Page 96 of Sins He Taught Me (Bratva Crime Syndicate 3)

Matvei

This is it.

When we approach the neighborhood, there’s only one car parked outside of the house. There isn’t another car for miles.

“This is the place,” I tell them. Timofei nods and places his hand on his gun, fingers twitching in anticipation.

I can’t stop thinking about Dmitry. The way I criticized him for blindly rushing into that factory to save Brianne. At the time, I told him to leave her, to wait for backup. He wouldn’t listen, and I didn’t understand.

But now I do.

I know that determination, the drive to protect what is his. Victoria is mine, and I have to save her. I’m the reason she’s in this mess in the first place.

Myfamily. My sins.

Timofei steps on the gas and we park half in the middle of the road. I climb out before the car is even fully stopped, my gun drawn. Timofei is right beside me, slamming his door as we head to the house.

“He’s in there,” my lieutenant says, approaching the front door cautiously. He takes a step back, then shoots his foot forward, kicking the door open. The four of us pour into the house.

I can’t help myself. “Victoria!” I shout, swinging my gun around, breathing hard. She’s in here. I can smell the faint perfume she wears, lingering in the dark, damp hallways like a ghost.

I hope to God I’m not too late.

Down the hall, I see a shape step into view. It takes my eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness, but I immediately recognize them. Brahim has Victoria in his grasp, a gun to her forehead. He shakes like a man just on the brink of insanity, his face slick with blood and his eyes wild with rage.

“Get the fuck back!” he hisses, stepping towards us. We take a few steps back, watching as he moves around us into the living room. I glance behind him at the back door I know he’s trying to get to.

“I knew you would come,” Brahim says, laughing harshly. “I knew you would come because you love her. She doesn’t think you do, but I know the truth. And now that you’re here, I can make you watch as I take her from you the way your brother took Brianne from me.”

My confidence wavers. “What are you talking about?” I growl.

“Oh, you didn’t know?” He’s taking pleasure in this like the sick fuck he is. “Brianne and I were in love many years ago. Deeply in love. It wasn’t until she left me that I found out she was carrying my child.”

“Nikolas,” I murmur.

No.

No, this isn’t possible. Nikolas is my brother’s son and there’s nothing this bastard can say to change my mind. He looks just like Dmitry, even down to that laugh he has. He’s all the good parts of my brother.

“You’re lying,” I say, bringing my gun up so that it’s level with his head. “You’re full of shit.”

“He’s not,” Victoria gasps, struggling in his arms. “He told me everything. He thought you were the one that pushed Brianne into Dmitry’s arms. That’s why he took me. To make us all pay.”

“And now that we’re all here, I can do exactly that,” Brahim says, pushing the gun harder against Victoria’s forehead.

My thoughts are swirling. Nothing makes sense.

Rogers and Brahim.

Dmitry and Brianne.

Nikolas.

Victoria. Victoria. Victoria …

Names and faces flash by me in a whirlwind, all whispering things at me that I can’t quite understand.

Brahim growls and readjusts his grip on the gun. I can see the sweat beading on Victoria’s forehead. She looks terrified, and yet, also—somehow—strong. Stronger than I might have expected.

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