A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

+5

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."

1/4

07:40 Mon, Nov 4

Chapter 76

don't feel the

you think I'm being

door again before looking out from the balcony. Memories of Alena and I from last week replayed in my head, when we were stargazing that night and made love in the

of the reasons why we needed to appreciate everything because we were scared

that. Men like us

hard truth but men like us, we didn't deserve anything good in our lives. If another lifetime ever existed, I

to cover up our money laundering. Then again, our

We're condemned to hell,

do you want, Alexei?

ask how I found

can tell me

make him laugh, as if it was

my sister a favour. Let's just say I'm trying

you

speak, "I was there that night when he hit her. As much as I respect and look up to Mikhail, I don't exactly tolerate abuse especially when it's towards

making up an excuse for

I'm trying

"I

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

should I

that. Just

trust you that she'll be

sister. I'll protect her with

she got hurt when

I

saw Alena stepping in, looking around the room

She said as she grabbed my

"Hey... you," I replied.

You took

eyes, I was always drawn to her every 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

time she was near. It was as if my body could finally function properly if I had her beside me and my

"Your brother."

"Alexei?" Her eyes widened.

and a frown appeared in between

worried?" She asked, this time her grip

tell Mikhail. He said he owed

one?

not doing anything when

the fading bruise. If it were up to me, I would've slammed my fist onto his face and let him bleed on the ground. He said he was capable of protecting my wife as if I had failed, but he raised his hand on her. What kind of protecting was that? "I don't blame