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Pavel is usually coolheaded, but the determination in his eyes mirrors Nikolai’s. They’re ready for whatever Sorokin and his men throw at them. But it’s only the two of them.
They can’t win. What is Nikolai thinking?
“I’m warning you, Nikolai Gennadyevich!” Sorokin says. “This is insanity, and for what? Her?”
I can feel the intensity of Nikolai’s rage from where I watch.
“I don’t care,” he growls. “I’ll kill the world if the world tries to take Eden away from me.”
Nikolai declares his love for me without hesitation, but he’s risking his life to do it. I can’t let him risk everything for our love. Not when I know what’s at stake.
“Stop this madness,” Sorokin snarls. “Winning is impossible in your circumstances. Don’t push me to prove it.”
Neither man will back down to the other. And I fear that our twisted love story may be the spark that ignites a war nobody can win.
“Nikolai!” I call out the window.
His demeanor changes almost instantly. His gaze softens as it locks on mine, but his hands are gripping that gun too tightly. “Eden!” he shouts. He takes a step forward, and the guns are lifted higher. Nikolai won’t walk away unless I make him believe in the future.
“Once this war is over, Nikolai, we can be together again. I promise.”
Sorokin steps onto the path where I can see him, and the guns are lowered slightly. “Listen to her, Nikolai Gennadyevich. Leave while you still can.”
Nikolai’s jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he might lash out. But after an agonizing silence, he nods abruptly. With one last lingering look at me, he brushes past Sorokin’s guards and heads back to his SUV, and Pavel follows. Nikolai jumps into the SUV, and then Pavel backs it down the driveway to the iron gates. Nikolai stares at me the whole time.
I grip the stone windowsill to force my knees from trembling. When the SUV is gone, I turn away slowly, and Sorokin is standing in the doorway of the coatroom, watching me. His look assesses me again, but his expression is thoughtful, not as cold as before. He must be wondering what to do with me.
“That was well done, Eden Zakharovna,” he commends me. “Lying to him in a way that he accepts.”
I swallow hard, struggling to maintain my composure. “What?”
“The truth is,” Sorokin explains, “you are a distraction for Nikolai. Neither I nor the other pakhans will permit you to be released to him when this is all over.” He pauses. “We disapprove of your marriage. Understood?”
My hands clutch my belly, and fear threatens to rip me into pieces. But I won’t let this man think he can rule my life. I tell one more lie.
“Understood,” I reply with a steady voice.
“Good,” Sorokin says before turning and striding away.
As soon as he’s gone, I lean against the wall. My knees shake, threatening to give way underneath me, and I force myself to take deep breaths. I refuse to break down here in front of these men. I walk out of the coatroom and quickly make my way down the hallway. Finally, I reach my own room and lock the door, and as soon I’m alone, I slide down onto the floor. I press my face against the prickly rug and sob.
Am I mad? I’m being treated both violently and tenderly at the same time. There is a contradiction between what I’m experiencing and the reality of my situation. I’m expected to accept the morals of the Bratva as my new norm.
But what if I can’t accept violence as acceptable social behavior?
And what if Nikolai can’t let me go?
Why does our love have to be the one thing that threatens everybody?
The lie I told Nikolai hangs over me like an oppressive shadow of doubt. I squeeze my eyes shut, desperately trying to block out the image of his face when I made that empty promise. The hopein his eyes when I reassured him it would be okay. But it won’t. I knew that before Sorokin even spoke to me.
“Fuck!” My hands ball into fists and strike the floor. “Fuck everybody.”
Alone, I indulge in my misery. For now, I give myself permission to break down.
But when the crying is over, I’ll get even with these brutal men.
When the last embers of their Bratvas have flickered out, I will find my way back to Nikolai.
