ONE MONTH LATER
“You know, in another life, you could have been a politician or a banker. Something about you just doesn’t look right in jail. Nope, you’re a rich house arrest guy through and through,” I drawled as Kirill arrived at the small, chipped plastic table where I was waiting for him.
He frowned at me. “And you? How does it suit you?”
“In chaos, I thrive.” I grinned and stopped short of reaching out a hand to him. “I’ve missed you, bratan.”
“Well, I wish I could stay the same. Instead of enjoying my life with my pregnant wife, I’m still cleaning up your messes.”
“I think what you mean to say is thank you for giving you pakhan position in our bratva.”
Kirill raised one dark, elegant eyebrow. “I don’t remember you giving it to me. I remember you dragging my pregnant wife into the fray and putting her in front of Viktor’s gun.”
“Fine, agree to disagree. Did you deliver my letter?”
A storm seemed to chase over Kirill’s face, and tension bit at me.
“What’s wrong?”
He blew out a long breath. “Antonio De Sanctis has recovered, did you hear?”
“No, I don’t get Organized Crime Daily in here. So what?”
“So, he’s pissed that his nephew was killed, Sofia was caught up in it, and a whole whack of De Sanctis men died. However, he’s not as annoyed about that as he could be. He found out that Franco, Silvio’s father, was planning on stealing the family out from under him. Franco had a hit out in Renato in Italy. It was unsuccessful, but Antonio found out about it. He put Franco down himself, brought Renato home from Italy, and had him weed out every single man who was loyal to them.”
I was stunned by the news. I’d rarely had much in the way of luck, but this couldn’t be beaten. “So, what does it mean?”
“It means he doesn’t care that you killed Silvio. He’s willing to walk away from this vendetta between Chernov and De Sanctis and put it in the past. No more bloodshed, no retaliation. Only business, from now on.”
I cracked my knuckles as I considered his words, wishing I had my knife to twirl. “That’s fine, except that we’ll soon be family. I’m marrying his daughter when I get out of here, whether he likes it or not.”
Kirill swallowed, a dark look shifting in his eyes. And then I knew that this day was about to go downhill.
“That’s why I’m here. I wanted to tell you in person.”
“Tell me what?” I asked, my voice sounding very far away.
“When Antonio moved to take down his brother, there was a shoot-out. More than one De Sanctis man got caught in the crossfire. It was bloody and difficult, and there were casualties. Those loyal to Antonio were trapped inside the compound, and Franco and his men besieged it from outside.”
“Is she hurt?” I asked immediately. Just the thought of it made me want to bust through the security and run all the way to her side. “Fucking Antonio can’t keep his own daughter safe for four weeks after I leave.”
Kirill was quiet. Too quiet.
I tasted blood. I knew Kirill. I’d come up through the ranks of Chernov men alongside him. I’d seen his first kill. I knew all the microexpressions that his face could make. More blood coated my tongue.
“Well? How bad is she? Is she in the hospital? Which one? You need to put bratva men to watch her. Fucking De Sanctis can’t protect shit,” I muttered.
Kirill remained silent, and something in his dark eyes struck me hard.
Pity. It was pity.
“Tell me what happened.” My voice was dangerous now.
“There were casualties on both sides. It’s a fucking mess.”
I pushed to my feet, knowing the words he was about to say and not being able to wait there for them.
“Niko,” Kirill started and then stopped, his shoulders dropping.
I knew the words he was building up to say, and suddenly, nothing felt real.
“Just say it. Tell me she’s dead… I fucking dare you,” I ground out. My hands curved into fists so hard that my nails broke my skin and wet my palms. The “S” on my hand felt like it was burning.
Kirill sighed and sat back, meeting my eyes once more.
“I’m sorry, brother, I really am. Franco took her hostage, and she was killed. It was quick if it helps at all. She’s gone, Nikolai. Sofia De Sanctis is dead.”
