Page 111 of Cartel Viper
“It’s my fault. Don’t get pissed at Maks. I pushed for the deals with Drew to fuck over the Tremblays and the O’Rourkes. When we heard they were using a woman mule, I should’ve backed off. That it was Madeline only makes it worse.”
Sergei’s not done and isn’t letting Maks off the hook.
“It was ultimately Maks’s decision. You and I are not Elite Group members, but his brothers are. They should have spoken up too. I should have dug deeper for more intel. We’re all guilty.”
Laura’s cheeks are a deepening shade of red as she listens. I believe she’s telling me everything. I’m too stunned to react yet. She narrows her eyes as Maks finally speaks up.
“We got the information about the men working for the Diazes. That’s what mattered at the time. How were we supposed to know Drew would turn around and use that to go after Javier while Madeline was with him. We didn’t even know she was down here.”
“Because she ran away from her abusive boyfriend. I should have kept a closer eye on her the moment we found out four years ago that she was dating him. We’ve always known what a piece of shit he was.”
I can’t understand Sergei without Laura, but his tone sounds distressed.
There’s a pause before I hear Misha.
“Look, what’s done is done. We can’t undo it. We do our best to make amends without Laura or Madeline finding out our involvement. Obviously, Javier knows. We take it on the chin when he retaliates. Whatever it is, we accept it. I’ll own that this is my fault.”
I watch Maks sigh even if I can’t hear it. “It’s just as much mine. I’m thepakhan, and she’s my sister. There were gaps in our intel, but even if she wasn’t working for Drew, I still knew he had a history of abusing women. I should’ve known he hadn’t changed. I should’ve known he’d take shit out on Madeline. How the fuck am I going to look Laura in the eye?”
My sister opens the door and stands where I’m certain Maks, Misha, and Sergei can see her.
“That’s a good fucking question, Maks.” She speaks in English for my benefit.
Maks’s face becomes a thundercloud as he marches over to his wife. If I didn’t know to the depths of my soul Maks would never hurt Laura, I would fear for her.
“You know not to listen.”
“You’ve never nearly killed my sister.”
Maks looks at me before returning his focus to Laura.
“You’re right. I took a chance and failed. I didn’t know Madeline’s involvement in the business, but I should’ve told you what Drew was like. I should’ve spoken up. I should’ve forced him to end things with Madeline. I should’ve done almost everything differently. But you have no right to listen to these conversations. You know you endanger yourself and the kids by hearing things like this.”
“Maybe so, but would you have told me the truth?”
“Selectively.”
Laura’s jaw ticks. She looks at me as I stand here on the verge of tears. I don’t want to cause a rift between her and her husband. I know it’s Maks’s actions that are to blame, but it’s still over me. I want to shrink into the floor.
Laura takes a deep inhale, and I know she’s forcing herself to calm down before she speaks.
“I know you don’t make these decisions lightly. I know that whatever you did, you did for the bratva, not for yourself. I’ll have to remind myself of that whenever I think about this. I hold you responsible, Maks, but I don’t blame you. There’s bound to have been far more going on, but that’s no consolation when I find out that douche abused my sister foryears. That whatever this information was that you sold him made him target Javier and use it as a way to get to Madeline. You didn’t know she was with him, so I get that. But it still put her in danger.”
“Malyshka, I’m sorry.” He looks at me. “I will never stop regretting this. I’m so sorry, Madeline. I’ve called you my sister since I married Laura, but I didn’t take care of you like a brother should have.”
“I forgive you, Maks. This doesn’t rest solely on your shoulders. There was plenty I could’ve done, but like you, I did what I thought was best for the people who matter in my life.”
Laura watches me as I speak, and I know her heart’s breaking. She shifts her focus to Maks, and I know she’sconflicted. She wants his comfort, but she’s still angry at him. He draws her out of the doorway and into his arms. She sags against him.
“I’m still angry,solnste, but I forgive you.”
He rubs her back as she wraps her arms around his waist. I want to be with Javi right now. Laura looks over her shoulder at me and smiles weakly. She nods. She gets it. I retreat to allow them to have time alone. Misha and Sergei, who could practically be twins, even though Misha’s a few years younger than his older brother, also nod. They turn around, and I head to the living room to find Javi.
Chapter Thirty-One
Javier
It’s been three days since Maddy visited Laura. She wouldn’t tell me what happened in the sunroom, but she came out and walked straight to me, wrapping her arms around me. She didn’t appear upset, but Laura didn’t look pleased at Maks. I figured Laura figured shit out or Maks told her shit that pissed her off. If it were just Maks, I’d gloat. But I don’t wish any of Maddy’s family to be unhappy. Maddy was quiet the entire way home, so I didn’t press the issue.
