Page 72 of Then We Shatter

“I love my family, but not enough to sacrifice the life I want with you. I’ve struggled to fit into the role I was born into, and now I know why. My place isn’t with them, it’s with you.”

“Nice words, but where would we go?”

“I have money,” I explain. “Some of my legit businesses are mine and mine alone.”

Katarina pushes me off her and climbs off the bed, adjusting her panties and her dress. I let her have some space. I know there’s a lot to process.

“Money is not the issue.” She looks at me warily and it’s testament to how strong our bond is when she continues. “I have money too. Lots of it. Ilya hid Bratva income in places my uncle never discovered. Money made through the exploitation and abuse of innocent women, and I’m going to use it to break human trafficking rings and a few necks along the way. Being dead gives me the perfect cover,” she says, turning away from me. “I’m not looking to settle down and play house.”

“Glad to hear it,” I say, and I never said a truer word. I fix my pants and grab the gift bag. Inside is a world map and it covers half the bed when I unfold it. “So, where shall we have our base?”

Katarina refuses to look. “Shorty, please. This is where it ends.”

“It is,” I agree, taking her arm and turning her back to face me. “But every ending is the start of something else, and–”

Before I can finish, there’s a tap on the hidden panel I’d crawled out of, and Calder appears without waiting for an invitation. If it wasn’t for the guards pacing outside, I’d hurl a few choice words at him.

“We need to go,” he whisper-shouts. “Three armored vehicles have just overpowered security at the gate and they’re on their way here.”

I check Katarina’s expression. This wasn’t the peaceful handover of the missing Moncrief she was expecting. The representative Vasili has sent to close the deal with the Moncriefs is on a power trip. “You should come with me. Now.”

“And guarantee a bloodbath?” she asks. I hate that she’s right. “Vasili is making his presence known from afar. It’s just for show.”

I stand firm. “You can’t be sure of that, and I’m not leaving you here if you’re in danger.”

A knock on the door makes us all twitch. “Katarina, you have two minutes to get your ass out here,” Danyl shouts through the door. “You have people to greet.”

“Go,” Katarina whispers, attempting to push me towards Calder. “We don’t have to decide anything right this minute. I’ll think about what you said.”

I’m shaking my head. She’s only saying that to get me to leave, but she’s right about it turning into a bloodbath. I can wait until later and I will get the girl. Fuck star-crossed lovers and tragic endings.

Raking my fingers through Katarina’s hair, we lock eyes. “I love you.”

“I tolerate you,” Katarina whispers back and I pull her in for one last kiss.

Chapter 27

Killian

“Is an AK-47 good enough for you?” Calder asks, pulling an assault rifle from a storage box.

I tighten the straps on the bulletproof vest I’ve acquired and rummage through the rest of the treasure trove tucked away in one of the hidden passages. “I’ll take whatever you’re offering.”

Apparently, Duke had stocked up on weaponry in preparation for the Bratva’s visit. He’s not as dumb as he looks.

“These’ll do nicely,” I add, pocketing a couple of beautifully balanced throwing knives to add to the collection I’m already carrying.

I’m just sorry there isn’t a missile launcher because I’m ready to burn the world for my Bratva princess, who more or less said she loved me. She definitely admitted she’d given me her heart.

Calder presses a finger to his earpiece. He doesn’t have a spare set of comms and I’m thirsty for information from the Moncriefs’ security teams. “What’s the latest?”

“Six men are at the door. One of them better be my fucking brother,” Calder complains. “Did you know he was being held hostage?”

I shrug. “Nothing to do with me.” I’m fighting enough battles. I don’t need to get dragged into another family feud.

“Come on, we need to get in place.”

Staying on the second floor, Calder leads me along a passageway that accesses the viewing gallery above the Great Hall. That’s where Rory and Duke are waiting to receive their guests. It’s all very medieval.