A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

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Chapter 76

Matteo

'I know she's with you.'

The message said, leaving me anxious and somehow out of words. I had stared at my phone for five minutes because I didn't know if I was supposed to reply or let it be. It was obvious Alexei knew that Alena was with me but the main question was, how?

The laughters and chatters were loudly heard from downstairs which calmed me down a little bit, knowing they weren't coming upstairs to check up on me.

Then again, I didn't want to hide things from Alena anymore-I did it before for her own sake. Was I supposed to hide about this as well? What type of good was going to come out from it?

Another message came in and I looked down at the sender: Alexei.

'Mikhail doesn't know.'

I read, blinking a few times as another message went through.

'Well, not yet.'

I immediately turned to look at the door before shutting it close and heading out to the balcony, occasionally glancing at the door incase Alena stepped in. I didn't want her to overhear my conversation with Alexei, at least until I heard about the things he wanted to say first. Without wasting anymore time, I pressed the screen to call Alexei.

It took him a couple of rings before he picked up the phone.

"Look who decided to call me back," he said from the other line!

"Are you alone?" I asked, ignoring his sarcasm.

The question was simple. I just needed a confirmation from him if Mikhail was in the room with him or he was alone-it was safer if he was all by himself. I couldn't trust Mikhail and I couldn't trust Alexei either but at least, he was keeping Alena's whereabouts a secret for now.

Maybe, he was finally coming to his senses.

However, it was still too early to judge.

Alexei chuckled from the other line, "You're worried?"

I kept quiet, not wanting to play around. I just wanted an answer and if he didn't want to give me any, there was no use for us to talk anymore. I always had my doubts with the Russians but ever since I had fallen in love with one, I tried to be positive sometimes.

"If it's Mikhail you're worried about, he's not here." He added, giving me the answer I waited for.

I sighed, feeling a little bit better.

"Why did you call me?"

"Just to clear the air between us after what happened."

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07:40 Mon, Nov 4

Chapter 76

help it that I don't feel the same way,"

I'm being

and I from last week replayed in my head, when we were stargazing that

reasons why we

answer to that. Men like us aren't exactly

like us, we didn't deserve anything good in our lives. If another lifetime ever existed, I would've probably chosen a different life where I wasn't the villain. I wanted a calm and peaceful life instead of having to worry

the ways to cover up our money laundering. Then again, our hands were always going to be dirty from the men we killed despite how many times

hell, aren't we?" He

do you want, Alexei? Just be

I found out

tell me if you're

make him laugh, as if it was

I owe my sister a favour. Let's just say

you mean

as I respect and look up to Mikhail, I don't

way, you're making up an

then. I'm

"I saw the

I wanted to." He continued to speak before sighing, as if he was having a hard time to choose the right words-he had his own

should I thank

need that.

you that

protect her with my

she got hurt when you

I really do,"

for awhile until we ended the call. I stared at my phone for a few minutes before I heard the door being pushed open and I saw Alena stepping in, looking around the room for me. Once she saw my figure on the balcony, she made her way towards me with a smile plastered on

She said as she grabbed my

"Hey... you," I replied.

You took so

time we stared at each other-it could be the colour of her eyes or even the way she held her gaze but she was the death of me. Whenever I was

my body could finally function properly if I had her beside me and my body could somehow self destruct if she was nowhere near me. It was a weird feeling because I never felt

"Your brother."

"Alexei?" Her eyes widened.

nodded and a frown appeared in between

it? Shouldn't we be worried?" She

tell Mikhail. He said

one? Owed me

doing anything when he hurt

bleed on the ground. He said he was capable of protecting my wife as if I had failed,