Page 33 of Brutal Bratva Boss

After Igor glares at me some more, I peel my fingers off his neck, tucking his pistol under the belt at my back for safekeeping and putting some space between us.

“Should we discuss the terms of our truce?” I ask.

“Truce?” he asks incredulously. “Why the hell would I agree to something like that?”

“Because it’s the lesser of two evils.”

It is true. As much as I do not want a truce with the Patrovs, the alternative is much worse. Kat was right. If a war ensues it would lead to so much bloodshed and many casualties. Amongst those would likely be Kat and my heir, and that is not something I am willing to risk. I can dump my pride by the wayside for a time and I will offer myself up if it ever comes to that. Bottom line: I will do whatever it takes to keep Kat safe. She is mine, and I am hers, and I refuse to let her go. Ever.

When Igor does not answer me, I sigh. “Think about it, Igor. How many men are you willing to lose? The fallout could be catastrophic if we were to start a war. Can you really afford the collateral damage it would cause? As much as you and I both want to come out on top, it would be a better move for both of us to agree on a ceasefire. Even if just for now.”

Igor mulls over my words before he juts out his chin. “What would that look like?”

“You stay on your side, we stay on ours. You leave Kat alone and let me raise my child with her. And in turn, I won’t hunt you down and slit your throat in your sleep.”

“Why do you want her, anyway?”

That is the question, isn’t it? A few short weeks ago I could not have answered it. But now, knowing what I know, having witnessed the way Kat is and how she loves, I am looking forward to learning more about her, raising a child with her, maybe more than one, and spending the rest of my days with her until we are both old and grey.

But Igor can’t know how deep my feelings run. It would be something he could use against me if the mood strikes him.

So, I shrug a shoulder. “The child was unplanned, but now I believe it would be a nice addition to the Dubrov clan. And I have something of yours, which also helps. Besides, I have grown rather attached to her.” I tack the last part on in a joking manner, even though I wholeheartedly mean it.

“And how long would this ceasefire continue?” Igor asks mockingly.

The answer is, indefinitely. If I had my way, I would arrange to keep Kat safe forever. But that is not realistic in our world. So, I go with something vague.

“For as long as it needs to.”

Igor pulls up his lip, his nose scrunching and his jaw working. It is evident he is not enjoying this discussion. I can relate. I would rather have a live root canal than be here negotiating with the head of the rivals we have been trying to get rid of for so long, but here we are.

Hopefully, if all goes well, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Fingers crossed.

Finally, he gives a stiff nod. “Fine. I will order my men to stand down, for now. And you will do the same. As long as I don’t see any evidence of foul play, we will stay out of your territory.”

I nod. “Agreed.”

If I were a betting man, I would put money on Igor going back on this the first chance he gets. As will I.

I chose my words carefully for a reason. I did not give him my word, and as soon as I figure out how to get rid of him quietly and without breaking my promise to Kat, the truce will no longer be necessary. Therefore, I will no longer need to abide by it.

“But if I so much as catch a whiff of your men anywhere near us, or if I think Kat might be in danger in any way, I will hunt you down and end you.”

Igor scoffs. “I would expect nothing less.”

And so, we shake on it—in spirit, of course, as I have no desire to touch any part of that man ever again—and each side files into their SUVs. We go our separate ways, neither one of us truly content with the deal that was struck. Even if we agreed on a ceasefire, I have no intention of ending my plans to take Igor down. Given the way he reacted and the look on his face, I doubt he will either.

The temporary truce we negotiated was simply a way to keep the spotlight off Kat, even if just for a little while.

But given what I know about the Patrovs, I wonder how long it will be until Igor breaks that truce, and I have a reason to retaliate.

Even though most of what I said was to seal a deal that I have no desire to honor, I do wonder about the potential fallout.

As tensions simmer beneath the surface, it is only a matter of time until something erupts.

Chapter 15 - Kat

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