Page 60 of Bound to the Bratva
I catch her hand, grip tightening so hard I could snap her feeble bones. “No, I won’t, because you’re not going to be around. You’ll be nothing more than a thing of the past.”
Her full lips curve into a smirk. “Oh, when did you become a comedian, Maxim, hmm?”
I release her hand, eyes narrowing. “You’re going to die, Natalya. For everything you’ve done or are thinking about doing. I’m going to take your fucking life, you foolish woman.”
She takes a step back, eyes glinting. “I wonder what your brother thinks about that.”
I laugh, “I don’t have a brother.”
The corner of her lips curl up, “Yes, you do. An older half-brother I’m very familiar with. Your father chose the wrong heir, Maxim, and I can’t wait to rip the crown away from you. If you had just let me kill her we could’ve been happy together, but you defended that dumb bitch. You took something from me, and now I’m going to take away the biggest thing you want.”
I scoff, “No, you won’t.” I shove her up against the alley, wrapping a hand around her throat. “You’re a fool, and your family wants nothing to do with you. I’ve spoken with your father, Natalya. You’ve been cut off. You’re an outcast.”
She smirks, “I have exactly what I need, Maxim.”
“Hey! Get your hands off her!” A group of women come into the alleyway. The last thing I need is for some of them to take a video or photos of me.
I release Natalya, eyes locked on her. “This won’t be the last I see of you.”
Natalya licks her lips, smirking devilishly. “Oh, I know.”
I clench my fists, fury coursing through me as I watch Natalya slink away toward the group of women. She’s a thorn in my side, a dangerous temptress who thinks she can have as much power as she wants, but she can’t, and she won’t.
Her end is coming sooner than she thinks. She started a war she can’t win.
I watch her as she slithers away, my fury pounding in my ears. I whip out my phone and dial Dmitri’s number. Dmitri is a well-known assassin, but he’s also very talented with finding people. If I’m going to entrust anyone to look into this for me, it’ll be him.
He answers on the second ring.
“Dmitri,” My voice is a low growl of intensity. “I have a situation I need your expertise with.”
I hear his sigh over the line. “Okay, go for it.”
“It’s in regards to Natalya Andreev. She’s made an outlandish claim about me having an older half-brother.” I grit out.
There’s a silence before he responds, “A brother? I’ve only ever heard your father talk about you and Vera.”
“Which is exactly why I need you to look into it. She seemed confident in her claim, but I have my doubts.” If she’s correct, an older brother would completely abolish my claim to inherit the Bratva.
However, it makes me wonder if it’s true, why hasn’t my father said anything? There must be a reason for it, but I will wait until I get an answer from Dmitri until I confront my father.
“Rest assured, I’ll look into it, Maxim.” Dmitri says, his tone sharpening.
Natalya... she’s a fucking mess. I quash the rising storm within me. She toys with me, tries to get into my head. But the fact remains, she is dangerous. An unwanted complication in our already complicated world. I wasn’t lying to her—she will die. I just have to plan it out to ensure no one witnesses the mess I’ll make.
“Thank you, I appreciate it. Call me whenever you have an update.”
“Certainly,” Dmitri replies.
I slip the phone back into my pocket, turning my icy gaze in the direction Natalya and those girls were in. All of them are gone, so I make my way out of the alley and flag down a cab.
The driver nods at me, his eyes barely leaving the road ahead as I slide into the backseat of the cab. “Where to?” he questions me.
I mutter off the address to mine and Aria’s condo. The smell of worn leather and stale coffee hangs heavy in the air. My mind drifts back to Natalya’s smug expression.
The city lights blur past as we drive through the now quiet streets. The usual traffic has fizzled out, a rare peaceful moment in our hectic city. Streetlights cast long shadows across the empty sidewalks, painting an eerie picture that matches my mood.
I lean against the cold window, watching my breath fog up the glass. With every passing minute, my fury subsides, replaced by a cold dread seeping into my bones. Natalya’s words keep echoing in my head, like an unending nightmare.
