Page 102 of Claimed By Desire

Adriano smiles. There’s always a sharpness to this man. Like even when he’s being friendly, there’s always the possibility he might decide to start murdering everyone in the room.

“I figured Lev would have told you. We’re here to discuss the terms of his engagement.”

I stare at my best friend. He doesn’t look back. His face is grim and he’s sitting forward in his seat.

“I have one request,” Lev says. “And it’s non-negotiable.”

“I find that most things are negotiable, but alright, let’s hear it.”

“I’ll marry your cousin. We’ll bring you into the Canadian business, and I’ll even make sure you get a more than generousstake. All I ask in return is your backing when I take down my father.”

My mouth opens. There should be words—protests—something—but nothing comes out.

Lev stares, face hard. Adriano looks back, slightly amused.

This can’t be happening.

Oleg’s an old bastard, but he’s a good leader. He took this family from a mid-level criminal organization with a decent jewelry front and grew it exponentially. Now, we’re deeply embedded in the Zeitsev Bratva, and growing all the time.

If Lev’s serious, this is going to change everything.

I’m not sure how I feel about it, either. On the one hand, Oleg’s an old bastard and probably deserves to get a bullet in the head.

On the other, he’s like a father figure. I’m angry with him right now, but he raised me. He trained me. He gave me purpose

I hate the way he treats his kids. I hate how he talks about my wife and uses Lev like a pawn.

Step wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for Oleg pushing everyone into more and more dangerous situations, all in the name of power and glory.

But I still respect him. I still owe him so much.

“That’s not a small request,” Adriano says finally. “I take it things aren’t good at home?”

“My father’s time is over. I believe there’s a better direction for this family, and I’m prepared to do what it takes to make it happen. But right now, my father has the loyalty of his men.”

“You think it’s a good idea turning to a bunch of Italians for help in your coup? Perhaps you should get your own people on your side first.”

Lev turns and looks right at me. “What do you say to that, Alexander?”

Well, fuck.

He wasn’t sitting at that bar working up the nerve to go murder Adriano.

He waswaiting for me. The devious fucking prick. He knew I’d come looking for him if he up and disappeared.

The fucker orchestrated this meeting to put me in this position.

Side with him or side with Oleg.

I should be a good soldier. I should be the best member of my Bratva possible and refuse. Oleg may be a bitter, nasty old fuck, but he’s still the head of the family. He’s still the man our Pakhan trusts and brought into his inner circle. That means something. That matters.

I want to be perfect. Ineedto be better than everyone else.

But I know?—

Iknow?—

That’s not me.

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