Chapter 43

Dimitri received a text from Kyle, and it broke his heart. She wanted to be home with them, and all he could tell her was “not now.” Max and Dimitri were keeping a secret from everyone, including Kyle.

A few hours after Kyle left, Max and Dimitri got a letter. The letter threatened Kyle’s life. They would kill Kyle if anyone tried to get her or if they attacked. So the only thing they could do was to distance themselves.

Dimitri

Don’t worry, myshka; we’re working on it. We love you.

“I can’t do it anymore, Max. I can’t keep lying to her. She needs to know she can’t come back for a while, not until we can make sure they can’t kill her.”

“I don’t like it either, Dimitri, but it’s what we have to do to protect her.”

“I think we need to tell Ryan and Sarah.”

Max knew Dimitri was right, but he didn’t want to admit it. He hated when his brother was right, but they needed to know what was going on with their sister.

***

Max and Dimitri sat Sarah and Ryan down and explained everything that had been going on.

“How could you let this fucking happen?” Ryan yelled. “You promised me you would protect her. Instead, you gave her away like I gave her to you.”

“She deserves better; she deserves better people.”

“We feel the same way. We were stupid, and we put her life in danger,” Max told Ryan and Sarah.

Sarah was quiet; she didn’t know what to say. She barely knew Kyle and didn’t have a good friendship with her. She felt bad for feeling indifferent about the situation.

“What are our options? I’ll do whatever we need to do.”

“We know you’ll do anything, but right now, the only way we can help her is by not helping her.”

“That’s bullshit.” Ryan stormed toward Dimitri. “This is on you—you did this to her.” Ryan went to punch Dimitri before Varina yelled out to stop him.

“I can’t stay here.”

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Max yelled at him as he stormed out of the room.

Sarah didn’t say anything and left the brothers alone in the room. “He’s right, Max. We failed her, and we don’t deserve her.”

“This isn’t the end, Dimitri; we just can’t do anything right now.”

***

When Kyle saw Dimitri’s response about not being able to get out now, she cried. She didn’t want this life, and she felt like a fool.

She thought everything would work out, but things got more complicated, and she didn’t know how to handle it. For the first time in her life, she felt truly alone. She now knew it was up to her to get through this.

Tomorrow was a new day, and Kyle made a promise to herself. A promise that she would give up; that she would do what she needed to do to get out.

Kyle

I love you two, and tell Ryan that I love him. This may be my last text for a while. Please stay safe, and I’ll see you soon.

Kyle felt like her heart was breaking, but she knew it was for the best, and she needed to save herself.