Page 10 of Kings of Cruelty

I glare at him. “What? If not for you, Kyran would have had to actually talk to us? Trust us?”

Silvano inhales sharply and shakes his head. “Think what you want.” He motions toward my belly. “What are you going to do about the baby?”

I’m still seething from what he said, and I don’t immediately answer. “Do you really think that’s any of your business?” I ask, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

“As much my business as anything else.” Silvano rubs his temple. “Sierra, I don’t dislike you. I find you clever and charming. But I want Kyran’s happiness above all else. Agree to let me help you. Keep the child, or don’t, I don’t care. As long as Kyran knows you’re safe, that’s all that matters to me.”

I let out a deep, shuddering breath. There’s a part of me that thinks that, despite everything he’s done, I should take him up on his offer. I should get the fuck out of here—then I can vanish, and Ma and I never have to see any of them again.

But somewhere along the way, Konstantin, Nikolai, and Yuri have gotten under my skin, and the idea of not seeing them again…

It hurts. I’d chosen Konstantin when I’d decided to warn him instead of running away, and I’d let him and Nikolai visit me every chance they could over the past several days. My decision is easy, then.

I already made it.

“I don’t want your help.” I pull the blankets up around me, huddling there and feeling completely small and helpless. “I don’t want anything to do with you.” I look up at Silvano. “Now get the fuck out and stop lurking in my hospital room.”

Silvano snorts and shakes his head. “As you wish. But since you mention lurking…that other man, Yuri. He’s been mopingaround the waiting room. Should I send him your way or tell him to stop pestering the nurses?”

“I…” I shiver again even though it’s not cold in the room. “I want to see him.” I shouldn’t, but I do, and Konstantin and Nikolai will only be gone for so long before they return and kick him out. “Now leave me alone.” The tears start to fall again. “I hate you, Silvano Cresci. You destroyed my family.”

“That’s fine,” Silvano says, and it pisses me off that he doesn’t even react to the statement. He walks to the door and stops with one hand on the doorknob. “I am sorry about how things worked out. I’ll see about negotiating with Voronkov so you can communicate with Kyran, at least. You won’t need to speak to me ever again.”

Sorry about how things worked out.

Like his family hadn’t been the direct cause of so much pain and suffering for mine. Like he hadn’t stolen Kyran away.

I could snarl a thousand things at him, but in the end, I nod.

He leaves, and I wonder if he actually will send Yuri in. I wonder whether I want to see him after all. Everything is so mixed up inside of me, so fucked up, and I don’t feel like I know anything anymore.

I’m still crying when Yuri comes in. He’s moving like he’s afraid somebody is about to beat him, which is so different from his usual confident air. It makes my heart ache even more, and my tears flow faster.

As soon as he sees me, he stops and gapes. “Sierra! Are you hurt? Did Cresci do something to you?”

I shake my head, sniffling as I try to regain control of myself, only to fail. “I’m… I’m okay. Just emotional. Getting shot can do that to you,” I try to joke, but the words hitch.

So can getting pregnant, but I’m not ready to say that aloud, let alone joke about it.

Yuri grabs the closest chair and sits down next to me. He starts to reach out like he wants to hold my hand, but stops himself.

“I’m sorry,” he blurts out. “I almost… I hurt you, and…”

Feelings I can’t understand gnaw at me. I should be so fucking angry at him, but instead, I offer my hand to him instead. “Yeah. While trying to kill my brother, you should add,” I say, my voice surprisingly calm despite the tears.

Yuri takes my hand and squeezes lightly. “He was threatening to take you. I couldn’t let him.” His voice trembles as he speaks. “But I understand if you want to go after all. Whatever you want, I’ll help you. I’ll even… I’ll fight Kotya, if that’s what you want.”

“If I wanted to go, I’d be gone before any of you could stop it,” I tell him. I’m positive that Silvano could have pulled that off, one way or another. “But I don’t.”

And I don’t know why, I almost say, but I keep the words to myself.

He bends his head forward and kisses the top of my hand. “When I saw your body with all the blood… I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.” His voice hitches, and when he lifts his head, his eyes are glassy. “I’m so sorry, Sierra.”

“I know,” I say. It’s not something I doubt, as fucked up as it is. He and Konstantin and Nikolai care about me, even though they shouldn’t—and I care about them, even thoughIshouldn’t. “I was going to betray you. You had every right to try to shoot me anyway, I guess.”

“You were…?” Yuri looks at me, confused.

Well, fuck.

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