Page 41 of Ruby Menace

Kirill nods grimly, his jaw clenching in agreement. “He probably knows already.” He glances at me, his dark eyes softening for a moment before hardening again. “We will hit him at his compound. Where he least expects it.”

“We’ll need more intel first,” Dima says, brows furrowed.

Kirill sets me gently back onto the chair and straightens. “I think I know where to start, bratok.” I swivel a little and see that he’s looking down at Aleksei, who’s lying clutching his belly, which is a bloody mess. I try not to gag.

Dima gives a low chuckle. “You left one alive.”

“Maybe I’m getting rusty,” Kirill chuckles. “Although I see now that it was fortunate.”

I watch as Kirill and Dima approach the man who had terrified me so much. Part of me wants to look away, but I don’t. Aleksei is still alive, but barely. Yet still, there’s contempt twisting his features. He’s tough, I’ll give him that.

Kirill stands over him, his eyes cold and deadly. “Who told Petrov about where we’ll be today?” he growls.

Aleksei laughs, or at least tries to. It comes out as more of a wheeze. “You think that I would tell you?”

Kirill’s face darkens, and he kicks Aleksei in the chest. “Who is it?” He repeats, his voice dangerously low.

Aleksei coughs up some blood, but he still doesn’t answer. Instead, he taunts Kirill again. “You’re a joke, Vyronov,” he gasps. “Your empire is crumbling, and you don’t even see it.”

“That is not what I am asking.” Kirill’s foot settles on Aleksei’s chest. As he presses down, more blood pulses from the man’s torn belly. Aleksei screams, but through it all, he starts to laugh. The sound is more than a death rattle.

“You think you’re so powerful, but you’re not. They all hate you,” he taunts. “Your so-called… soldiers. They’re… they’re just waiting for the right moment to take you down.”

Kirill’s fist tightens, and I can see the rage building inside him. He’s about to strike again when Aleksei finally speaks.

“The one you’re looking for is… closer than you think.” His teeth are bloodstained when he laughs again.

“Who, goddammit?” Kirill barks.” He’s putting weight onto his foot. I’m sure I hear something crunch.

“Boss,” Dima says, raising a hand. “Take it easy. We don’t want to push too far, or we’ll—”

It’s too late. Aleksei’s words are cut off by a gurgle as he chokes on his own blood. His pupils widen, then go still as he heaves out his last breath.

He doesn’t take another.

Kirill stands there for a moment, his chest heaving with anger and exertion. Then he turns to Dima. “We need a name, Dima,” he says, his voice like ice. “Time to make some calls. Find out who their informant is and how much of our organization Petrov has infiltrated.”

“On it, Boss.” Dima gives a nod, his jaw tight. “But we’re going to have to take down Petrov’s whole organization, no matter what I find. There will be no negotiating with him. And that means—”

“I know and I don’t care,” Kirill cuts him off. “He made his position very clear with this latest offense. Disrespecting my mother’s memory by attacking during her funeral. Taking Tiana to get to me… This is no longer diplomacy, Dima. This is war.”

Kirill walks closer and stares down at me. He reaches out a hand and gently brushes a strand of hair from my face. I have to look away from the tenderness in his eyes. How can he be so cold-blooded one moment and so gentle the next?

“You’re right.” Dima’s nostrils flare as he exhales. “One insult after another. If we don’t wreak havoc, he’ll think we are weak. Rumors will get out. We’ll be facing off against every two-bit outfit trying to make a name for themselves.”

“Then we are in agreement.” Kirill’s jaw clenches. “You know what to do.”

Dima nods and leaves the room. Kirill turns to me, his expression softer now. “You okay, Ptichka?” he asks, reaching out to touch my face again. “Are you strong enough to walk?”

I stiffen at his touch, and he hesitates, his brow furrowing. “What is wrong?”

I stare up at him. The raging conflict in me finally settling into something that I can understand, something that I cling to. I need to know the truth. Now. He cups my cheek, and I yank my head away.

“We need to talk,” I snap.

Chapter Sixteen

Kirill

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