Page 76 of Crimson Fate
“How do you know about him?” I demand.
There’s a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line, and for a moment, the world seems to pause, waiting for Amelia’s response. “Eva called me a couple of nights ago and told me everything going on there.”
“She what?” I gasp, though I’m not actually surprised. Eva trusts my sister explicitly, and if she really thought I was in trouble, she is the first person she would have reached out to.
“Was that the last time you heard from her?” I ask, hoping Amelia might pose some sort of clue to Eva’s location, even if she was unaware.
“Yeah, she’s really worried about you.” Her voice trembles with her own apprehension. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me about Anthony. I’m your sister, for Christ’s sake.”
I can feel the accusation piercing her words, stinging like a fresh wound. “I’ve been handling it,” I reply, trying to sound more in control than I am. “Or at least, trying to.”
“Handling it?” she snaps back, incredulity sharpening her tone. “You don’t handle something like this alone. We’re family. You should’ve called me the second you found out.”
“Amelia, you are halfway across the globe, dealing with the Bratva and God only knows what else. How could I add to your worries?” My gaze flickers to the antique clock on the mantel, its ticking a reminder of time slipping away from me—from us.
“Nothing—absolutely nothing—is more important than family. You know that.”
Her assurance reaches through the line, steadying my frayed nerves. I lean against the mahogany desk, closing my eyes briefly. “We’re not family anymore, though. You’re an Ivanov.”
“I am so over that bullshit way of thinking. When are you going to realize that our bond goes beyond this stupid fucking family war nonsense? I’m your blood and will always be there when you need me.” Her tone holds an unyielding firmness.
“That’s easy to say, but a much harder reality to live,” I answer.
“Then tell me why the moment I told Alex what Eva told me, his immediate response was to get us on a plane back to the States,” Amelia asks, and I wonder if I somehow misheard her.
“He what?” I ask, but don’t wait for her to answer before I add, “I thought you two had to be there for a while.”
“Yeah, well, it’s like I said—you’re family, and you need us,” she says again.
Amelia has always been a free spirit who made up her own mind about things, consequences be damned. In a way, I feel sorry for Alexei because when she feels strongly about something, her mind is not changing.
“So you’re in the States?” I attempt to clarify.
“We’re at our place,” she replies. “That’s why I’m calling. We were trying to find out what we can do to help. That fucking little weasel. I never like Anthony. I know you said you were thinking of marrying Gia, and I didn’t want to say something that would influence you, but I don’t think you could have been happy with her.”
“Yeah, well, I may never be happy.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Amelia huffs.
I sigh, wishing I didn’t have to deliver this news to Amelia. “Anthony found out about the relationship between Eva and me—”
“Relationship?” The surprise in Amelia’s voice reveals that she has not been made aware of that change in events by Eva.
“Fuck. I didn’t realize you didn’t know. I thought Eva would have told you that too.”
“Told me what?”
“I can’t marry Gia.” A deep breath fills my lungs, steeled with resolve. “It’s Eva; it’s always been Eva.”
The line crackles with her intake of breath. “Finally!” she exclaims, and I can almost see her shaking her head, the corners of her eyes crinkling with mirth. “I was starting to think you were blind and stubborn.”
“Was it that obvious?” I run a hand through my hair, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.
“Only to everyone who isn’t you, apparently. Even Daddy once asked me when you were going to wake up and realize you had a thing for Eva.”
“Well, I really fucked things up now.”
“What happened?”