Page 15 of Bratva Butcher

Despite the fact that it had been forty years since I last laid eyes on him, I still saw that desperate little boy who was determined to be someone of importance when I looked at him.

I couldn’t see that from the exterior, though. On the outside, he looked like he had it all in his Armani suit, Graff Diamonds Hallucination watch and Testoni shoes. His hair was perfect, not a single blonde strand out of place. His face was clear of any possible blemish, any wrinkle a man his age should possess.

But the eyes? Those were something he couldn’t change. Something he couldn’t just throw money at to hide what he didn’t want others to see.

I could see it, though. The insecurities. The desperation. The self worthlessness.

I hadalwaysseen it.

Talon pouted. “What, I don’t get a ’hi’? Now, is that any way to treat an old friend, Dimitri?”

“You’re not a friend. You weren’t then, and you’re certainly not now.”

“Oh, you wound me,” he said in mock hurt, clutching his chest. “What about all those good times we had? Taking apart the headmaster’s car and reassembling it in the natatorium so we could push it in the water? Or how about the time—”

“You tried to burn me to death?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

He flashed me a big, broad smile. “Ah, yes. What can I say? I had a bit of a temper back then.”

“What are you doing here, Talon? Don’t tell me you finally left that little island of yours for the first time in years just to see little old me?”

“Keeping tabs on me, are you, Dimitri?”

I’d be an idiot not to. He had grown into a significant threat. He had endless money and quite a formidable force under his employ.

The truth of it was, I hadn’t bothered to think of him until that first invitation for his games arrived.

I’d stupidly assumed his silence over the years meant he’d died, not emassing his own private army and creating a completely self-sufficient island, entirely cut off from normal society.

These “games” were his way of showing off his wealth. The control he had not only over others buteverythingaround him. He’d always been a power-hungry prick.

My eyes widened slightly as realisation kicked in.

“You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?” Talon whispered like it was some sort of big secret. “What I’m doing here. Why I left the comfort and safety of my home for the first time since its creation? Come on, Dimitri. Say it. I know you know.”

Of course I did. It was so obvious that he might as well have hit me over the head with it. But I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of doing what he asked.

Talon smiled. It was strained. Forced. A man in his position didn’t like to be disobeyed. I’d dealt with men like him all my life.My fatherwasone of those men. “It’s no matter. Webothknow what your fate is. I don’t need you to admit it.”

Yes, he did. And it was driving him crazy that I wouldn’t.

During our time together at boarding school, he’d tried his hardest to get me under his thumb. It had started out small; just little things like trying to get me to backchat the teachers or bully other students he didn’t like. He, Mikhail and I had been almost inseparable those first few years. The best of friends. Then, during our final year, he tried exerting more force.Orderingus to do things instead of just suggesting.

When we wouldn’t, his personality had done a complete 180. He’d threatened to use the power his father had to destroy us before our lives even really began.

I’d been threatened by men so much more powerful than him. I’d actually laughed in his face when he tried to intimidate me into bowing down to him.

Being the son of the most ruthless man in the world made me immune to a person like Talon. I’d killed, burnt and flayed men twice his size. Watched them cry and beg for their life as I cut into them with my blade. And a little spoilt rich kid thought he could tell me what to do? Bendmetohiswill?

The idea was laughable.

“You want to hear something funny?”Not really.“When your brother called me and told me he had you, I didn’t believe him. The great Dimitri Volkov, finally bested? Who would have thought?”

“Is there a point to all of this, or do you just love the sound of your own voice?”

Talon looked thoughtful. “Both, actually,” he laughed. “Anyway, as I was saying, Dominik told me that if I wanted you, it was going to cost me a small fortune. The funny thing is, I would have paid that for this image alone. You, chained upand at my mercy.” His smirk was smugful. I would have given anything to punch it off his goddamn face.

“Looks like I missed out on an advantageous opportunity, then.” My brother strolled into the basement, stepping to Talon’s side. Deep satisfaction vibrated from him.He thinks he won.

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