Page 74 of Claimed By Desire

Lev finds that amusing and offers me a beer. We stand out in the alley listening to the guys working inside. “How’s Nat feel about that?”

“Nat is unhappy about it.”

“No surprise there. My sister can be extremely?—“

“Frustrating? Controlling?”

“I was going to say overbearing, but yeah, all of the above.” Lev takes a long drink and glances at me. “You know, I haven’t said thanks yet.”

“You don’t have to thank me. You would’ve come back if you were in my place.”

I think so, anyway.It’s hard to tell with Lev though, especially right now.

“Not about that, but yeah, sure, thanks.” His usual bravado fades slightly. “If it weren’t for you nearly getting yourself killed, I’m not sure if I ever would’ve talked to Nat again.”

“She misses you.”

“I know. I miss her too. I’m just so fucking mad at you two.”

“I know you are.”

We go quiet for a little while. There’s so much unspoken between us, but how can we broach that divide? That impossible gap? I wish he could understand how I feel about Natalya, but it’s his sister. I’m not sure he really wants to hear it either way.

In the end, we talk shop. It’s easier, and he’s eager to start making plans.

“I hear Adriano’s got a favorite club. Word is, he helps run the place.”

“Who’d you hear that from? Your Irish friends again?”

“I got plenty of friends.” Lev smirks at me and runs a hand through his hair. “I’m thinking we can do to him what he tried with us.”

“You want to ambush him?”

“Just like with that other fucking Italian bastard.”

I grunt and look away. Lev’s not a stupid man—he knows what’ll happen if we kill Adriano—but there’s no way I can talk him out of this. And honestly, a big part of me doesn’t want to.

Those assholes tried to kill me. They had Lev down on his knees with a gun to his head. Adriano more than deserves a bullet between the eyes.

But once that line is crossed, there’s no way I can fix this shit with the Italians.

And that’s about more than just the war.

If things spiral, Pakhan Zeitsev will never forgive me and Natalya for eloping and ruining his alliance. We’ll be outcasts, and we’ll have to raise our child without a family by our side.

It’ll be a long, lonely life for Nat, and I don’t want that for her.

Maybe she doesn’t care if her father never speaks to her again—but she will care if Lev’s forced to disown her for good.

He will, too. If Valentin Zeitsev orders it, Lev will obey. He knows how this life works better than anyone else. Even if it hurts him, Lev will do the right thing.

Unlike me. I follow all the little rules. I pretend like I’m good and righteous. But when the real shit happened, I showed my true colors.

I chose myself. I chose my wife and my child. I put them above my Bratva, and I have to reckon with that every day.

What kind of man can I be now?

That’s why I won’t fail her.

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