Page 498 of Rage

The color drained from his face, and a spark of satisfaction flickered in me. Chernov shot to his feet, darting glances around the room like a cornered animal. For the first time, he seemed to notice my men stationed along the walls, ready to carry out my orders.

The other pachans shifted uneasily in their chairs, exchanging glances. I could see their discomfort.

I’d bent the truth with them, too, telling them this meeting was a final peace talk. But they knew me well enough to trust that I’d keep my word. I’d guaranteed their safety on my territory, and they knew I wasn’t Chernov. If I wanted someone dead, I didn’t rely on cowardly explosions from afar. I’d do the job myself.

“Boris! Igor! Oleg!” Chernov barked, desperation seeping into his voice.

I smiled. He still thought his men were waiting outside, ready to protect him.

“They’re already dead,” I said.

The room grew deathly quiet as the truth sank in. Chernov froze, his face turning ghostly pale. For a moment, I let the silence stretch, enjoying the way he squirmed and trembled, making an even bigger fool of himself in front of everyone.

“Sit,” I ordered coolly, nodding at his chair.

His apple bobbed as he reluctantly obeyed. I scanned the other pachans. Tension rippled through them, but I caught glimpses of amusement in their eyes, especially Maxim’s.

Katya had told me he loathed Chernov, and knowing I had an ally before walking into this room had only bolstered my confidence.

“Look, you can keep my wife and the territory,” Chernov stammered. “I’ll stay out of your business, I swear.”

Spineless idiot.

His sudden change in tone and pathetic attempt at negotiation only deepened my contempt.

“Katherine isn’t an object you can hand over,” I said.

Chernov flinched at the coldness in my tone, his visible panic intensifying. Even so, he had the audacity to roll his eyes.

“Whatever. The point is, I don’t want to escalate this. If keeping her is what you want, fine. I won’t set foot in your territory again.”

“I’m sure you won’t,” I said, a smirk curling my lips. “But as for Katherine, that’s neither your decision nor mine. It’s hers. Why don’t we let her decide?”

I knew the risk in putting this choice in her hands, especially here and now, in front of everyone. One of us, either Chernov or me, would end up completely humiliated.

She could still betray me, still choose him. But I trusted her. I loved her. And I believed her when she had told me she felt the same.

“Katherine,” I called, my gaze fixed on the window, “come here, please.”

Chapter Fourteen

Katherine

The look on my husband’s face as I walked into the room? Priceless.

During his talk with Dimitry, I had wanted to kick him in the balls, not just for the way he spoke about me but for the blatant disrespect he showed my lover. When Dimitry had put him in his place, I couldn’t help but grin.

I supposed that wasn’t exactly loyal wife behavior, but I’d long since stopped considering loyalty as something he deserved from me.

I smiled and greeted the men at the table. I was grateful Dimitry didn’t invite my father to the meeting. He needed all the rest after the procedure, and I didn’t want him involved in this.

The leaders’ gazes lingered on me, and despite the tension hanging in the room, I could see amusement in their eyes.

I glanced at Dimitry. He lounged in his chair like a king, his eyes tracking my every movement.

I knew what he wanted. He hoped to humiliate my husband in front of everyone by showing I belonged to him. But I also knew he would let me decide what to do. He trusted me, placing himself in a vulnerable position just to give me that choice.

I fell doubly hard in love with him for that.

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