Page 44 of Sins He Taught Me (Bratva Crime Syndicate 3)

As the meeting dies down, Konstantin says, “How’s the boy doing?”

“Much better.” This conversation is personal, and under normal conditions, I’d tell him to mind his own business. But I must be in a talkative mood, because I add, “The girl’s made it easier on him. Hiring her was a smart move.”

“Seems like it. I don’t know how you function when she’s around,” Konstantin chuckles. “If I were you, I’d have her bent over every surface in this house, day in and day out.” There are a few murmurs of agreement.

I raise an eyebrow. “Who says I haven’t?”

The others around the table laugh at my response, and I sit back in my chair. I’ve got an amused expression—exactly what my men expect of me—but I’m surprised to find that inwardly, I’m seething. In fact, I’m picturing smashing Konstantin’s face against the wall and forcing him to apologize.

She’s mine, I’d snarl. Not yours. Not ever. Not even in your fucking dreams. Understood?

I shake it off. She means nothing to me. It’s just a stupid hallucination. Hardly worth getting worked up over.

They don’t need to know that I’ve tried my hardest not to be involved with Victoria. She’s a distraction, and I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her. She’s not a willing employee, not like a few of the maids who’ve thrown themselves at me. She’s being forced to stay here, and I know that if given the chance, she’d probably stick me in the neck with my own switchblade to get away. The only thing stopping her is the understanding that not even death would stop me from getting my revenge.

The others begin filing out, some of them heading home and some of them heading back to work. Soon, the only two left are me and Pietrov. He leans back in his chair and puts his hands behind the back of his head, staring at me.

“What?” I ask.

“I’m thinking about that girl.”

“Careful, Pietrov,” I warn.

“All I’m saying is, you keep talking about her and Dmitry’s boy. Makes me wonder if something really is going on between you two.”

“There’s nothing between us. And you’d do well to watch what you say carefully.”

Is it that obvious? No, it can’t be. He’s full of shit. I mention Nikolas because he’s my nephew and he just lost his parents. I bring up Victoria because she’s the one looking out for him. That’s all this is.

That tiny bit of self-doubt worms its way through my thoughts. The idea of forming a connection or having feelings for Victoria immediately pisses me off. I shouldn’t be thinking of a woman when we’re at war with this vigilante, who has been suspiciously quiet for a little while now. My father would have my head for something so stupid, so foolish.

The woman’s made a fool of me, and she probably doesn’t even know it.

“So, did you tell her about the laptop you found, then?” he asks. I want to reach across the table and smack that smirk right off his face.

“I’m still figuring the situation out, actually. I’ve had enough of your interrogation, Pietrov. If you don’t have anything else business-related to talk about, fuck off.”

Still, he looks pleased with himself, like he can read my mind and tell how much his questions have gotten to me.

“That’s all,” he shrugs. He rises from his chair, and with a brief goodbye, he walks out of the door. I sit back in my chair and pinch the bridge of my nose, slowly massaging it.

He could be right about everything. I’ve been struggling with this laptop situation for days now, trying to figure out the best course of action. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. Could the truth be that I haven’t done anything about it because I’m going soft?

It’s fucking impossible not to be attracted to the woman, but Victoria’s smart enough to know that. I wouldn’t put it past her to leverage her looks against me.

But I’m not soft. I’m distracted, and it’s grown to the point where other people can see it. It’s time to put my energy back into avenging my brother and not into what Victoria and Nikolas are doing.

I’m not going to let this woman make me weak.

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