Page 161 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

Aleks shrugs. “I’m not worried.”

Hargrove tenses. I can see the unease creep into his demeanor. It makes Aleks’s arrogant stance all the more impressive. Down ten to one and there’s not an ounce of fear anywhere to be found in him.

“You’re planning something,” Hargrove accuses.

“The only thing I’m planning on is revealing the truth. Therealtruth. Not just to Olivia, but to her entire family.”

For the first time since we came in here, Aleks turns to look at me. “You’ve been taken in by a story, Olivia. Except in this story, there are no heroes. Just villains.”

“So you admit you’re a villain?” Hargrove asks with a smug “gotcha” smirk on his face.

“Without question,” Aleks answers, never taking his eyes off mine. “And if you had half a brain in that thick skull of yours, you’d have known not to fuck with me.”

38

ALEKS

“Tell me about this girl,” I say. “The one I supposedly abducted.”

“Aleksandr,” Yulia says, taking a step forward, strangled tears brimming in the corners of her eyes.

Her performance is flawless. I ought to clap.

“It’s over, son,” she continues. “The evidence against you is overwhelming. Donald has the resources to make sure this story travels world-wide. It would ruin the Bratva. Cut your losses now before you plunge your men into the same ruin that’s awaiting you.”

“That was very poetic, Mother. Truly,” I tell her. “If I’d known you were this good, I’d have used you more often.”

She sighs, her eyes flickering to Olivia. “The girl is innocent in all this. Please… let her go.”

Her voice breaks a little like she’s overwhelmed with emotion. Olivia almost takes a step forward to console her, but I stop her with a jerk of my head.

“She’s staying with me,” I growl. “Need I remind you all, Olivia Makarova is my wife.”

“Olivia Lawrence was my sister long before she was forced into marrying you,” Rob snarls, his hand tightening on his holster. “She will be my sister long after you’ve been buried.”

“Rob,” I sigh, “I understand why you hate me. But your hatred is misplaced. I’m not the enemy.”

“I beg to differ.”

“And if you do manage to bury me, what will become of your sister’s child? Are you going to force my wife to abort like you tried to do once before?”

He flinches, and his eyes find mine for a moment. “That was a… mistake. We never should have forced her hand.”

I can tell by Hargrove’s scowl that he doesn’t agree for a moment, but he keeps his mouth shut for now.Priorities,I’m sure he’s thinking.Snuff out one Makarova life at a time.

“Liv,” Rob says, looking imploringly at his sister, “I am sorry for what we tried to make you do. I assure you, we won’t ever make that mistake again. We were so busy concentrating on who the father of the child was, we never stopped to consider that you are as much a part of that child’s DNA as he is. And that’s what matters. Mia and I will love your kid. We’ll help you raise them. Just please don’t choosehimagain.”

“She won’t,” Yulia cuts in. “She realized the truth this morning. She was the one who found the girl. She’s the one who convinced me to do the right thing for once in my life.”

Her earnest face is turned towards Olivia. So heartbroken, so very maternal.

So utterly full of shit.

I can see why that was such an effective strategy with Olivia. Her life now is defined by the spaces where her parents once were. Where her siblings once were.

“Olivia, come here,” Yulia says. “He won’t stop you.”

I laugh. “Won’t I?”

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