Page 63 of Cruel Promise

“To kill Maxim Baranov.”

“But he helped me. He wants peace.”

“He thought he could broker peace by using you. I won’t allow that.”

“So, you’re just going to continue whatever war is happening between you two? He came to our wedding and threatened you. He could have hurt me. Nikolai, if you make things worse … what could happen to me?” Maybe it’s a low blow to use myself as a manipulation tactic, but I don’t want Maxim to die. It’s not that I have feelings for him. I don’t. I just don’t want to see someone who helped me when he could have let me die for no reason.

Well, there is a reason—Nikolai is a possessive monster, as he said.

He slowly turns back to face me. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“But you’re hurting me,” I whisper.

He takes two long strides to reach me and cups my face between his hands. It’s a little rough, but I’m not afraid he’ll physically hurt me. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Nikolai, it’s that I can trust him on that one thing.

“I don’t want to,” he admits. “But I cannot let Maxim’s actions slide. This is how we do it in the Bratva. Men go to war, and men die. Many times, it’s over a woman.”

The look he gives me steals my breath away.

And then he kisses me.

It’s quick and fast and rough, but it leaves my body feeling alight with fire.

He pulls back then lets me go. “I have a job to do. You’re going to stay here this time. I can’t risk you getting pulled into it.” With those words, he leaves the room …

… and locks the door behind him.

I gasp and run to the door, trying the handle, but it won’t budge.

For the first time since marrying Nikolai, he’s chosen to lock me away in my room.

If there was even the smallest hint of trust in him, it’s gone in a heartbeat.

NIKOLAI

“Ready to do this?” Dimitri asks, with an eager, slightly savage grin.

I stare at The Knights’ clubhouse, knowing I need to do what I need to do, but all I can think about is Ava’s face when I spoke to her earlier.

And then I locked her up.

I need her to be safe for what I’m about to do. I can’t risk her running around the city, potentially getting hurt. But my actions aren’t those of a good man. My actions are because I’m a possessive fucker who doesn’t want her to leave me.

I know exactly what to do to gain her trust. She spelled it out for me. School and freedom.

But if I let her go, I doubt she’ll ever come back to me, and I’m not ready to let her go just yet. I’ll never be ready.

“Nik?” Dimitri says, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Nikolai,” I growl at him.

He shrugs, not correcting his words. “So, all The Knights are there today. We can strike. Kill them all.”

Of course, Maxim would bring all his men to the clubhouse. They’re probably celebrating a time of peace. But I’m not going to bring him peace. I’m going to rain hell on The Knights. Who needs a motorcycle club anyway?

It’s not like The Knights have brought me in a ton of money. They’ve helped, sure. But they’re proving more of a nuisance now than a benefit.

The clubhouse is on the outskirts of the city on a street that isn’t too busy. I know they like their privacy.

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