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Now that I’ll be gone, the thought of leaving her all alone hurts more than I thought it would.
It hurts to the point that I’m considering other options to resolve the current situation. If I go with what Sergei wants and divorce her, I can hide her in a place he can’t find. I’ll be able to visit her often…
No.
He would make it his mission to finish her life. Besides, I’d go out of my fucking mind if she wasn’t in my sight at all times. I’d always think something has happened to her and that she’s hurt, or worse, fucking dead.
But isn’t that better than not knowing how she’s doing at all? I could come up with ways to defy Sergei, to flee if I have to. Go to another corner of the world where it’s only Lia, Jeremy, and me.
The brotherhood is all I’ve known since I was a boy. The only home I had, even after my parents’ deaths. When my father was shot dead in one of Nikolai’s assassination attempts, I was already desensitized at that point and didn’t think twice about him. Because I still had a place I belonged to—the Bratva.
But I’m ready to throw it all away if it means keeping Lia safe and with me.
Releasing a deep breath, I stagger to my feet. I’m about to knock on the door and demand to speak to Sergei when it opens.
Vladimir and Kirill appear on the threshold. The bulky man stares down at me with a snarl in his lips while Kirill is smirking.
That should be a good sign.
Vladimir has never really liked me, mainly because he believes I’m treated better than the rest of the brothers and because he thinks I want to hurt his beloved Rai, the previousPakhan’s granddaughter, whom he made an oath to protect.
Kirill, however, has often been on my side, even when he manipulated his way into finding out my secrets so he could use them to force my hand.
“Come out,” Vladimir says. “ThePakhanwants to see you.”
I go outside and squint at the morning sun glaring from the long windows.
“Why, Adrian.” Kirill wraps an arm around my shoulder. “I leave you for a moment and you get yourself beaten up by our brute, Vladimir?”
The latter grunts. “He deserved it.”
“No one deserves your punches,” Kirill says with absolute nonchalance, then whispers, “You have surprises.”
“What are you talking about?”
Kirill raises a brow. “You mean to tell me you didn’t plot the entire situation?”
“What situation?”
Kirill frowns. “I know you planned it, so don’t even pretend you’re not aware of it.”
Before I can ask what the fuck he’s insinuating, Vladimir opens the dining room door. If Sergei is bringing me here, he must’ve organized an internal meeting for the brotherhood.
Sure enough, everyone is present. Igor, Mikhail, Damien, Rai, and Kyle. Their senior guards are all here and so is Kolya. He stands near my chair that’s been left empty on Sergei’s right.
Vladimir and Kirill take their usual seats. Unsure whether or not I’m allowed to sit on thePakhan’s table anymore, I remain standing.
“You look like shit, Adrian,” Damien says while chewing on a pastry. “That’s a first.”
Rai places her cup of coffee down and speaks in a reproachable tone. “You shouldn’t have hit him, Vlad.”
“I’d do it again. He fucking betrayed us.”
“Now.” Kirill smiles. “Betrayal is a strong word, Vladimir. He only had a lapse of judgment, a very rare one at that, which should be taken into consideration.”
“He still put another organization’s best interest before the brotherhood’s.” Igor glares at me. He never forgave me for choosing Lia over his daughter and he probably never will.
“Not intentionally, though.” Mikhail frowns, his confusion clear. “Right, Volkov?”
