Anton almost killed me by tearing out my heart with his betrayal, plus a little help from my twisted uncle. I'd tried to murder him for it, and I'd nearly died when I realized my mistake and my regret.
Sure, the poison was responsible for almost sending me into an early grave. But really, it was grief, brutal regret that I'd nearly destroyed the man I loved over a battered heart and a lie.
I still wanted to throw myself at him, tell him how sorry I was.
That didn't compare to the need I had for his lips, his embrace. I'd let him suck the last poison from my heart with every fiery kiss. Gioulio's toxin had faded and gone. Soon, I knew the rest of the venom he'd injected into my brain my entire adult life would go with it.
Anton. I needed to see him. I struggled to sit up, throw my feet over the bed to the cool floor.
I smiled when I was able to stand. Back when I was collapsing in his arms, puking out the poison while he held me, I never thought I'd stand and breathe again.
A window was cracked, letting in the cool autumn air. It was either dusk or just before dawn, judging by the little blue splash on the horizon. I didn't have a clue without something to tell the time.
I staggered to the bathroom and washed my face. The cool, refreshing water helped bring me back to life, made me halfway human again.
I was about to come out when the bedroom door burst open. Something heavy hit the floor, and someone was coughing outside.
“Shit!” Anton's voice.
A second later, he grabbed the bathroom doorknob and jerked it. I still had it locked. “Babe? Are you okay in there?”
I gave it a little push and flung it open, then fell into his arms. “I just woke up,” I said, suddenly more energized by having his arms around me.
“Damn. I was hoping to have you in bed for the big surprise so it didn't give you too much of a shock. Nobody ever said this shit was gonna go perfect...”
I didn't understand what he was talking about. He held me, walked me out of the bathroom. I stopped when I saw his brothers standing against the wall. Lev and Daniel looked at us both, serious expressions on their faces. They wore matching black tactical suits like Anton.
Then I saw the bastard at their feet. Uncle Gioulio lay on the floor, squirming like an honest-to-God eel. His hands and legs were both bound by black cords. He turned his head, saw me, and started to struggle, grunting through his efforts.
The tape over his vile mouth prevented him from saying anything. For a second, my heart tried to have a flash of sympathy, but all the things he'd said and done came crashing home. The Russians weren't perfect, but they hadn't feigned love. They hadn't poisoned me. Anton and his brothers didn't twist my emotions the way he did – and he was fucking family!
My hand tightened in Anton's and he squeezed my fingers hard. We stomped over. I watched my man lean over the battered creature on the floor. In one fluid swipe, he ripped the tape off his mouth.
Uncle Gioulio coughed, looked at me, and swore. “Fuck. Don't let them do this to me, Brina. You can call it all off, save your uncle.”
I shook my head. Amazing. I'd never seen him act so pathetic.
Anger bristled in Anton's eyes. He drew a handgun from the holster near his belt and pressed it to my uncle's temple.
“You heard her. No. Now, shut the fuck up! You don't talk unless she tells you to, understand?” Every syllable he spoke was a feral growl. “And quit your begging, asshole. Be a man for once in your miserable life.”
Uncle Gioulio turned his head on the floor and closed his eyes. A harsh sob jarred his body. I came closer, pushed gently against Anton, pressing my lips to my uncle's ear.
“You told me about mama and how his father ran her down.” I waited until my uncle saw me squeezing Anton's arm, looking lovingly into his eyes. I beamed back just as much hate at the bastard on the floor. “You didn't tell me about Mercedes, the French woman they were really after. Why?”
Gioulio sobbed again. He rolled, until he was flat on his back, miserably staring up at the ceiling.
“I loved that fucking woman. I'll go to my grave loving her like nothing else. Just do what you're gonna do,” he said, a little strength returning to his voice.
“You lied to me.” The words were so dry in my throat I choke back a cough.
I wasn't sure what I expected. Maybe an apology, an unselfish sob, something to tell me he was sorry for all this and wasn't just out to save his own ass.
Uncle Gioulio's eyes shifted to mine. They were narrowed, hateful. He looked at me like a pet who'd just disappointed him. Anton saw it, and he snarled, tightening his hold on the gun. He was ready to pull the trigger well over a minute ago.