THREE HEARTS, ONE SIN

CHAPTER 3

I stared at the message on my phone.

HE LIED TO YOU ABOUT WHY THEY CAME.

My eyes moved slowly from the screen to the three men standing in my apartment.

Roman looked calm.

Too calm.

Adrian looked uncomfortable for the first time since I had met him.

Nikolai simply watched me.

“Which one of you lied?” I asked.

Nobody answered.

I laughed without humor.

“Wow. That's helpful.”

Roman stepped toward me.

“Elena, you need to leave this apartment.”

“No.”

“You're not safe here.”

“I wasn't safe when you arrived either.”

His jaw tightened.

“We're trying to protect you.”

“You were sent to destroy my father's empire.”

“That was before.”

“Before what?”

He stopped.

I folded my arms.

“Before you started liking me?”

Adrian coughed.

Roman turned his head.

“Did you have to say it like that?”

Adrian shrugged.

“I mean... she wasn't wrong.”

I glared at him.

“You're not helping.”

“I rarely do.”

Despite myself, I almost smiled.

Then I remembered the message.

My smile vanished.

“I want the truth.”

Roman looked at Nikolai.

Nikolai shook his head slightly.

Roman sighed.

“There are things you don't understand yet.”

“Then explain them.”

“We can't do that here.”

“Why?”

“Because we're being watched.”

I looked around the apartment.

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it's true.”

Nikolai walked toward the window.

He examined the broken glass before looking back at me.

“Someone knew we would be here.”

My heart beat faster.

“How?”

“We don't know.”

“Then how am I supposed to trust you?”

“You shouldn't,” Nikolai said.

Roman looked at him sharply.

“What?”

Nikolai didn't look away from me.

“Trust is dangerous.”

I stared at him.

That was probably the most honest thing anyone had said to me all night.

Roman pulled out his phone.

“We're leaving.”

“Where?”

“My house.”

I sighed.

“Again with the house.”

“It's secure.”

“Does it have a basement?”

Adrian grinned.

Roman gave him a warning look.

“No basement.”

“Good.”

I grabbed my bag.

“If I disappear tonight, my neighbors will know exactly where I went.”

Adrian smiled.

“That's adorable.”

“What's adorable?”

“You thinking your neighbors can save you.”

My smile faded.

“Was that supposed to make me feel better?”

“No.”

“At least you're honest.”

We left the apartment through the back entrance.

A black car waited outside.

I stopped when I saw it.

“That's yours?”

Roman nodded.

“You have three cars?”

“More.”

“Of course you do.”

Adrian opened the back door.

“After you, princess.”

I stared at him.

“Call me princess again and I'll break your nose.”

He smiled.

“I like dangerous women.”

Roman looked annoyed.

“Get in the car.”

I climbed inside.

Adrian sat beside me.

Nikolai took the front seat.

Roman drove.

For several minutes, nobody spoke.

I stared through the window as New York passed by.

I should have been terrified.

Instead, I felt strangely numb.

My father was alive.

Three dangerous men were taking me somewhere.

Someone had tried to shoot me.

And apparently, my entire life was built on lies.

Normal Tuesday.

I looked at Adrian.

“Do you always kidnap women like this?”

He turned toward me.

“Technically, you came willingly.”

“I was threatened.”

“Strongly encouraged.”

“That is not the same thing.”

He laughed.

Roman glanced at us through the mirror.

“Both of you, stop.”

Adrian leaned closer.

“You see? He hates fun.”

“I noticed.”

Roman ignored us.

After almost thirty minutes, the car stopped in front of a huge black gate.

I stared through the window.

Beyond it stood a massive mansion surrounded by tall trees.

“This is your house?”

Roman nodded.

“You live here alone?”

“Yes.”

I looked at Adrian.

“And him?”

“Sometimes.”

I looked at Nikolai.

“And him?”

“Sometimes.”

I frowned.

“So this is basically a house for emotionally damaged men.”

Adrian laughed loudly.

Roman shook his head.

“Get out.”

I stepped out of the car.

The mansion looked beautiful.

And terrifying.

Like the kind of place where people disappeared and nobody asked questions.

Inside, everything was dark and elegant.

Black marble.

Tall windows.

Expensive furniture.

No family photographs.

Nothing personal.

It felt less like a home and more like a fortress.

Roman led me upstairs.

“You'll stay in this room.”

I opened the door.

A huge bedroom waited for me.

I stared at him.

“I'm supposed to sleep here?”

“Yes.”

“Alone?”

“Yes.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Good.”

Adrian appeared behind Roman.

“I'm offended.”

“Why?”

“I was hoping to say goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

I slammed the door in his face.

A muffled laugh came from the hallway.

For the first time that night, I smiled.

Then I noticed something.

A photograph sat on the bedside table.

I picked it up.

My blood ran cold.

It was a picture of my father.

Victor Vale.

But he wasn't alone.

Standing beside him were three younger men.

Roman.

Adrian.

Nikolai.

I turned the photograph over.

A date was written on the back.

Eight years ago.

Underneath it were four words.

THEY WERE HIS SONS.

My hand started shaking.

Roman had said they worked for my father.

He never said they were like family.

I opened the bedroom door.

“Roman!”

No answer.

“Roman!”

Footsteps approached.

He appeared in the hallway.

“What?”

I held up the photograph.

His face changed.

I pointed at the words.

“What does this mean?”

Roman stared at the picture.

Then he looked at me.

“Elena...”

“Tell me the truth.”

His silence answered before his words did.

Finally, he whispered,

“Your father raised us.”

I felt my heart stop.

“Why?”

Roman's eyes darkened.

“Because he knew one day we'd have to protect you.”

My mouth fell open.

“Protect me from who?”

Roman looked toward the dark hallway behind me.

Then he said quietly,

“From him.”

I frowned.

“From who?”

Roman's expression turned cold.

“Your father.”