at my cousin as she approaches the table with two mugs of cocoa in hand, and I know she’s not joking.

“I put extra marshmallows in yours.” She sets the overflowing mug in front of me. “So, drink up before it gets cold.”

“Thanks.” I wrap my fingers around it to warm them up.

“I’m confused about your situation with Lev.” Lucia takes a seat opposite me. “Is there something going on here that I don’t know about? I mean, I knew you guys were what…hanging out? If I can even call it that.”

“Lucia, I’m pregnant.”

I figure it’s as good a time as any to admit the truth. After all, it might be the only way for me to help convince Alexei to spare Lev’s life.

Lucia freezes with her mug halfway to her mouth.

For a second, I’m worried she’s going to drop it, but then she sets it back down on the table.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I’m pregnant.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“Yes.”

The crease between Lucia’s eyebrows gets deeper as she’s silent for a moment.

“And Lev is…”

“He’s the father.”

“Christ, Elle, what the hell were you thinking?” She gets up, pacing. “You slept with the man who was stalking you?”

“Clearly.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t act like this isn’t a big deal.”

“Because it isn’t!”

“Elle—”

“Now can you see why I need to be in there with him? He’s the father of my child, Lucia. I can’t let them hurt him. I’ll never be able to forgive them if they do.”

“Fuck, this is not good.” She runs her fingers through her hair as she glances at the door.

“They need to know the truth. If Alexei knows I’m pregnant?—”

“You have to understand, I’m caught in the middle here. I don’t want to take sides, but ultimately, this man killed my husband’s parents, and I’m not sure that’s something Mikhail and his brothers can get past. And quite honestly, Elle, I don’t want to have to ask them to. ”

“He couldn’t have done it. Igor’s been exploiting Lev’s weaknesses for years for his own gain.”

“We don’t know that.”

“What the hell happened to innocent until proven guilty, huh? It seems to me the Koslovs just want a scapegoat, and Lev is an easier target than Igor.”

“That’s not fair?—”

“What they’re doing to him right now isn’t fair!” My voice cracks, and I’m suddenly unable to hold back the tears any longer.

I bury my face in my hands as I’m overcome with grief.

Lucia moves to sit in the chair beside me, and when she places a hand on my arm, I don’t shake it off.

“Do you love him?”

I lower my hands and look up at her with tear-filled eyes. “More than anything.”

She glances over at the door again before nodding once.

“Everything will be okay, Elle. I promise.”

I wish I could believe her, but after everything that’s happened, how can things possibly work out?

Something has to give here, and I have a horrible feeling that it’s going to be my relationship with Lev.