The grand hall was breathtaking.
Golden balconies.
Velvet seats.
Crystal chandeliers glowing softly above.
Everything elegant.
Everything refined.
Everything completely wasted on half of them.
Darina sat between Ivan and Valentino, looking around with quiet curiosity.
Her eyes moved over the stage, the orchestra, the crowd dressed in formal wear.
"...it's pretty," she whispered.
Ivan nodded slightly.
"It is."
Valentino leaned back, satisfied.
"See? Culture."
Across from them—
Matteo looked like he had been personally offended by the entire building.
Dimitri sat stiffly, arms crossed.
Francesco slouched in his seat, already bored.
Vladimir looked entertained.
Vincenzo and Viktor were calm, observing.
Alessandro sat perfectly composed.
The lights dimmed.
The orchestra began.
Soft at first.
Then building.
Darina leaned forward slightly, interested.
The curtain lifted.
And then—
The singing started.
Loud.
Dramatic.
Passionate.
Echoing through the hall.
A woman on stage clutched her chest like her life depended on it.
Ivan blinked.
Francesco froze.
Matteo slowly turned his head.
"...is she yelling?"
Valentino elbowed him immediately.
"Shut up."
"I'm serious," Matteo whispered harshly. "Why is she yelling?"
"That's singing."
"That's not singing."
Dimitri leaned slightly toward Vladimir.
"...is she dying?"
Vladimir bit his lip.
"She might be."
Francesco leaned forward, squinting at the stage.
"Why is she so dramatic?"
Darina tried—tried—to stay serious.
But her lips were already twitching.
On stage, the man joined in.
Even louder.
Even more dramatic.
Matteo choked.
"Oh my God, now he's yelling too."
Ivan covered his mouth.
Trying not to laugh.
Valentino hissed under his breath,
YOU ARE READING
Blood Between Us
Teen FictionHer mother's sons. Her father's sons. Her half-brothers raised to rule, raised to destroy each other. To them, she isn't just blood-she's possession, weakness, leverage... and the one thing neither side will surrender. As rivalry turns ruthless and...
