I know very well that I have crossed the line.I've known since four years ago, that I shouldn't take anything. I should have received whatever they wanted from me. I must not cross the line because the consequences I will bear in the future are not commensurate with what I have done. I might be shunned from my family, or maybe something worse would happen.But I'm still here.Sitting in a bar on the outskirts of the Bronx, drinking beer, and staring at the crowds preoccupied with what the hell they do. This place is anything but exclusive, so low-key compared to other bars on the streets of New York. But only here I feel I can be free, be myself and allow me to calm myself behind the burden that settles on my chest with so much weight. Being here is better than me having to spend a second where I have to pretend that I'm fine.I've never been fine. Maybe never. The rest of my life will end with me regretting my life."Are you going to be here long?" Baron, my cousin, came and sat bes

I sat in a simple knee-length salmon dress that wasn't tight but still had those damn imaginary ties around my chest and neck. Staring at my face through the clean glass of the dresser wondering how I'm going to apply my mask tonight.My parents were already here, pushing me two seconds when my cousin Carl and I got home, to get ready and dressed because we were going to a dinner party with our family business colleagues. The first thing I did was swear, by accident, in my mother's presence. She just made an expression and sent me a long, sharp glare. Suffice it to say: Don't say any more to my face or I'll make your life more miserable.It's already made my night worse. Maybe a dinner party will put my mood a bit better because sometimes my parents would get caught up in a conversation with some of their socialite friends and wouldn't bother paying attention to the decorum I have to do in front of everyone. Well, let's just hope they're only here for the damn dinner that's about to s

I didn't try to think any further about what I had seen. About how brutal and horrific it was. About how that came from a man known for his kind hearted attitude, and generosity. Well, nobody's perfect, and the worst will always be.I've met him, and faced the worst of him. But I never expected that Nicholas de Sanctis would be this bad.This completely shocked me, sent chills up my spine with chills and gripping horror. Not only because of the foreshadowing of how we would meet again, but of what he was able to do to me.. and Gallena...He probably wouldn't hurt a woman in such a horrific way. But he will do something else. I've had it before. His words were so sharp and disgusting to remember, something that became a nightmare from my college days. I even had to brace myself while he was still on campus, and then scream with relief when he graduated and he went to his home country. Felt like I was an animal forced to be tied by the neck, unable to do anything but wait for him to unt

What happened was worse than I thought.I looked at Gallena who was sitting on the floor in her room, leaning against the bedpost. In her hand was a bottle of vodka, which I believe she stole from Grandpa's cellar."I can take care of her, you have to go." I spoke to the Baron over my shoulder. His face looked disapproved, but he snorted and then did as I said.Gal looks up, looks at me with a smile. She had changed her hair color to her original, black. And besides our different traits, our hair is different. If Gal's hair color is black, I have a slightly darker Brunette. That's why it's not hard for anyone to tell us apart. You only have to see our hair to recognize us.Gal hasn't drunk enough yet and I should be thankful for that. I shook my head, and stepped inside after closing the door behind me. This can't be happening. It's not that I don't want to show the courtesy we're forced to do, but it's for the good of my twin sister. She must not be caught drunk by anyone but me. If

"Do you have time for dinner?" Emmett entered the room as Lara and I were getting ready to leave. It's still five o'clock in the afternoon, and my parents are back in Moscow.. so..."Didn't you ever think you were being too demanding?" Lara answered him with a grunt.Emmett narrowed his eyes sharply at my friend."Lara..." my warning went out. "I have time." I said to Emmett. I had agreed to his invitation yesterday, and then I had quite a busy day guiding Gal around the kitchen. I don't have anything else planned today either, so, yeah... maybe spending some time eating dinner with Emmett is a good thing.He smiled brightly. "I'll pick you up at 8?"I nodded. That was enough time to get dressed, after all Baron's apartment wasn't far from my office. I'll dress up there because it's too risky at home. He'd be bleeding at Pascha's hands before he even got to our family town house."I'll send my address." Emmett nodded again and excused himself as he exited our room.Lara looked at me a