Page 34 of The Bratva's Hostage

“It’s the truth. Marco was my older, half-brother. He was an illegitimate child, and my father didn't like bringing him into the family because he knew what problems it would mean for his son when he succeeded the don after his death.”

I shook my head, still bitter about that. Maybe if things had been different from the beginning, he would’ve been still alive, and I still would have my brother with me.

“Only a handful of people knew about him, and these were people who would never betray his secret. So, it was easy to keep away from all the attention. Since father had no other sons, he decided to ease him into the mafia. Things were fine and for a while, it seemed like he would take over one day, but he was killed by a man named Vadim Kozlov.”

I stopped to calm myself. I’d never liked talking about his death because it reminded me that I’d been robbed of a brother before he could even begin to truly live as one of us.

“After his death, I tried to find the person responsible and make them pay for their crimes which was when I found out that Vadim Koslov was a member of the Bratva.’

I looked him in the eyes. Now that he knew what I had kept from him, it was time to find out whether he was as rotten as they come and would protect the killer regardless, or whether he would hand him over so that I could take revenge and end the matter once and for all.

“I want to find every detail I can on this man so that I can get the revenge that I deserve,” I added, placing the ball in his court.

“I don’t know where you got your information from, but the Bratva had no intention of killing the Don’s son. No one in my organization would make such a grave decision without telling me, and since I knew nothing of your father’s illegitimate heir, I couldn’t have sent someone to end his life.”

I stared at him, calculating. I couldn’t tell whether what he said was the truth or if he was doing a particularly good job of hiding the man responsible for my brother’s death.

My mind rebelled against my thoughts of him lying to me as he stood there, staring at me, but his tone sounded sincere and honest. I turned away. I couldn’t think like this. Sleeping with him was beginning to cloud my mind and now I was finding it difficult to think, gauge him, and to know whether he spoke the truth.

“Of course, you don’t believe me, your husband. So let me be clear, if your brother was killed by one of my men, it was unrelated to Bratva's business, and that person has done a decent job of hiding it from me so far. I will make sure he’s punished for what he’s done,” he snarled, but I shook my head.

“No, I don’t want you to punish him,” I said, ignoring the look of confusion on his face. “He’ll receive punishment from me and no one else. I promised Marco.”

Maksim sighed and pulled me close. “You are fucking out of your mind, if you think I’ll let you handle this on your own. I’ll help you find the man responsible for your brother’s death.”

He hugged me to him, running his hand down my hair to comfort me. Despite the war raging in me, I allowed myself to be comforted, choosing to believe his words.

“There is one thing I need you to remember.” he pulled away from me, his gaze losing all traces of warmth he had only seconds ago. “You are too smart for your own good. Don’t you ever touch my laptop or rummage through my office again. Do you understand?”

I nod, despite myself. I only needed one thing from him and if he helped me get it, I would never go near his office again.

“Good girl. This is your last warning. I won’t be so lenient and understanding if this ever happens again.”

His threat hung in the air even as he pushed me aside and sat behind his laptop. Maksim searched through his software, pulling out the names of every single man that had ever worked for Bratva and those that still worked for him.

He ran the name through the database as I stood beside him, waiting for the photo of this elusive man I’d been waiting to see so I could finally make him pay.

My brows furrowed as after moments of searching; nothing came up. Maksim mirrored my shock and confusion as he stared at me.

“There is no one by the name you just mentioned in the Bratva database,” he said, confirming what I already saw.

“What’s going on?” I mumbled to myself. Had I gotten the name messed up?

I frowned, there was no way that was even a possibility. The name had been stuck in my mind from the very day I found out.

My father and Lucas had both confirmed that Marco’s murder was initiated by the Bratva. There had to be a mix-up somewhere.

What the fuck is going on?

Chapter 17 - Maksim

I sat behind my office desk, the events of the past night lingering in my head. After finding out that there was no one by the name of Vadim Kozlov in the Bratva, she had been so quiet, I was worried about her.

I’d ushered her to bed, my eyes on her all night as she battled the reality that she had risked her life for nothing. She had been unable to get any sleep after what happened, constantly tossing, and turning in bed as the weight of what she’d found or didn’t find, lingered in her mind.

I’d stayed awake thinking about what this could mean. Who could have killed her brother and tried to blame it on us? Had there been a misunderstanding? Perhaps, a lone Russian guy had been sent to kill him and they assumed it was one of my men?

I wouldn’t say I liked this assumption. No mafia boss would be stupid enough to accuse another of crimes of which he is not convinced. That would be a declaration of war, and nobody wanted unnecessary wars.

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