Page 130 of Cruel Honor

I shake my head. “That’s something only a biker would say. In the Bratva, guards are expendable. We can always hire new ones.”

“Fucking Bratva,” Maxim mutters.

“Hey, you work with us,” I remind him.

“Only because it’s smarter to. Not because I actually like either of you.”

I smile at Nik, but he doesn’t smile back. He only sighs and stares out the car window.

Our men make quick work of the guards out front, leaving space for me to get out and head straight for Abram’s front door. Maxim and Nik are right behind me.

I kick the door open and come face to face with another guard, but one of my guys shoots him in the head. I step over the newly dead guard and make my way into the living room. But Abram isn’t there.

I check the kitchen. Empty. Except for the dead bodies of his guards.

Next, the downstairs bathroom. Nothing.

The fucker must be upstairs. He has to be.

I hurry to the second floor and check every room, but Abram and Maria aren’t there.

“You didn’t accidently kill them, did you?” I ask my men once I come back downstairs.

“We just killed the guards as you said, boss,” my man James says.

I set my angry gaze onto Nik. “You said Abram would be here.”

“I thought he was. My intel said he was. He must have snuck away without anyone noticing.”

“So, he could be anywhere. That’s just fucking great.” I look around at Nik and Maxim and all our men. “So, where the fuck is he?”

EVIE

Katya and I stay in her hotel room, watching reality TV, which is surprisingly addicting.

“I told you that you’d loveThe Bachelor,” Katya says, nudging me. “I’m glad you’re finally giving it a chance.”

“But why does he even like Kendall? She’s nothing but drama.”

“That’s the fun part. It’s insane that he likes her, but he does, and that’s what makes for good TV.”

I smile. “I missed this, you know. Us just hanging out. Feeling normal again.”

“I missed it, too. You know, Evie, I’m so sorry I brought you to Dimitri’s stupid ‘find a wife’ party in the first place. I never should have.”

“Katya, you have nothing to apologize for. You just wanted me to get out of my shell, and it worked. I’m not as afraid of life as I once was. You’ve helped me with that. So has Dimitri.”

“You actually like my brother?”

“I love him.” I finally admitted it out loud, and I can’t take it back.

Katya’s eyes widen. I’m prepared for her to tell me I’m crazy, but instead, she nods. “Ok. I’m glad. Everything will be easier if you love him. Now, I don’t have to worry about you two breaking up and never getting to see you again.”

“Katya, no matter what would happen between Dimitri and me, we’ll always be friends. That will never change.”

“You better fucking believe it.”

We share a laugh and continue watching the horrible date Eric and Shana are on. I could get used to reality TV and laughing with my best friend and being in love with Dimitri.

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