Page 64 of Scarred Hearts

A wave of warmth washed over me, that he’d trust me with the three most precious people in his life. And I trusted him not to lie to me about everything being fine, especially when it came to the safety of his children.

He leaned in slightly, placing a kiss on my cheek, then took a step away. “I won’t be gone for too long,” he murmured.

“Be careful.”

He blinked at me a few times before giving me a small smile, then left through the mud room toward the garage.

15

A TRUTH’S PAST

TYLER

“We need to make this quick,” I announced with my gaze on my phone as I entered the conference room, then slipped it back into my pocket. “I need to get home to the kids and Gi—” I froze at the sight of Ekaterina, Ivan, and several others gathered around the table. I shot Ian an angry look.

“Tyler,” Ekaterina cooed, staring deep into my gaze with her soulless eyes. “So good see you again.”

“I bet,” I muttered under my breath, then glimpsed Luke and Nico, who were sitting on Ian’s left. They always made sure they had a handle on things. But for all I knew, it was a trap. “You too,” I murmured a little louder to Ekaterina before my glare lowered on Ivan.

“Ty, thanks for coming.” Ian tried his best to summon my attention to the head of the table, however, I couldn’t take my eyes off Ivan.

I was seething with rage, planning to take that bastard out as soon as I had the chance. My pride swelled at the sight of his injuries, but I turned back to Ian, pulling out the chair on his other side, and sat down. I did my best to contain my growing grin as a dark feeling crept over me. It was a sensation I had experienced before, but this time it felt different. The need to protect Giovanna faded into the background, replaced by a burning desire for revenge. I would make every person who’d kept her away from me years ago pay for their actions.

I shifted my scowl from the Russians and directed a stoic gaze toward my brother-in-law as I prepared for the meeting to begin. Ian, usually perceptive, seemed unsure of how to read my expression, likely due to my sudden change in demeanor.

He turned back to the table, clicking an ink pen top, three times. “Thanks for coming all this way again.”

Fuck the rule of three. It didn’t apply at the moment. Ian could click or tap whatever he wanted three fucking times, however I was anything but okay. We may have been safe, they weren’t. I sat rigidly as the meeting began.

He laid the pen on the table, then folded his hands in front of him. “We’ve been talking, and I think we’ve come to an arrangement that might make things fair.”

“Listening,” Ekaterina shifted in her seat.

“You want Gia, right?”

The Russians exchanged a laugh before they abruptly stopped. Her red lips pursed. “What game you play, Knight?”

“Well, I’m not giving her up without a fight,” he continued.

One of the enormous, bearded, strange men at the end of the table got ready to stand, but she laid her hand on his arm. He scratched his bald head before sitting back down, rolling his chair under the table. I was ready to draw my weapon, but Luke and Nico appeared relaxed, so I sat back, waiting for the signal to take everyone out.

“Let him finish,” Ekaterina instructed.

“Thank you,” Ian replied diplomatically. “I know you have professional fighters, and I want to have a fight night at one of my warehouses. Highly guarded and secret among the crime families, of course. We’ll make sure anyone who enters the building is unarmed, but we’ll keep armed guards outside for all of our protection.”

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“I’m fine if you want one of your own armed and outside with mine to keep it fair,” he added, which made her relax again. “All I ask is that the only blood shed that night is in the ring.”

She lifted her chin. “What is catch?”

Ian leaned in, sliding the ashtray toward him, before pulling a cigarette out of his jacket and lighting it. He placed the pack on the table, leaving the lighter pointed at me as a signal for me to join in. I followed his lead and retrieved my own pack from my pocket, lighting one up and taking a deep drag. It was customary among allies to smoke or drink together, a symbol of peace around a shared table.

Ekaterina took it upon herself to ignite her own. I was thankful the room had good ventilation because I was going to suffocate otherwise. She took a few silent puffs of her smoke.

Ian continued. “There’s no catch, just a bet.

She arched one of her perfectly manicured brows. “I’m listening.”

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