Sasha: The Awakening (The Wallflower Series Book 2) by R.J. Fletcher Page B

herself because of his callous treatment.
    And there lay his biggest regret; his actions had created the wall she now held between herself and others. He had caused his own biggest deterrent. How could he expect her to destroy her walls of protection and run back into the arms of the perpetrator?
    Dmitri’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a knock at the door. Having not expected any visitors, he was surprised to find Dominic on the other end of the door. Hesitantly, he let his brother cross the threshold into his penthouse with a casual nod. Admittedly, he had his own reasons for accepting the company. While he may have actively ignored Carter’s presence with Sasha the other night and the meaning therein, Dominic could act as a source of more information in that regard.
    “Would you like something to drink?” he asked politely. At the grunt that followed his question, he sought the refrigerator for bottles of water. After throwing one to Dominic who sat splayed out comfortably on the couch, he took a seat himself. For a few moments, they both sat together with no words exchanged between them.
    “Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m here?” Dominic finally inquired.
    “I assumed you would get to it at some point,” Dmitri responded in explanation.
    Dominic sighed. “Fair enough. I’m actually a bit surprised myself that I came.” Dmitri only waited for him to continue when he paused. “If anything, I was one of the few people rooting for you until I saw what you were capable of.”
    Growing impatient, Dmitri interrupted to ask, “What the hell are you talking about, Dominic? If you came here to scold me for something just spit it out. I don’t have time for your shit.”
    Dominic glared at his brother and rolled his eyes. “It’s when you open your fucking mouth that I really wonder why I even bother dealing with you. You drive people away Dmitri. You realize that, don’t you?”
    “I don’t need your psycho-babble bullshit right now, Dom.”
    “No, actually you do. Because you don’t seem to realize that you’re going to wake up to no one by your side one day. I’ve been trying for years for you to see that I’m not an enemy. I never have been but you continue to treat me that way. You did the same with Sasha and to be honest, I’m really interested in seeing how she responds to your advances after what happened.”
    Returning the hostile glances from his brother, Dmitri responded through gritted teeth, “That’s it, isn’t it? You want to see me fall on my ass so you can get a chance at her.” He leaned closer to his brother. “Stay away from her,” he warned. “She’s mine.”
    There was a fire that leapt into Dominic’s eyes and Dmitri was slightly taken aback at the resemblance he saw between them. Expecting punches to be thrown, Dmitri was shocked when Dominic laughed humorlessly. “And there it is again. You are pushing me away because you feel vulnerable. How do you expect to get back with her if you haven’t faced your own problems? The same problems that caused you two to break up in the first place?”
    Dmitri paused, not having an answer to the legitimate question. Instead, he asked again, “What do you want Dom?”
    “You’re my brother, Dmitri. I want to see you happy. I want to help you. But instead of seeing that, you automatically assume I’m out to stab you in the back. And, to be honest, I am sick and tired of having to always be at war with you. I could have told you to go fuck yourself a long time ago but I never could let myself do it. You know why?” Dominic was visibly shaken as he spoke. These were words he had held back for so long, it floored him how difficult they were to say aloud. “Because no matter how much you seem to hate me, you’re my brother. And I love you.”
    Dmitri, seeing the tension in Dominic’s jaw and fisted hands, didn’t know what to say. Those three words had never been spoken between them. He had always kept his distance.