Page 112 of Scarlet Secrets

“When you knock,” I say, “You just fucking wait.”

He closes the door, looking irritated and concerned. “What the fuck was that? Erin’s already skittish about your temper, because remember how you locked her up? This whole house arrest for everyone here’s playing on that. So, what the fuck was that?”

“Sergio.”

He stalks up and grabs the bottle, pouring a glass, then hands it back. He drinks it, then leans on my desk in a way that would have most shot dead. “I warned you.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“We’re handing it, so if we need more pressure…”

“He was less than pleased with the raid.” I think about how much he should know, but my keeping this deal from him is perhaps what got me in this situation. And I breathe out slowly. “He’s going to retaliate.”

“I figured that might happen but—” I flicker a glance at him. “What?”

“Shit, Ilya, I wanted to play him, and he wants my name to boost him.”

“Along with Niko?”

I don’t answer that. “He wanted me to marry Stefina. We made an arrangement. That for help with bringing down Niko. I told him it was null and void because of his false information and now he’s claiming he’ll be announcing the nuptials.”

Ilya stares at me, grabs the bottle, and sits opposite me.

I fill him in on what actually happened when I met with him that first time, how I figured once I got what I wanted, I’d get out of it, and now… this new threat.

One he can make good on.

Because if I kill him, then it’s a complete mess, and I’d probably still be left having to marry his fucking daughter.

“Well, shit.”

“I can’t see a way out of it. He didn’t come through for me, but if he releases the wedding invites, even a sniff of a wedding between the two families, I’m going to look weak if I back out or be stuck with her.”

“We can get out of it.”

“How? I figured he wouldn’t have the balls to push me.”

“He doesn’t. But you know who does? Fucking Stefina. That girl’s been sniffing after you for so long. How could you—” He stops.

“Be so stupid?” I shrug. “Alina needs her revenge.”

“She needs her brother, Boss.”

I just nod and lean over and take the bottle, filling up his glass. I grab another one and pour some in, setting down the bottle in the middle of the desk.

“She needs revenge, too.”

“So you marry Stefina?”

“I’ll find a way out of it.”

He taps his hand on the glass. “And Erin? What are you going to say to her?”

“Nothing.”

His gaze is sharp.

“She doesn’t need to know.”

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