Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 80942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“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 the Pakhan’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?”
Damien scoffs. “Do any of you actually believe that Adrian would do anything without a prior plan? He plots everything and has control freak issues. Even I can figure out that much.”
“I believe it.” Kyle takes Rai’s hand in his and kisses her knuckles. He’s lean, too pretty for his own good, and British. “If someone touched my wife, I would slaughter them with my bare hands, even if they were the damn president.”
At least he understands.
Vladimir glares at Kyle, then at me. “That doesn’t give him the right to endanger the brotherhood’s affairs.”
“And be secretive about it,” Igor says.
“We can just choose a punishment and get it over with,” Mikhail suggests.
Damien raises his hand. “Pakhan, me! I want to punch Adrian’s face a few times.”
Kirill throws a napkin at him. “Shut the fuck up, Orlov.”
“What? Vladimir did it, why can’t I?”
“Don’t you have anything to say?” Rai stares at me. “You should explain.”
“I already did to the Pakhan. I have no further explanations to offer.”
“You should,” Kirill grinds out. “Make it count.”
“I killed Richard because he assaulted my wife and would’ve raped her if she didn’t defend herself. I would do it all over again if I got the chance. If you consider that betrayal, you can go ahead and punish me for it. I have nothing left to say on the matter.”
Sergei stares at me. “I should kill you.”
“Do it, Pakhan,” Vladimir says.
“Pakhan,” Kirill speaks in a placating tone. “He had a convincing reason.”
“One he hid from us until we found out on our own,” Igor counters.
“I planned to kill you to set an example,” Sergei continues. “But I had a curious visit late at night.”
“From whom?” Mikhail asks.
Vladimir clicks his tongue.
“Lazlo Luciano and his underboss.” Sergei interlaces his fingers on the table. “He said we’d share his new mayor and he would even give us an in with the cartels he signed with, but he had one condition.”
“What?” Damien stuffs his face with a cupcake. “Don’t leave us in suspense, Pakhan.”
“He’ll only deal with Adrian.”
While I asked Lazlo to help me in the past, I knew he wouldn’t do it so readily, and certainly not with his underboss present. Nicolo Luciano is too cautious and has always questioned any move before Lazlo could take it. The younger brother wouldn’t agree to share their power with us when they secretly planned to push us aside after they’re done with squashing the other Italian families.
The timing is too perfect, too…convenient. As if Lazlo had a major push.
It can’t be.
I narrow my eyes on Kolya and he lowers his head. The fuck?
“If it were any other person or any other circumstances, you would’ve had a bullet in your head right about now. But we need the Italians and the cartels, and you will make sure they’re under our control.” Sergei stands. “This doesn’t mean you get out of any punishment. I’ll think of something fitting of your betrayal.”
I nod. “Am I free to go now?”
“Yes. This is your first and only strike, Volkov.”
With another nod, I turn around and step out of the dining room. Kolya follows after me, and Fedor, who was smoking in a corner away from all of the other guards, joins us, stubbing out his cigarette on the way.
I rein in my temper until we’re in the car and we’re moving off Sergei’s house. I face Kolya who’s sitting beside me in the backseat. “What the fuck happened?”
“Lazlo came to meet Sergei.”
“That’s not what I’m asking. How the fuck was he convinced? The answer will determine whether or not you remain alive, Kolya.”