Page 111 of Cruel Promise

Yet I can’t stop thinking that I want Ava to be happy. That I want her to choose me for real and not just because she doesn’t have any other options.

She would be proud of me for leaving Groban alive. She would tell me to think about his daughter. She would tell me to give him until the end of the week to pay the other hundred dollars.

Ishouldlisten to her if I want to be a good man.

But being a good man doesn’t make for a good Bratva boss.

And right now, I’m a Bratva man who needs to do his job.

“Please,” Groban whimpers.

I pull the trigger.

The bullet hits him straight between the eyes, and he slumps back onto the trash-strewn ground. Men like Groban belong in the trash. They’re trash to get so far into debt to begin with. They’re trash for needing a man like me to pull them out of the slums.

But I can’t get rid of the sneaking feeling as I call my cleanup crew that I just might belong with the trash, too.

I can’t push Groban from my mind as I drive. It gets to be so bad that I know I need a drink before I can return home and see Ava’s sweet face and lie to her.

Technically, I haven’t lied. I just haven’t told her everything.

But even I know it’s a fucking lie, and there’s no other way to spin it.

I enter the bar I normally frequent—a quiet, expensive, members-only club where I can get the best top-shelf drinks in the entire city.

I order a scotch and take a seat in my private booth.

Dimitri slides into the booth across from me. “How’s it going, Nik?”

I almost break my glass by how hard I clench it. “What the fuck are you doing here, Dimitri? We’re done, remember?”

“Oh, I know as youso kindlytold me at my club. I’ll be honest, Nik, I haven’t taken that very well.”

“You invited Ava and me to your club and then someone drugged her. You need to keep a better eye on things.”

“Thank you for telling me how to run my club.”

God, I could punch his pretty boy face. “My wife was hurt. Of course, I’m fucking pissed at you. You don’t get to come here and act all prissy over it likeI’mthe one who did anything wrong.”

“Mmm.” Dimitri sits back in his seat, his eyes flitting around my face. “You know, when you get angry, your face turns red, which makes your scar look really ugly.”

I grit my teeth.

“Of course, you’re always ugly. I have no idea what Ava sees in you. If I were her, I’d be disappointed you’re my husband. I’d want someone like me.” Dimitri flashes me a smile that I’m sure makes a lot of women drop their panties for him. But I’m not a woman, and I’m not about to get naked for him.

“Are you just trying to make me angrier?” I growl.

He nods. “Pretty much. The truth is, Nik, you embarrassed me. At my own club, no less. How can any man live that down?”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine. Now, leave me alone so I can savor my drink.” The scotch is smooth going down my throat, but I wish I had something that burned just to remind me not to get into a fight with Dimitri.

“I can’t let that stand, Nik,” he continues like I haven’t even spoken. “I thought we were partners, and you dropped me like it was nothing. I’m not happy about that.”

“Then go find some woman to fuck and get over it.”

“No. I will not just get over it. You know how us Bratva men are. We’re prideful. You wounded my pride. I want you to pay for that.”

With a sigh, I sit back in my seat. “I just killed a man today. Shot him in the head like it was nothing. I’m already fucked up, Dimitri. You don’t want to get on my bad side today.”

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