The Brother (Whip 5) ✔️

Chapter 24

STEFAN

I tossed another shot of vodka, my throat burning as the liquid slid down it, but I ignored it, even welcoming the burn, desperate to feel something other than this fucking pain in my chest.

A wound Sasha's rejection had caused that had started to fester and I could actually feel it pulsing with each breath that I took.

I felt like crying, but I was too far gone even for that, so instead, I just ordered another shot.

Dean looked at me dubiously, his mouth opening as if he wanted to say something or object, but he changed his mind and just nodded.

He slid the glass to me, his eyes sad as he did so, but I ignored it as I took it and drank. After all, I knew what he would say. He would advise me to go home and get some sleep.

But that was easier said than done. The thing is, every time I would close my eyes I'd see him there, in the room, I'd see his face as he pushed me away. As he left me.

And I couldn't face it. I just could not face that again, once being more than enough, so instead, I chose to get drunk. Thinking that maybe if I drank enough, I'd manage to forget him for long enough to fall asleep.

"Master Stefan, good evening. I'm so happy to see you again, you haven't been in for so long." A pretty blond Sub that for the life of me I could not remember the name of but I knew that I had slept with some time ago approached me.

He pressed his lithe body against my side, fluttering his eyelashes in a way that once upon a time would have had me pounce in a second, but now just looked silly to me.

I moved my chair a bit, hating his touch as I looked at my yet again empty glass and said, "Get lost. Not interested."

He huffed and left, the word 'rude' falling from his lips as he did so, but I couldn't care less as I motioned to Dean to pour me another vodka.

"He's right, you know. That was a bit rude." A familiar voice said and in the next moment, Misha took a seat next to mine.

"He'll live." That was the only thing I said before tossing another shot.

"Hitting the vodka, I see. So, the convo didn't go as planned, I'm guessing."

"What makes you think that?" I snarked as I grabbed a bottle from behind the bar and just poured myself another, unwilling to wait for Dean to do so.

"No need for snark, Stef. I've come in peace."

I sighed, looking away for a moment before looking at him. "I know. I'm sorry."

Misha's eyes softened as he nodded and then took the bottle from my hands and poured a shot for himself.

"For Mother Russia!" he toasted and clinked his glass against mine, before tossing it back in one go.

"Did he say anything?" I asked after a moment, knowing that I shouldn't, that there was no point in torturing myself any further, but unable to stop myself.

Misha shook his head, "No. He hasn't left his room yet. He just sleeps all day, or at least pretends to whenever I enter the room to check on him."

"I didn't know that he... you... I didn't know, I swear." I said as I glanced down at my hands.

Misha's freckled hand suddenly covered them as he whispered, "I know that. Despite what had happened in the past, I always knew that you were a good man, an honest man. I know that you would never intentionally hurt Sasha."

"He thinks that I love you," I said after a moment. Misha froze for a second before quietly asking,

"Do you?"