I cough, clearing the nervousness from my throat before whispering, “What’s going on, Rico? I thought we were dining alone.”
Before Rico has the chance to reply, the chatter is the room dulls to a faint hum. I don’t need to look up to know Vladimir has entered; the ice-cold fear sliding through my veins is the only indication I need.
My brows knit in confusion when Rico stands from his chair and greets his father with a kiss on each of his cheeks. Fear clutches my throat when Vladimir peers down at me and says, “Hello Blaire.”
Who knew two words could sound so threatening?
I turn my gaze away, refusing to peer into the eyes of a monster. Rico retakes his seat, then leans over to intertwine our fingers together. With a wave of his hand through the air, Vladimir gestures for the remaining attendees left standing to take their seats. My chest rises and falls when I notice the two seats opposite Rico and me remain vacant, the seats that belong to Nikolai and his mother, Oksana.Oh my lord. What did he do?
My regular breathing pattern returns when a commotion at the front of the restaurant secures my devotion. Nikolai and Oskana are pushing their way through a gauntlet of paparazzi guarding the restaurant doors. After slinging off her lightweight coat, Oskana saunters into the room with a vibrant smile stretched across her face. She places a kiss on the edge of Vladimir’s mouth before taking the seat across from me.
My stomach winds up to my throat when I notice a range of fresh bruises on Nikolai’s face. But even battered and bruised, his cockiness is still paramount. After giving me a sneaky wink, he takes his seat next to his mother.
“Shyulakasdon’t belong here,” Oskana snarls at me, glaring.
“Neither do oldsukis,” I fire back.
Nikolai coughs, only just holding in his laughter. Rico isn’t as reserved. His beautiful laugh quickly fills the silence. Oskana’s furious gaze scorches into me before she shifts her eyes to Vladimir, soundlessly demanding justice for me calling her an old bitch. The expression on Vladimir’s face remains unchanged. He looks as hideous as he always does.
Rico leans into my side. “Maya?” he mutters so only I will hear.
I nod. It took me hours to explain the term I wanted to say to Maya, but we eventually got there. A lazy smirk stretches across Rico’s mouth as he glistening eyes stare into mine. His new carefree approach fills me with hope that he hasn’t fully succumbed to the darkness surrounding him.
My heart swells as a spark of the man I’ve fallen in love with leans over and place a kiss on the edge of my mouth. They escape my eyes and trickle down my cheeks when Rico mutters, “Never forget me, Kitten” against my lips.
Before I have the chance to respond, Rico stands from his chair, produces a gun from the back of his trousers and points the barrel at the small portion of skin between Oskana’s green eyes. Fear overwhelms me when over half a dozen men push back from the table and aim their weapons at Rico. I shake like a leaf, my lips twitch, but not a peep escapes my mouth as I watch a series of stomach-churning events unfold before my very eyes.
My eyes bounce between Oskana and Rico when he sneers, “First you murdered my mother, then you tried to kill my wife.”
Oskana viciously shakes her head, sending tears rolling down her cheeks.
Rico’s jaw tightens. “You can deny it all you like, but don’t underestimate me. I know more than I say, think more than I speak, and notice more than you realize. It’s usually the people you least suspect who are your biggest enemy.”
Oskana’s eyes rocket to Nikolai. Shock and disbelief is tainting her face. Nikolai keeps his gaze planted straight ahead, refusing to even acknowledge her presence.
When she returns her gaze to Rico, he demands, “Tell Vladimir what you did. Tell him how you scheduled my mother to meet with a monster because you knew she wouldn’t give herself to him.”
Vladimir sinks deeper into his chair as he drifts his eyes between Rico and Oskana. His eyes show his interest, but his composure remains calm.
“Tell him how you set her up!” Rico startles me with his loud voice. “You may not have strangled my mother, but you stillmurderedher. You knew she was Vladimir’sahrenand that he would never love you like he loved her.”
Osaka pupils widen, and the veins in her neck thrum, abundantly proving Rico’s accusations are true.
“You killed my mother so he wouldn’t leave you for her. Then you tried to do the same thing to my wife because you knew she would take your place!”
When Oskana shakes her head, Rico’s index finger squeezes the trigger of his gun. My chin quivers when a scattering of laser dots shimmer on the black material covering Rico’s chest—the same area my name is inked on.
“Tell him!” Rico roars, not the slightest bit intimidated by all the guns pointed at him. “Tell him you killed hisahren!”
My eyes shoot in all directions when the men with their guns drawn step away from the table and move in on Rico. I stand frozen, my brain incapable of formulating a way Rico and I can get out of this situation still breathing.
When Oskana’s lips remain tightly shut, Rico mutters, “Tell him or I’ll kill your son.” His voice dangerously low—a stark contradiction to tone he was using ten seconds ago.
Oskana gasps when Rico turns the barrel of his gun to Nikolai. Unnerved, Nikolai holds his brother’s gaze, his stature composed, his facial expression deadpan.
“Three. . . Two. . . One,” Rico counts down in a tone I’ve never heard before.
“Okay,” Oskana shouts, her voice jittery. “Okay. I’ll tell him. I’ll tell him everything, but please, Rico, don’t hurt Nikolai. Don’t kill my son.”
