Page 49 of Thorns of Lust
“Fine.” Then realizing he slipped, he sat up straighter. “Why would I meet with the Yakuza?”
His eyes darted around as if he contemplated running. I loved my brother, but it was hard to miss how far he had fallen.
“I’m wondering the same, Brother,” I challenged. “I distinctly remember stating to stay-the-fuck-away from the Nikolaev family.”
Especially after he put a hit on Sasha’s woman years ago, after the unhinged Nikolaev warned him Branka Russo was under his protection. It was thanks to my twin brother that I owed Sasha any favor he’d need. Anytime. Anywhere. I gave him my word as the Pakhan and a Konstantin. It was either that or Maxim's certain death.
I still remembered the exact words I told him once Sasha roughed him up and left.
“No harm is to come to any Nikolaev family member. One day, our families will merge, and I’ll fucking strangle you if you cause issues with your fucking vendetta they never started. Understood?”
Maxim’s one eye already turned blue, swelling shut. His face was bloodied. But I knew that stubborn tilt of his chin and that stupid gleam in his eyes.
“I mean it, Maxim,” I vowed, my voice colder than the winters in our motherland. “There are only so many chances you’ll get before I’ll kill you myself.”
“Like Papa killed our mother,” he spat out, blood trickling down his lip. “Like you killed Papa, and now you’d kill your brother?”
I let out a sardonic breath. I’d had enough of cleaning up after him to last me two lifetimes. Family didn’t do the shit he did. With him out of the way, life would be a walk in the park.
“What do you think?” I answered his question with my own.
I was responsible for thousands of men and women, not just Maxim. Including Tatiana. If it came down to him or Tatiana - the choice would always be her.
He opened his mouth and I raised my eyebrow, daring him to say something else. He might get another beating if he wasn’t careful.
He closed it.
“I won’t go around the pale devils,” he promised reluctantly.
I passed him on my way out but stopped. I lifted a shoulder and turned to him. He really needed a lesson. So to ensure he remembered the lesson, I clenched my fist and the next second it collided with his jaw.
“Don’t fucking break that promise,” I warned, then walked out the door.
“I haven’t been near the pale devils,” Maxim’s voice pulled me back to the present, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. Fucking drug addict and a liar.
My jaw tightened and I sent him a look that promised retribution.
Silence. Thick and dark crept through the room.
I knew he’d try and run before he even moved. The chair slammed against the wall, but I was faster than his doped ass. My hand wrapped around his throat and I slammed his body against the wall, rattling it with the impact.
“Don’t push me, Maxim,” I growled. “You won’t like what comes from it.”
Our gazes burned into the other’s, clashing with years of animosity. He hated me for being strong; I hated him for being weak. My twin brother was so fucking bitter about losing his whore that he reeked of it. I promised him I wouldn’t get involved in his relationship. He could fuck whoever he wanted, but when he started impacting our business and attacking people that should be our allies, my promise went down the toilet.
“You’re just likehim,” he hissed. There was no need to question whohimwas. Our father. The unforgiving, cruel man who made us into the men we were today.
I released the grip on his throat and shoved him away. Then taking a step back, I reached for the nearby drawer that worked on my fingerprints only. I pulled out my .45, twisted the silencer on as Maxim’s eyes widened, registering my movements. I pulled the trigger. The silentpopreverberated around us. I shot him in the arm and he hissed in pain as he slid down the wall.
“Stay the fuck away from Tatiana Nikolaev. Last warning.” Then to ensure he remembered, I added, “Same with Sasha and his woman. There’ll be no more chances.”
I put the gun away, shutting the drawer with a click before walking toward the door. I opened it, my hand on the handle.
“The great Pakhan pussy whipped,” he snickered. “I wonder if you’ll pull the trigger on her like Father did Mother.”
The insinuation and the thought of Tatiana’s beautiful blues void of life sent raw feelings to my heart.
My voice was unnaturally calm as I stated the next words.
