Page 82 of Til Death Do Us Part (Kornilov Bratva Duet 2)

She offers her hand, and I grab it, holding it tightly, silently thanking her for her friendship to both me and Molly.

Seamus interrupts us by wrapping his arm around Niamh and pulling her into his side. “Viktor and I have to go to the office and then I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”

The two of them share a private moment, no doubt planning for the devastation Fedor could wreak if he wins this war, and then they part with a kiss.

When Seamus and I leave, Niamh is wearing a fake smile and pulling out paper and snacks in preparation for Theo’s arrival.

* * *

I haven’t eatenanything since dinner the night before, so Seamus buys a drive-thru breakfast sandwich for me on our way to his office. I finish it just as we pull into the lot.

“So, you trust Petr?” he asks as he parks the car.

I nod. “The only thing he seems to be guilty of is sleeping with the enemy, and I can’t execute him for that. Honestly, I can’t afford to. I’m pretty short on loyal men these days, and Petr is close with the men. If anyone can convince my men to return, it will be Petr.”

“Do you think he’ll work for you again after you kidnapped him?”

I roll my neck on my shoulders, stretching out my tense muscles. “I guess we’ll find out.”

Petr was chained to a chair in the basement of the building the last time I saw him, but Seamus had him moved upstairs to a “cell.”

I imagined it would be a cement room with a thin mattress and a toilet, but from what I can see through the window in the door, it is actually a smaller version of a hotel room.

There is a twin-sized bed with three pillows, a small table with a half-eaten sandwich on it, and a chair with a shelf of at least twenty books behind it.

Petr is lying across the bed with a book open on his chest. He must have been sleeping because when I knock on the door, he starts, dropping the book on the floor, and jumps to his feet. He smooths down his hair and then stills when he sees me.

“Can I come in?” I have the key to the door and it only opens from the outside, but I still want to ask. I want Petr to know his opinion matters. I want him to know this isn’t an interrogation.

He nods, and I walk inside. I leave the door halfway open behind me so he knows he can leave at any time.

“Nice place you got here.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets. His face is blotchy with a purple bruise on his cheek and a green-tinged one near his eye, but otherwise, he looks in good health. “It isn’t bad. I’m ready to get out, though.”

“The door is open.”

He looks up at me, eyebrow raised. “You believe me?”

“Your story was verified by some … pictures on your phone.”

He grimaces. “I hoped I wouldn’t have to show you those.”

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to know for sure.”

Petr holds up a hand. “I know. I was a fucking idiot. Lying to you about anything made all of my moves look suspect. I know that, and I’m not mad.” He rubs a hand over his sore cheek. “Well, I’m a little mad. My face hurts like hell.”

“It looks like hell, too.”

His mouth pulls into a half smile, and for the first time in hours, I allow myself to breathe.

Since I opened my eyes this morning, everything has gone to shit. It has been nothing but bad news. Finally, something has gone right. I have my consiglieri back.

Petr shifts into business mode quickly. His smile slips, and he folds his hands behind his back, shoulders back and broad. “I’ve heard the guards talking about Molly. What’s going on?”

I fill him in as quickly as I can, trying to keep my composure. Rehashing the details of Hannah’s betrayal and my distraction makes me feel like a bigger idiot each time. I should have noticed something. If I’d been paying closer attention, this never would have happened.

“I should have been there to help you,” Petr says, running a hand down his neck. “You wouldn’t have been under so much pressure if I’d been there to pick up some of the slack. I’m sorry, Vik. I really am.”

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