Page 74 of Darkest Game
Mikhail crosses his arms. “How do I know you won’t backstab me and Nico the first chance you get?”
“I brought Irina here to the hospital because I didn’t want her to die. If I didn’t care for her, she’d be dead by now. Her sisters would never get the chance to have her back in their lives. I’m not going to backstab you… as long as you don’t backstab me. Let’s just agree to a temporary truce. Kill Elaine. And then…”
“What?” Nico asks. “Irina doesn’t seem to want you dead. Once our truce is over, we kill you?”
“Or you work together,” I suggest. All the men look at me like I’m crazy. “It’s a smart idea. Russian, Italian, and Irish… all working together.”
“Can you actually work with us?” Mikhail asks.
“Can you actually work with me?” Liam fires back.
Nico raises his hands. “Let’s just kill Elaine together and then we can figure things out. See if we can trust each other then. How does that sound?”
“You murdered Cillian right in front of me,” Liam says. “I’m not sure I can ever forgive you for that. But… if this is the only way I can keep Irina safe, I’ll agree to it.”
“She lives with us,” Mikhail says. “Me and my wife. Not with you.”
Liam stands up taller. “She’s my wife.”
“Only your wife because she was forced into it. She’ll live with me and Natalya. I’ll keep her more safe than you could ever.”
“You’ve never kept her safe,” Liam growls. “She was taken at your house on your watch. I’ve saved her multiple times now by the skin of my teeth. What the fuck have you done?”
Mikhail narrows his eyes and goes eerily still. “Don’t test me, boy.”
“Boy? I’m only a few years younger than you are.”
“Enough,” Nico says. “Irina stays with Mikhail and her sisters. And we’ll help you kill Elaine. It’s a fair trade. Take it.”
Liam sneers before catching my gaze. His face softens. “Irina? It should be your choice.”
Mikhail scoffs.
“It should be,” Liam snaps. “Irina?”
“I… I’ll stay with Mikhail.” Even though I want to stay with Liam and explore our relationship further. But I know I need to give Mikhail and Nico something. They can’t think Liam isgetting everything and they’re getting nothing.But you have to let me see Liam. You have to let him come over to your house. If he’s going to work with you, I write.A compromise.
“Deal,” Nico says, looking at Mikhail and Liam expectantly.
“Deal,” Mikhail says after a moment.
Liam sneers once more before he speaks. “Deal. But if Irina gets hurt on your watch, I’m going to personally kill you.”
Mikhail sneers back. “I’d like to see you fucking try.”
I stifle my sigh. This is not going to be easy.
Since the men made a deal, they all agreed it would be best for me to spend the night in the hospital. Mikhail goes back to his house to get my sisters so they can come see me while Nico and Liam remain on guard duty in case Elaine tries anything.
My three sisters and mom rush into the room the second they arrive.
“Oh my god, Irina,” Natalya says, taking my hand. “Are you ok?”
I have to rest my voice, I write them.
“You actually got cut in the throat,” Sasha says, her eyes wide. “When Mikhail told us, I almost didn’t believe it.”
“I’m just glad you’re ok,” Mom says. She squeezes my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, honey, that I haven’t been able to protect you.”
