Page 68 of Filthy Savage

“Drink?” Tynan points to the bar at the corner. “We’ve got anything you want.”

“I’ll take whatever you’re drinking,” Aleksei says to me, his eyes almost as dark as his hair.

“Bourbon.” I lift my crystal glass.

“Da, bourbon is good.” His mouth jerks, accent as heavy as the rest of them.

“Yes, for me too. Boys?” Konstantin glances at Anton and Kirill.

“Da.” Kirill’s jaw clenches, the skull and rose tats running up his neck jerking.

“I like vodka.” Anton leans back, folding his arms over his chest.

Tynan tips his head, his eyes connected with mine, and I get to my feet, pouring each one their drink and handing it to them.

“So, why’d you come?” Tynan takes the liquor to his mouth, finishing off the drink.

“Well…” Konstantin chuckles humorlessly. “You see, we have a little problem. Call it a family dispute, if you will.” His sly grin spreads as he scratches his trimmed goatee.

“And what do you need from us?” Cillian asks, intensity branded on his features.

He outstretches his arms across the top of the sofa. “You see, one of my uncles, my father’s brother, he’s not a decent man like us.”

Pretty sure not one of us here is what the world would call decent.

“In fact,” Konstantin goes on, “he wants me and my brothers dead so he can take over the family. You can understand I will never let that happen.”

“Sergey’s brother?” Cillian balls a fist at his side.

“Yes. His name is Leo. Leonard. You know, Dinara’s father.” A knowing smile spreads, and no one can miss the way a breath roughs out of Cillian’s chest at Dinara’s name.

“Don’t worry. My cousin is nothing like him. She took our side, and that is why she lives with me now.” He takes a long, thoughtful pause. “You should probably know, however, that he wants her dead too. For the betrayal, of course.”

“What?” Cillian sucks in a breath. “Has he hurt her?”

“You care?” Konstantin smirks right before thunderous darkness washes over his demeanor.

Cillian’s nostrils flare.

“Of course you do.” He chuckles. “Don’t worry. I take care of her, and I always will.” His eyes narrow, and his gaze holds Cillian’s. “I can promise you that no one will hurt her, and I meanno one.”

The air is thick with his implication.

“So, what do you need from us?” Tynan asks, breaking the stiff tension brewing between Konstantin and our brother.

“We need assurances, of course.” A sly grin emerges on his face. “You know, in case there is a problem and we require more men in the fight with my uncle.”

“So you want our help?” Tynan interrupts.

“Nu da.” He casually flips his hands in the air. “It’s what friends do for one another, no?”

“Sure.” Tynan nods, but he definitely wants nothing to do with this family squabble.

“Good. But there is another urgent issue we must discuss.”

“And that is?” Tynan pours himself another drink.

“We need to decide how we will unite our two families. It would be good for us. You know, just in case.” He huffs a laugh.

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