Page 123 of Cruel Promise

NIKOLAI

The smell of smoke is strong in The Knight’s bar.

I don’t pass judgment on it as I walk through the group of bikers, who are all looking at me like I’m shit on the floor. I keep walking until Maxim enters my line of sight.

“What are you doing here, Nikolai?” he demands, his arms crossed.

“I’m not here to fight.”

“No?”

“No. I’m here to ask for your help.”

Maxim squints at me before laughing. Soon, his men are laughing right along with him. “Wait. Let me get this straight. The great Nikolai Petrov is asking me, a lowly biker, for help?”

“Dimitri Ivanov is out of control. He wants me dead, and I know he has the power to do it. I need help stopping him. If we banded together, it would make him back down.”

“And why the hell would I ever help you again?”

“Because if I’m dead, then you’ll have Dimitri to deal with. And he might not seem like a big deal now, but he’s a little bit crazy. You can’t trust crazy. At least with me, when I give my word, I mean it.”

“You gave your word to Lev, and you killed him.”

I shake my head. “No. I promised him some money, but I never promised to be partners.” I can tell my answer is not what Maxim wants to hear. “Listen, I made a mistake with Lev. I can admit that. I did fuck him over. All of you.” I glance around at the group of bikers. “But I will not fuck you over, Maxim.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“Because I have someone I care about now.”

Realization dawns in Maxim’s eyes. “Ava.”

I incline my head. “I can’t risk her safety. I worry Dimitri might try something, and I need to stop him before he does. So, I need help. I’m asking you for it. If you don’t take it, you won’t be punished. I’ll leave you alone. But I could use your help as a show of strength to prevent another war from happening. You said you wanted peace.”

Maxim exchanges looks with a few of his men before nodding. “You’re right. I do want peace. And I can tell it wasn’t easy for you to come here and ask for my help. I can also tell you mean what you say. Your wife has changed you, hasn’t she?”

I don’t say a word. Nothing needs to be said.

“All right,” Maxim says, rubbing the back of his head. “We’ll help you. To keep peace. That’s why I’m doing this. Don’t make me regret this, Nikolai.”

I’m in awe of Maxim. He knows how to be a good man.

I don’t know how to be a good man.

But maybe this is my first step in getting there.

Chapter

Seventeen

NIKOLAI

Maxim and I walk right into Dimitri’s club.

We don’t draw our guns. We don’t raise our voices. We just go over to the bar and order a drink.

“Is he going to fall for this?” Maxim asks.

“Dimitri’s pride won’t allow him to have us in his club right now.” I only sniff my whiskey and don’t take a sip. I need a clear head for this. “He’ll show. He’ll demand we leave, and I’ll demand he gets back in line.”

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