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“I thought I was the only one left,” I say slowly, my suspicion rising. “So I decided to infiltrate the Sakharov clan and kill Sergio the first chance I got.”
Three sets of eyebrows shoot up at that, and the blond seems genuinely impressed.
“Ballsy. You didn’t think they would recognize you?”
I shrug. “Vengeance for my brother was all I cared about. I was willing to take the risk.”
The animosity in the blond’s gaze washes away, and his shoulders relax for the first time as his back straightens. “Well, in that case, maybe I’ve been looking at this all wrong. We ought to be working together. Don’t you think? We seem to have the same goal in mind.” He flashes me a smile, and I can see the resemblance to Dominik now more than ever.
“Like hell would I ever work with men who could kidnap an innocent girl and threaten to hurt her just to send her father a message.” I’m shaking with fury, ready to cut off the bastard’s hands for playing any part in what happened to Alina.
The blond snorts, glancing toward his companions before turning his gaze back to me. “You do realize the irony of your statement, right? Because you’re working for Sergio Sakharov. He’s done far worse than scare a spoiled little princess, and you know it.”
“Screw you,” I growl, my temper spiking.
“That’s it, isn’t it? She’s the key to why you betrayed your family,” he taunts. “It makes so much more sense now. Sergio’s daughter is the reason you’re so willing to protect the Sakharov family. What, did she put out, and now you’ve fallen for some pussy and lost your nerve to avenge the brother who sacrificed everything for you?”
Another slight about my brother. This jerk really knows how to get under my skin. “Don’t talk about Alina like that,” I warn, my voice dropping into a flat, deadly register. “In fact, if you’re smart, you won’t talk about her or even think about her ever again.”
“Oh-ho-ho!” The blond covers his mouth with a fist, feigning shock as he looks at his friends once more, encouraging their amusement.
They both snort with laughter, dropping their tough-guy stances.
“Wow, man, the pampered little princess has really got you wrapped around her finger. I wonder what your brother would say if he knew you were defending her like some kind of messed up knight in shining armor.”
My blood boils as he brings Sascha up once again, and I snap, striding forward several feet to get in his face. The humor vanishes from their lips when I close the distance between us. As one, they tense, readying for a fight.
“That’s the second time you’ve brought up my brother, svoloch,” I hiss, silently daring him to do it again. “Sascha’s dead, and you sure as hell didn’t know him, so you’d best stop using his name like you’re trying to defend his memory. Got it?”
“Easy, man,” the blond says, taking a step back and raising his palms in surrender. “We were just having a bit of fun.”
“Yeah, well your fun is over. Get the hell out. And if I ever see you again, I’ll kill you.” If I had better odds of succeeding, I might just do it now.
The ringleader laughs, brushing off my threat like he’s confident I wouldn’t try anything so stupid. But a moment later, he jerks his head toward the door, gesturing for the other two to obey my command. He follows slowly, that leer never leaving his lips as he watches me.
The door swings open without complaint, showing no sign of forced entry and making me wonder if they managed to pick the lock without waking me or if I didn’t bolt it.
The blond stops in the threshold, his hand on the knob as he turns to face me. “You know, Mishka, you should reconsider teaming up. My offer won’t be available forever, and someday soon, you might just find yourself on the wrong side of a reckoning.”
The sense of foreboding he leaves as he closes the door behind him puts my stomach into knots.
21
ALINA
“Idon’t know what to say,” Katie says after the silence between us grows painful. “Either way, it’s a tough decision because you want to keep the child, which means Mishka’s life will be in danger when your father finds out, so I agree with you in that regard. Mishka needs to know.”
She chews her thumbnail thoughtfully, frowning at the floor, and I let her think. I just wish she could see this from some new angle, provide me with fresh insight that might help me make the right choice.
Slipping off the counter, I take her place in front of the cutting board while she leans absent-mindedly beside me.
“What if… having the baby is actually the solution to all your problems?” she asks thoughtfully when she finally speaks.
“What do you mean?” Finished chopping, I pull out a large bowl and slide the sliced fruit into it, then set it between us.
“Well, what if we’ve been looking at the baby the wrong way? You want to have this kid, right?”
“Right.”
