Page 129 of Relentless Sinner

“What are you doing?” Levka yells.

“Giving you the chance to save yourself or your father by telling the truth.”

“I didn’t do it. Neither did he.”

Magnus is so stunned and scared he can’t even talk.

“Father, why don’t you tell us what that is in the box,” I say to my father, keeping my gaze riveted to Levka as the fifth guard pulls the little vial of poison from the box.

“It includes a potent dose of thallium that will kill you within a few minutes. Thallium was my favorite poison because of the way the symptoms take effect. Some people say it feels like your insides are turning to liquid. I wonder how you’ll both feel.” Father smiles. “Give it to Levka first.”

When the guard grabs Levka’s arm, he starts shouting and cursing us all to hell and back in Russian.

“Magnus, are you really going to let your son die?” Father says, looking at my uncle.

I stare at my father with narrowed eyes because he speaks with certainty. As if he knows something. Then I’m shocked when Magus cracks.

“It was me,” he cries. “I set up the kidnapping for Gabriella and the bombing with Damien.”

“Stop,” I say to the guard just as he’s about to administer the poison. Then I look back at Magnus. “Keep talking.”

“I wanted Levka to have a chance to be Pakhan. I saw an opportunity, and I took it.”

“Have you lost your damn mind, Father? Why the hell did you do that?” Levka shouts. “You tried to kill them? And you kidnapped Gabriella?”

“Gabriella was Jaxon’s ticket to the leadership. With her out of the way, I saw a path for you. It was a chance I never thought you’d get. Damien and Yuri helped me because they knew they would get a higher position with you in charge.”

This is definitely a huge change in the tide. I knew Magnus would be involved to some degree, but I thought Levka would be, too.

“Father, you fool.” Levka glares at Magnus.

“What about Damien and Yuri?” I cut in. “Why did you kill them?”

“I didn’t kill them,” Magus says, shaking his head. “I swear to it. I confess to everything else, but I didn’t kill them. I don’t know what the hell happened, but it had nothing to do with me.”

“Or me,” Levka joins in.

I don’t know what to read from their expressions or what to believe. They’re just as bad as each other.

Magnus admitted to attempted murder and kidnapping, Levka maintains his innocence. There’s only one way to eliminate the danger. If only for the moment.

“Take them both away and lock them up. We’ll conduct a full investigation and get to the bottom of this.” My tone is decisive and cold.

The guards usher Levka and Magus out of their chairs. Before they walk through the doors, Levka looks back at me and shakes his head.

“I didn’t do it, cousin,” he mutters, his eyes pleading with me. “I didn’t do it.”

I may have been stumped moments ago as I tried to establish what was going on, but something clicks inside me as I stare at him, and I find that I believe him. I don’t know why, but I do.

If I believe him, that means this isn’t resolved yet.

Levka walks through the door with the others, and that stiff silence returns worse than before.

“Meeting dismissed,” I say to everyone else.

Eric dips his head. “Come by and see me later, Pakhan.”

“Of course.”

---