Page 76 of Killer Love

I shake my head. “Not anymore.”

“It’s not that simple, Luka.”

“I’m making it that simple.” I talk over him, fanning the anger in him. “Look, I get it. You spent years forcing a truce down our throats, but the truth is that everyone was just pretending. The Lutrovas and the Zappias were never meant to co-exist and we never will.”

“This truce was good for our family,” he argues. “If Antony and I had not intervened when we did, this house would have been burned to the ground — with all of us inside.”

“I would rather we be ashes than slaves.”

Yuri holds up his hands. “Luka, come on—”

“No,” I say. “Viktor Lutrova never would have pussyfoot around the Zappias or their way. When snakes entered Russia, he drove them back out. Now, they laugh at us. By allowing them to roam free, you’ve destroyed our family’s name.”

“And look what happened to him,” my father says. “Would you prefer I paid the same price?”

“I would prefer strength. I think all of this could have been avoided if you had done something instead of turning a blind eye.”

He falls quiet and stares at me.

“Sofia and Lucian stay with me,” I say. “Whether or not we stay on this estate is up to you.”

I stand up from my seat and scan the room as I march toward the door. Yuri’s wide eyes tell me everything. Markov’s silence tells me even more. Even Fox looks a bit nervous, as he should be.

“Luka.”

I pause with my hand on the doorknob and glance back at my father. “Yes, sir?”

“You will stay.”

Yuri visibly exhales.

“And Sofia?” I ask.

He snorts. “Nina will have my balls if I expel that boy.”

I let go of the doorknob.

“You will all stay,” he continues, softly nodding. “The Zappias won’t be happy, but… they’ve had their way long enough.”

“I agree,” I say.

He takes a thick breath and looks at the corner again with annoyance. “Markov.”

Markov waves a silent hand and spins around in his chair to get back to work.

“Now what?” Yuri asks, finally breathing again.

“We will go to Chicago,” my father answers, his voice firm. “I will speak to Antony myself. If he cannot see reason… then, we will show strength.” His eyes fall on me again. “You love this woman.”

It’s not a question, but I answer it anyway. “Yes.”

“I cannot condone what you’ve done, Luka.”

“I know.”

“But I cannot condemn it either…”

I nod. That’s as close to approval as I’ll ever get. For a second, I see respect and understanding in his eyes. I’ve never thought of my father as an empathetic man, but maybe I was wrong.

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