Page 63 of Runaway Queen

“Well,palach, your reputation in jail isn’t a secret. Once I heard you got yourvormarks, however, I knew.”

“Knew what?”

Kirill’s face split into a rare smile. “You’ve decided to live.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. My brother had never minced his words, and it seemed he wasn’t about to start.

“You’re still in business with the De Sanctis family?”

“Reluctantly. After everything that went down, I wanted to end all deals, but once I start going back on my word, it isn’t worth shit, as you know.”

I nodded in agreement. He was right, of course. In our world, where there was no law greater than ourselves, a man’s word was more important than anything.

“Well, get ready to renegotiate your terms. They’ll be having a change of leadership soon.”

“Is that right?” Kirill raised an eyebrow at me. “Just make sure that killing Antonio doesn’t bring Renato down on my neck. I don’t want another bloodbath on my hands in my city.”

“Believe me, if anyone hates the fucker more than us, it might be him.”

A beat of silence, and then Kirill looked out at the city. His kingdom. “If you need me, I’m there. You know that. He’s taken too much from you to stand by. I want to bury him, I’ve just been waiting for you, and the right time.”

“Aw, that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” I mocked gently.

He gave me the finger.

“Very mature.”

“Will you stay in the city? Avorin the bratva would be a great strength.” Kirill changed the subject, knowing how our squabbles could devolve quickly.

“No. I can’t. I’m heading north, but I’ll be sure to visit.”

“Hmm, I know that look. Have you found someone to obsess over? I thought that was reserved for… her.”

I grinned at my brother. “Bratan, do I have a story to tell you. Grab a drink, pull up a chair. This one has a twist you’ll never see coming.”

23

NIKOLAI

When I set off from New York, after claiming one of the bulletproof SUVs from Kirill, I couldn’t wait to get back to Maine. The city was loud, stinking, and chaotic. Somehow, in the quiet woods and crashing ocean of Hade Harbor, a slither of calm had lodged in my chest. I couldn’t wait to get back.

I couldn’t wait to get back. Back to them. My family.

I expected there to be traffic. I expected there to be delays. What I didn’t expect was to be forced off the road on the side of the highway just outside New York.

Four cars boxed me in and drove me onto the hard shoulder. I tapped a quick message with my location to Artur and checked my gun.

Men got out of the cars around me, waiting for their boss. A low, simmering anger sparked in my blood when I recognized the figure who stepped carefully down from one of the cars.

Antonio De Sanctis.

He headed into the woods beside the rest area. I got out of my car and was instantly surrounded. He couldn’t kill me right here, not with the deals he had going on with Kirill. I followed him into the woods.

He stopped just inside where the roar of passing cars was muted. He stood with his back to me, while his men arranged themselves in a circle around us.

“Tony, what a nice surprise. A little dramatic, but that’s your style, I get it. Always overcompensating, aren’t you, old man.”

Antonio turned slowly. He had aged a lot in the last seven years. I could only be grateful that he was still alive. I’d been looking forward to killing him for so long, I’d never get over the disappointment if he died before I had the chance.

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