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“Okay,” Mina said, and then there was a slight scuffle “Lev No! Give it back”

And then h the speaker “Nastasia, where do you plan on taking ?”

Anika’s face softened at the sound of his voice, and ut squeezed I knew it couldn’t be easy for her Ani had always loved Lev I inity to hiht for him, but in the end, Mina had won his heart

To her credit, she took it well

Sometimes, I think she took it a little too well

My face bunched with indignance “None of your flipping beeswax, brother”

“Nastasia,” Lev uttered in warning, and he really should’ve known by now that the tone he was using was not one that worked on me

I looked to Ani and rolled erous, Lev We’re just having a girls’ night out”

“A girls’ night out,” he said as if he were processing this “On your own” He muttered, “Without protection”

“Yep”

“No,” he said instantly “I don’t like that”

I loved Lev Loved hi for those closest to him But, yes, he had his quirks He was also stubborn and set in his ways and overprotective to the point of overstepping

When he got that way, dealing with him required a level of patience that I oftentimes did not have

“Lev,” I began cal that I would put Mina,could happen to her?”

“No,” he said i to boil over

“Precisely,” I said, then added, “You knoould only ever take her soht?”

“Yes” He sighed, and I siven in completely when he said, “I want her to text me every hour, Nastasia”

“Okay,” I settled, knowing it was the best I’d get with him

“Every hour,” Lev repeated

I spoke through gritted teeth, doing my best to not snap at him “I heard you, moy brat”

“I’ll drive you,” he added, and I actually laughed out loud

God, he was infuriating But when Ani oopy face and placed a hand to her heart, I quickly acknowledged I could have it a lot worse