Page 158 of Capuleto

"Your sister is right. A friend of mine had to be hospitalized after taking them. It should be done under supervision, or it can cause a hemorrhage."

Yuri's face contorted into an unpleasant grimace.

"The supervision will be done by you and me," he growled at Cheng. Then he turned his gaze to me. "Either you take them, or I'll make you take them."

"Are you threatening me?" I raised my chin in defiance.

"I'm warning you. I'm your older brother, your vor, and you must follow my orders."

"That's why you should consider my safety."

"Do it!" he shouted. "I told Romeo that bastard would die, and I always keep my threats."

His fingers grabbed my chin roughly.

"What did you tell him?"

"I'm not repeating myself. R knows as well as I do that you detest that baby and want to get rid of it." I worried it was true and that my husband would think that of me.

I couldn't prolong it any longer; I had to end Yuri tonight and prove to Romeo that I was above him. Time to pretend. I brushed his hand away firmly.

"You know I don't like being threatened. One thing is wanting to abort, and another is doing it in this dump without a professional."

"You took care of me, Kalinka." His voice turned as sweet as syrup. "Let me take care of you, sister. I promise if things get complicated, I'll take you to the hospital, although I doubt it. You are a Koroleva, strong and tough."

"Alright, I'll do it," I murmured, conciliatory.

"We're going to be great. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the start of our hegemony than the sacrifice of his child. You were just the vessel; you should feel proud to be the bearer of the Capulet's misfortune."

Had my brother always been like this, or was it me who was changing? Either way, I knew now that I didn't want the future he promised.

"Let's toast, then, brother. May what happens tonight mark our destiny. For a now that doesn't understand yesterday."

I let the pills fall onto my tongue, took the bottle, filled my mouth with vodka, and turned it into a damn sprinkler that spilled over his eyes.

65

Push me

When I received the call from Yuri, I was parking at the port to have a more than enlightening conversation with Arasagasti.

Answering his provocation increased the thirst for revenge I felt for him. There was nothing left of that friendship that was forged in university, especially because it was an illusion, without a shred of truth in it.

As soon as I hung up, I dialed Segarra's number.

"Shit, Romeo, with all these calls and meetings, my wife is going to think I prefer your dick over her pussy."

"If you help me with this matter, I'll pay for a week-long trip wherever you say so you can make it clear to her."

"Call me tomorrow, we were about to go out to dinner with some friends."

"I needed it done yesterday."

"If it's that urgent, double it and I might consider it, I owe some days that..."

"Double," I settled, "if you get me the information in the next five minutes."

"Full board?"

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