Page 66 of Til Death Do Us Part (Kornilov Bratva Duet 2)

Petr spits and blood splatters across the cement floor. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Will you, though? Will you let me explain?”

“My family could have died,” I roar. My voice echoes around the room, and I remember what Seamus said about the room being soundproofed. Still, I should be cautious. “My wife and son could have been killed at the photo shoot. And Seamus could have died at the dinner, but we still don’t know the assassin’s entire plan. Would he have gone after me and Molly after Seamus?”

I’m getting angry just thinking about the possibilities. Just thinking about what could have happened to Theo if Molly and I had died or if he had been in the crossfire at the photo shoot. I tighten my fists until my fingernails bite into my palm.

“How did you even know about the photo shoot? I didn’t tell you, but we had guards there keeping watch over things. Maybe one of them told you? How many of my men are betraying me? Or maybe it’s a phone tap?”

Petr shakes his head. “Please, Vik?”

“Don’t call me that!”

“Viktor,” he corrects. “Please, Viktor? Let me explain?”

I look over at Seamus, and he nods, letting me know he’ll respect whatever decision I make. I don’t need his permission, but when I have no one else on my side, it’s good to know Seamus is a true ally.

“Fine,” I say, spinning around and crossing my arms over my chest. “Say what you need to say. Tell your tale, and I may or may not kill you when it is over.”

Petr’s eyes go wide, and then he blinks and takes a shuddering breath. Blood is dripping from his mouth, and I can already see a bruise spreading under the skin of his cheek from my fists, but he should feel lucky he is in such good shape. I would never admit it out loud, but if he had been anyone else, I would have had him beaten before questioning.

“You know I’ve been going into Italian territory, so I’m sure you had me followed to the Italian lieutenant’s apartment?” Petr asks.

I press my lips together. He doesn’t need to know what I know or how I know it.

When he realizes I’m not going to answer, he continues. “I’m an idiot. We both know that. My entire life, I’ve made shitty decisions because I’m selfish. But we also both know I’ve only ever been loyal to you.”

“That remains to be seen.”

“I’ve been loyal to you,” Petr says again, almost as if trying to convince himself. “I know it looks bad, but the Italian lieutenant was never at the house when I was there. In fact, that was the entire point.”

“You broke in?” I ask, eyebrow raised. “Bullshit.”

“I was let in,” he admits, his eyes on the floor. When he looks up, his eyebrows are pinched together, ashamed. “By his wife.”

The room is silent and tense, and I want to make some snarky comment, but I’m riveted. Petr knows it and continues.

“I only went to the house while he was out because … I’m fucking his wife.” Petr groans. “God, I’m so stupid. I know that. I should have told you, but I felt like an asshole. Not only because I was sleeping with another man’s wife, but because I was also sleeping with an Italian’s wife. It felt like disloyalty in multiple ways, and I didn’t want you to think I’d be compromised. Because I wasn’t. I never talked to Danielle about you or work at all.”

“Danielle?” I sneer. “What did you talk about?”

Petr’s cheeks go pink. “How to get her out of her marriage. How I’d protect her … our future together.”

I snort. “So, what? You loved her?”

“Love,” Petr corrects. His eyes flick from mine to the floor and back again, nervous. “I love her, which is the reason I acted like an idiot. I mean, tell me you understand.”

“How would I understand?”

Petr shrugs. “I mean, Molly … she is your weakness, and—”

“I don’t have a weakness,” I say, charging forward, shoving my finger in his face. “And I would never let a woman change my relationship to this Bratva.”

Petr smiles, one eyebrow raised. “Viktor, I’m sure you believe that, but you have to know that isn’t true. Everything has changed since Molly came into your life. She is your priority now, and no one blames you for that, but … it’s true.”

I narrow my eyes, trying to find fault with what he is saying. When I can’t, it only makes me more annoyed. I stalk away from him. “Keep your commentary to yourself and finish explaining yourself so I can decide what to do with you. I have to get to dinner with my lady.”

“I don’t have anything else to say,” Petr says. “That was it. I lied to you because I didn’t want you to think I was betraying you by sleeping with an Italian’s wife, but now you think I betrayed you anyway. So much for that plan. You can think I’m scum if you want, but I can’t let you think I’m disloyal. I would never turn my back on you, Viktor. My brothers are dead, and Fedor is crazy. Aside from my mom, you are the closest family I have left.”

As much as I want to remain cold, my heart twists.

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