Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Amara gasped, and I took a step forward. I felt someone grab my wrist and glanced behind me to see Dmitry holding on to me while sporting a hard look.
And then with his other hand, he pulled a gun on Gio.
“No!” Claudia shouted at her husband.
Nikolai pulled his eyes off his opponent long enough to murmur, “Ты не совсем ясно мыслишь, брат. Кулачный бой это одно. Проделать дыру в голове своего шурина, это другое.” You're not thinking clearly, brother. A fist fight is one thing. Putting a hole in your brother-in-law's head is another.
He held his hand up, stopping our brother from coming closer. It was interesting to see Nikolai being the more level-headed of the two of them for once.
Nikolai ran his thumb over his mouth, smearing the blood before placing the digit back in front of his lips and then crudely licking it off. “That’s your free shot, Gio.”
Both men stared at each other, Gio’s chest pumping up and down, his teeth bared, and murder in his eyes. Nikolai stood there like he was bored as hell.
After long, very tense moments, Gio exhaled and scrubbed a hand over his face. It was clear he was trying to regain his control, and as the seconds passed, his aggression dimmed.
“I wasn’t purposely trying to keep this from either of you,” he finally spoke, addressing Claudia and Amara. “But I’d be lying if I didn't admit that if I could have, I would have.”
“I wish you had told us. I would’ve been there for you, rooting you on,” Claudia was the one to speak.
“We both would’ve been there for you,” Amara inserted, then took a step closer, brushing away Nikolai’s arm when he tried to stop her.
Gio cleared his throat and nodded, but he wouldn’t look at anyone. “Growing up—” He paused, then cleared his throat again. “—Father was….”
I knew where he was going with this, and my heart ached for the man I loved. I could see he was sifting through the memories of his childhood and found myself lifting a hand and placing it over my heart… which felt like it was breaking.
My gaze went to his bare arms and chest, and although I couldn't see the permanent marks that littered his flesh, I knew they were there, and they not only scarred his body but also deep inside.
“The things Father made me do, the situations I witnessed—they’re forever a part of me.” Gio’s shoulders bunched. “I did a lot of fucked-up shit.” The tension in the room increased. “And I’m forever fucked up because of it.” He looked around at everyone now.
Although he bared his soul, Gio’s expression was apathetic, like he hadn't just confessed to us his trauma.
“I fucking like it. You understand, sisters?” His voice was hard and sharp as he addressed Claudia and Amara.
I looked between the two women, who both sported the same expression.
Terror that their brother had gone through what he did and now had to deal with the aftermath in his own—albeit twisted—way of healing. And also… love. They loved their brother as much as I loved mine.
“And fighting… it helps me unleash all that hate I have inside me. It’ll never go away. So I fucking embrace it.” He held his hands out, palms up, as he stared at the women. “These hands have killed many people. They’ve been covered in blood, helped bury bodies, and tortured people… even some who didn’t deserve it.” He glanced my way then.
I could see his sisters looked nauseous, knowing this was the last thing they wanted to hear, but they let Gio get this off his chest.
He wanted them to know. He needed them to hear every word because it was a weight that was finally being lifted from him.
“Fighting has been my dark, messed-up therapy for a long time. But I feel relieved that both of you finally know what I do.” He ran a hand over his sweaty, bloody face. “And I won’t lie and say I didn’t fight in Desolation because I wanted to be closer to my sisters. With both of you so far away, it was fucking hard on me.” Although he addressed them, he looked at me then, as if he didn’t care if anyone in this room picked up on his hidden, underlying meaning.
He wanted to be closer to me now, too.
Claudia was the first to make a move. She walked toward Gio and threw her arms around his waist. She rested her forehead on the center of his chest and murmured how much she loved him.
“You’re so strong,” she whispered but loud enough I heard. “You’ve always been so strong for us because you were the best big brother anyone could ask for.”
She was openly crying, and I could see it was doing a number on Dmitry. My brother wanted to go to his wife, but he gave her this moment with her brother.