Page 94 of Luka

I turn back to Lucia only as she screams at a man throwing her over his shoulder. “No, wait! Stop! Luka!”

Men gather Mendoza and lead him away, along with Lucia while she calls my name.

Ricardo turns, and I take a step toward Lucia, but Vitaly puts a hand on my shoulder to stop me. “Let her go,” he says. “You’re both alive. That’s enough.”

“I love you!” she screams. “I love you, Luka!”

I close my eyes as a breath shudders out of me. I’ve been waiting to hear those words. Now they just sound painful. They fucking break me.

“Wait,” I yell, striding toward Ricardo. “Wait.”

He pauses and turns, his face an angry mask.

“Let me marry her,” I say, breathless with desperation. I’d fall to my knees if I wasn’t certain it’d make me look weak. “You said it yourself—she’s ruined. Let me marry her. I’ll work for you. We’ll live in your compound. Whatever you want, just please, let me make this right.”

“Youcan’tmake it right.”

“I love her,” I say, though I’ve said it already. “No one will ever care for her as much as I do. I will protect her with my life until the day that I die. You have my word.”

He steps up close to me, so close I can smell the cigar on his breath. “No.”

The finality in his voice makes my shoulders sag. I blink, searching for more proposals, but I find none. Then I hear my sister’s voice.

“You’re a fool, Señor Valdez.”

Both our heads turn to look at her as she approaches, two of our soldiers lagging behind her. The car they must’ve come in is parked in the distance.

Her chin is obnoxiously raised, per usual, as she approaches, and she exudes a confidence I’ve resented for years. Now I watch closely in awe.

“Luka is the brother of the Petrov Bratva’s Pakhan, a leader who controls all of Las Vegas and holds ties to Russian organizations across the country. We have resources in this country you can’t touch, and if I’m not mistaken, you don’t even have a US base. Your rival was miles ahead of you.”

Ricardo’s chest puffs, but Mila goes on before he can erupt.

“You are a fool not to see the opportunity that this match presents.”

He deflates slightly and flexes his jaw. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying this marriage unites our families. Imagine the power we could give each other as allies.”

“Allies?” he scoffs, but I can tell he’s thinking about it.

“Let me put it another way.” She steps closer and lowers her voice. “What else are you going to do with a daughter whose hymen has been broken by aRussian? This can be an opportunity or a tragedy. Choose.”

He stares down my sister, his lips puckered, his eyes narrowed. For a moment, I think he’ll tell her to go to hell or worse, he’ll demand punishment for the disrespect, but no, he truly is considering the offer.

Lucia would be heartbroken if she realized just how little she meant to this man. This isn’t love. This is sick.

After a minute, he sucks in a deep inhale and shouts behind him in Spanish. His men have made it to their SUVs, but at his words, they open the back door to one and let Lucia come out. They hold her back when she tries to come this way.

He meets my eyes. “If you harm one hair on her head, I will kill you. If anyone else harms one hair on her head while she is in your care, I will kill you. Is that understood?

My lungs release a breath as I nod, lost for words. What should I say?Thank you? He glares at Mila before turning and walking toward Lucia.

“He’s going for it,” I say, my voice nothing but a weak whisper. “How did you know…?”

“Her papa isn’t so different from ours.”

I face her, taking in her sad, almost wounded expression.

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