Page 76 of All the Dangerous Things

“Let’s just cut through any pleasantries,” Dmitry finally tossed in, Nikolai snorting smugly after his brother spoke.

I shrugged and leaned back. “I killed that fuckerbecause he was hurting Tatiana. In fact, you bastards should say thank you.” They both kept apathetic expressions, but I didn't miss the way their jaws clenched after my statement. “He had planned on killing her just to get at you guys.” I hated fucking talking about it like this… like I did a damn job.

Sure, I didn’t have the strength of these feelings for Tatiana when I killed that fucker, but something had made me take his life other than just my thirst for blood. I would have beaten any motherfucker to a goddamn pulp for hurting a woman, but I’d known actually killing someone on the Petrovs’ turf—other than the fighters inside the cage—could cause issues. Yet, I’d done it anyway for Tatiana, and I wanted these fuckers to see it the way it was.

My patience was fraying. “I killed that fucker because Tatiana deserved better. She deserves someone who will protect her at all costs. No matter what.”

“Why didn’t you come to us after?”

I met Nikolai's gaze head-on.

“Arrogant as fuck to think you had the right to act on your own. To not even let us know you killed on our territory without approval—what was that?”

I didn't respond because that was theleast of the issues we had. And when the Petrovs glanced at each other, I knew they realized that as well.

“What’s the fucking deal with Maksim?”

I thought about Dmitry’s words and how much I should reveal. At the end of this, I knew I had to be honest, at least partially. “I was given orders,” I replied, my words sharp. “You know how shit goes down when we’re given orders.”

Nikolai laughed. “Fucker, we don’t follow orders. We give them.”

I had the urge to roll my eyes like I was an adolescent.

We all had to follow orders. The Petrovs were powerful, but there was always someone above everyone.

I couldn’t tell them everything—couldn’t reveal I had my own issues with the Cosa Nostra, that I was sure Carmine was doing rogue shit. I couldn’t drag the leader of Italy into it, at least not yet. I needed to wait and see how this played out first.

“And because of those orders, I did what needed to be done.”

Dmitry’s jaw tightened. It was clear he wanted more information from me. “Orders from who?”

I smirked at him and didn’t break eye contact. “Come on, motherfucker. Like I’m going to give youmore than I have to.” I shrugged. “You know how this works.”

Nikolai scoffed, shaking his head. “The arrogance of this fucker. Pretty wild you think that you get to take out our men on our territory, and we’re just supposed to accept it?”

The room fell into a heavier silence. My mind raced with the immediate issue, but the more I thought about Carmine, the more it settled that I was in this shit because of him and his directive.

The Head of Italy—who I was supposed to trust above all else because he wasfamiglia—was keeping things from me. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that Carmine was playing a game… that he was playingme… in order to better his own position.

He was putting everything and everyone at risk. I had to find out what the fuck was going on. Although I knew I could dig and find this shit out for myself, I knew having the Bratva on my side could help expedite that.

Hell, if he was using me, using the Cosa Nostra as pawns, I needed to know. I needed to find out as soon as possible before anything else happened.

I was about to bring up the Carmine situation with the Petrovs when Dmitry’s deep voice cut through my thoughts.

“And what about Tatiana?” he asked low, with obvious hints of brotherly protection woven in his tone.

I felt my own protectiveness over my girl rise. “What about her?” I growled, matching his aggression.

If they even try to start any bullshit about me not keeping her as mine, I’ll have to break my promise to Tatiana that I won’t kill them.

“You got her pregnant.” Nikolai's voice was a mixture of royally pissed off and slightly disgusted at the idea that I’d knocked up his sister.

I felt male pride and possessiveness over it.

I clenched my jaw but didn’t have time to respond before they were talking again.

“What’s your plan?”

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