Page 74 of The Bratva King's Claimed Bride

“We were assured you’d negotiate,” the one in the middle says. He’s older than the other two, so I assume he’s Paulo.

“Paulo, is it?” I don’t wait for an answer. “I’m willing to negotiate when the deal on the table is worth negotiating for. You want to give me half a million dollars, what do I need your money for? Do you know how much money my family has? Or are you simply underestimating me because I’m new to the city? Either way, I am insulted, and I should have you shot right now.”

Matvey stares at me. “Igor…”

“Get out of my resort and take your insult of a proposal with you,” I snap.

“You’ll regret this,” Paulo says. “We’re a powerful family, and you don’t have any allies in this city.”

“I don’t need allies. I have power.” I stand up. I’m a head and a half taller than the short shit, and I’m definitely more muscular. He sizes me up, then nods to his men, and they leave.

“What the fuck, Igor?” Matvey says, standing up to me. “We were supposed to negotiate. It wasn’t about the money. It was about the power that family has.”

“You don’t tell me how to run this family, Matvey,” I growl, turning and poking him in the chest. “You’ve done nothing in this family's interest for a long time. One would think you’re out to betray me.”

“I have always been loyal to you,” Matvey says, and I can see the hurt in his eyes.

“Until you tipped off the Milovs,” I say.

“Oh fuck, this again. I said I was sorry. Jesus, ever since Arina decided to dump you, you’ve been on this homicidal rampage to ruin this family.”

“Watch yourself, Matvey, or I’ll wipe this floor with you,” I growl, taking a step toward him.

“As if you could,” Matvey growls back, taking a step toward me.

“Boys,” Yvonne says from the door. “Matvey, why don’t you check on deliveries for me while I speak to Igor?”

Matvey glares at me for a moment longer before he turns and leaves. I pour myself a glass of water and chug it down. Then another. Then I look at Yvonne. “I don’t need a lecture.”

“No, you don’t want a lecture, but you definitely need one.”

I leave the boardroom, and she follows me to my office.

“Igor, you can’t push us all away because you’re hurting,” Yvonne says, sitting opposite my desk. I sit down and lean back.

“I’m not pushing anyone away.”

“You’re messing up business deals. You’re not negotiating what’s best for the family, you’re aggressive all the time, and you’re drunk all the time. Do I need to go on?” Yvonne leans forward to put her hand over mine, but I pull away.

“The deal was shit, Yvonne. I was going to let someone piss on our family for their own satisfaction, and Matvey should never have entertained that proposal to begin with.”

“I know you miss her,” Yvonne’s voice is gentle. “But lashing out at everyone around you isn’t the answer.”

“She wants nothing to do with me, ever again,” I say aloud, possibly for the first time since it happened. I feel it catch in my throat, and I swallow around the pain.

“I understand why you didn’t tell her,” Yvonne says after a long pause. “I understand why you thought you were protecting her and how much you loved her. How scared you were of losing her. But I also see Arina’s side of things, Igor.”

“What? That I lied to her? Everyone lies, Yvonne.” I feel like a bratty kid who just had their toy taken away.

“Yes, but you lied to her about her family. The family she has wanted ever since she was a little girl. The family she thought she’d found in us. Didn’t you notice how at ease she was with us? How much she enjoyed spending time with all of us together or each of us separately. She never had that opportunity as a child because it was taken from her.”

I drum my fingers on the table and look at my little sister. “I know I should have told her, but it’s too late now. The damage is done.”

Yvonne stands up and comes around, kissing my head and then hugging it. “I know it feels that way, but that might not necessarily be true. Just give things some time.”

I stand up and brush her off. “I’m going for a walk and to find something to drink.”

“Are you getting drunk again?”

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