Page 85 of Kings of Violence

Sierra lets out a choked laugh. “You threatened my entire family, too, though,” she says as she pulls away from Yura. “My niece and nephew? They’re still young, too. And my sister-in-law is innocent. Ma…” It should be easy for her to say her own mother is an innocent, but Sierra seems so conflicted where she’s concerned. “You said you’d torture them in front of me.”

I’d done that, hadn’t I. The words were familiar, ones I often used to keep people in line. I know my father wouldn’t hesitate to go after somebody’s family if they displeased him.

Why do I suddenly feel guilty over it? She’s a beautiful woman, one who I’m starting to appreciate for more than just her cunt, but in the end, she’s still the daughter of a man who had been our enemy.

I let out a shaky sigh and stroke my beard. “Sierrochka… I won’t apologize. But right now, I have no desire to hurt anybody you hold dear. Your family is safe from us, at least.”

She looks at me, her jaw setting stubbornly. “Even Kyran?”

I don’t know why she defends her brother — her brother, who is fucking their long-time enemy, one of those responsible for the deaths in her family.

“If your brother keeps his end of the bargain, he has nothing to fear from us. But I will defend my territory and my business.” I grin at her, though I know it’s a dark look. “So you should hope Silvano Cresci keeps him in line.”

Sierra laughs, the sound humorless and dark. “What happens if I disobey you now,Kotya? If you aren’t going to threaten my family anymore?”

“Are you going to disobey me?” I ask her mildly. “Do you want to risk our wrath?”

“I don’t know,” she says, shrugging. “Maybe I don’t want to be your fucktoy anymore.”

Her behavior in the shower said otherwise, though.

“You aren’t afucktoy,” Yura growls. He gives her a brief kiss. “You’ve never been just a fucktoy.” He glares at me. “Right?”

I’m still confused about the ferocity of Yura’s feelings, but I nod. “I don’t brand and mark random women.” I trail my hand to Sierra’s ass. “I don’t dream about other women carrying my child.”

Sierra tenses at that, and she pulls away from both of us. “That again? No. I’m not going to… No.” She gives a fierce shake of her head.

“You want to ensure we don’t harm you?” I say gently, still petting her. “Well, we would never harm the mother of our child.”

She lets out another bitter little laugh. “So that’s how it’s going to be now?” She tries to get up, but Yuri and I keep her between us. “You realize that’s one of my fears, right? Getting pregnant? I’ve agonized over this possibility. I…”

“Why a fear?” Yura asks. “There’s nothing wrong with getting pregnant and being a mother. You would be a great one. I know it.”

“Because it’s too dangerous in this life!” Sierra bursts out, tears welling up in her eyes again. “Having children means putting boysat constant risk, and women… women are treated like trading chips. Hostages.Mothersandmistressesand never anything important.”

“We would protect you,” I answer bluntly. Angrily, even, because the thought of somebody laying a hand on Sierra?—

But somebody already laid a hand on her. I need to have a word with Nikolai and Yura about it, but I’d okayed the whole mission. In the end, it’s my responsibility, even if they were the ones who failed to keep her safe.

I lift her chin up and say steadily, “You’re going to have our child. And you can continue to enjoy the computers and help us. If you don’t, you will not be a wife. You will be a mistress, hidden away and only brought out when we need eye candy.”

Tears roll down her cheeks in thin rivulets. “I hate you,” she whispers. “I hate all of you.”

Yura’s arms tighten around her and he kisses the back of her head. “You’re going to look so beautiful when you are carrying our child. They are going to be smart and strong like you, too.”

“I’m not ready,” she says, shaking her head. “I’m not ready for any of this.”

Maybe in another life, another time, I’d care that she doesn’t think she’s ready. I’d be able to tell her that her children will never be in danger. But this is reality, and it’s become clearer than ever that I need to carry on my legacy. Even if the child isn’t mine by blood, I’ll still claim them.

I’m tired of being the unwanted son, the lesser one. I’m in America now. My father holds no sway over me. If Roman can create succession issues, so can I.

“They’ll never want for anything,” I promise her. “Neither will you.”

“I want my freedom,” she whispers. “God, I’ve been such a fucking idiot.”

“Never,” Yura says, still kissing her skin. “You’re ours, Sierra. I can’t wait to see you with our children.”

She sobs, and I wrap my arms around her too, keeping her close to the two of us.

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