Page 39 of Claimed By Desire

My hands cover my mouth and I can barely watch. I feel sick to my stomach, and I don’t know what to do. I’m totally powerless in this situation even though I know it’s all my fault.

If I had kept the baby to myself—if I hadn’t ever gone to see Alex last night—none of this would be happening.

Instead, the situation is spiraling, and I can’t stop it.

I’ve seen Dad angry before. He’s got a terrible temper, and he’s never been shy about using it against me and my siblings.

But I’ve never seen him like this.

Dad’s face is purple with rage. He’s so angry he can’t sit still.

But worse, he’s alsoterrified.

It’s written all over him. The fear’s leaking off his body like blood from a wound, and Dad’s not the kind of man that normally would let his fear show like this.

Which means it’s bad.

It’s really, really bad.

“You won’t do a god damn thing. You betrayed me, Alexander. You betrayed everything we stand for.”

“I would never do that,” Alex says and suddenly there’s emotion in his voice, like the thought of being a traitor is too much to bear. “Let me take care of the Italians. I’ll make them understand.”

“It’s too late for that.” Dad nods at Lev. “Kill him.”

“Dad,” I say and leap to my feet.

“Don’t you fucking move,” Dad roars, turning on me and pointing a finger in my face. “You are as much to blame as this stupid bastard. At least I can say he was thinking with his fucking dick, while you have no such excuse, you worthless bitch.”

“Don’t insult my wife like that,” Alex says and menace enters his tone. Despite his position, he’s frightening.

“Alex, man, shut the fuck up,” Lev says, exasperated. He’s still pointing the gun at Alex’s head, but he doesn’t move to pull the trigger.

“What are you waiting for? I told you to kill him.” Dad rounds on Lev and brandishes his fists. “He destroyed everything we worked for. He turned his back on you.”

“Nobody’s killing anyone,” Lev says, shaking his head. “I get that you’re pissed, but at this point Alex is worth more alive.”

“Like fucking hell he is.” Dad’s trembling as he stares from Lev to Alex. “We took him into our family. He was like a brother to you. We promoted him from nothing, and now look what he did?”

“I know,” Lev says with a grimace and his fingers grip the gun tighter. Almost like he wants to do it. “I know what he did, Dad.”

“He fucked your sister,” Dad says and walks over to Lev. He grabs him by the shirt and yanks him forward. “He put a fucking baby in yoursister, knowing she was supposed to marry someone else, and now he stole her away on her wedding day. How can you stand there? How can you let him keep breathing?”

Lev’s jaw is set and his face is bone white. “I know what he did, but if we kill him now, we won’t be able to hand him over to the Italians later.”

Dad’s trembling. He shoves Lev away and turns to the fireplace, his hands leaning against the mantel to support himself as he takes deep breaths. I watch all this from the edge of my seat, nausea rolling around me, tears streaming down my face. This was wrong, it was so wrong. We should have gone to the grave with this secret.

“I understand why you feel that way,Otets, but it was never my intention to hurt anyone,” Alex says almost gently.

Dad turns on him. “Don’t call me that,” he snarls.

“We slept together. We made a mistake. I can’t turn my back on her, and I absolutely can’t let another man raise my child, no matter what. I’ve always tried my hardest to be a good member of the Bratva and to be an honorable man, and how could I look at myself in the mirror, knowing I let your daughter down?”

“You are a disgrace to the family.” Dad stands up straight, staring down Alex with pure loathing. “You are no longer a member of this Bratva.”

“Papa,” Lev says sharply. “You should stop.”

“He needs to hear this.” Dad advances on Alex and strikes him once more across the face. “You are nothing to us anymore. Doyou hear me? As far as I’m concerned, you’re already dead. Do you understand?”

---