Page 157 of Broken & Bound

I smiled at him, and he winked. Sebastian heaved and crossed his arms.

“Well, go on. Speak your mind.”

“I’ve always respected you, Sebastian. From day one. I didn’t set out to lie or keep anything from you. You were the first person I wanted to tell. But this stubborn Italian woman begged me not to.”

A muscle in the right corner of my mouth twitched. Before I could think better of it, my elbow found its old familiar home against his stomach, offering a soft nudge. He looked down at me with a teasing, warning look and spoke.

“I don’t know how to explain what your sister means to me. I only know that my soul has done nothing but physically ache every day we’ve been apart. I don’t know who decides soulmates. But I know Isabella is mine. And I know I’m hers. I know it because the minute I saw her face and held her in my arms, my soul found peace. The noise quieted.”

Mine did, too. I hadn’t realized until that moment. His attention returned to Sebastian.

“I hurt you and for that, I’m sorry.”

“You hurt my sister,” Sebastian said, color flaring on his cheeks.

Pasha nodded without hesitation. “I know. And I’d like to spend every day I have left making up for it. I don’t need your permission. But I’d like your blessing. Will you give me one chance to earn your trust again?”

Silence filled the room, and several minutes ticked by. I felt Pasha’s hand tighten around mine, giving me strength. Then Sebastian’s shoulders sagged. Some of the fight left him.

“You’re asking a hell of a lot from me.”

“I know. But one chance is all I’m asking for.”

He pointed at Pasha. “One. Don’t make me regret it.”

Before I even noticed I was moving, I crossed the room and threw my arms around my brother.

“Thank you. I’m sorry I asked him to keep it from you. I love you. So much.”

The words dissolved into tears. He hugged me fiercely. The warmth of the embrace felt different. We had a way to go to bridge the hurt we’d caused one another, but this was a good first step forward.

When we stepped apart, Sebastian walked straight to Pasha. For one agonizing heartbeat, neither of them moved. Then Sebastian thrust out his hand.

“Brother.”

Pasha stared at it for only a second before taking it. Instead of shaking it, he pulled Sebastian into a hug, slapping him on the back. After the briefest hesitation, my brother embraced him.

Everyone reacted, and suddenly I knew what I had to do. Without a word, I turned and hurried inside to my room. My heart pounded as I crossed my bedroom and reached for the plaque resting carefully on the dresser.

A week after we lost the girls, Mum had given it to me. The day we’d found out they we were having girls, Pasha had insisted on stopping by a boutique. He’d walked out carrying two identical pairs of tiny Louboutin ballet flats, grinning from ear to ear.

“They’ll dance, I just know they will.”

Mum had mounted the shoes on a wooden plaque, leaving a space beneath each pair for their names. Maybe now we could talk about the names I’d chosen and get them added.

What no one in the room understood was that the tiny ballet flats Pasha had gotten held a deeper, significant meaning. My fingers trembled as I brushed over the soft satin.

“I love you, and always will,” I whispered.

Holding the plaque carefully, I walked back outside. Conversation faded the moment I entered. I stopped in front of Pasha.

“My lion, you once equated Kinsley to a pair of old shoes.”

“Hey,” Kinsley said, sounding highly offended.

I smiled. “I wasn’t finished, Swan,” I said before turning my attention back to Pasha. “You said losing her felt like the company stopped making your favorite pair.”

He laughed quietly. “I did say that.”