Page 107 of Cruel Promise

I nod and bend down, catching her lips with mine. Then I pull away and step out of the car. There’s a time for kissing the woman you love and there’s a time for gutting any motherfucker who thinks he can take her away from you.

This is the latter.

I’ve been acting under the belief that Adrik is a mild threat. A pest who can be easily handled, easily neutralized. But I no longer believe that.

I underestimated him. And that’s not a mistake I intend to make again.

Not when I have a family to raise.

Not when I have lives to protect.

41

RUSLAN

Two things never change at these gatherings: Vadim’s eyes darting from side to side and my father sitting placidly in his chair, daydreaming of his gardens instead of giving a damn about the issue at hand.

“You have nothing to say, brother?” my uncle demands, forcing Fyodor to meet his eyes.

“Does he need to say anything?” I interject. “I’m thepahkan.”

“And you wouldn’t have called this meeting unless you wanted our opinions.”

“Wrong. I called this meeting because I expect your support.”

“Meaning what?” Vadim fumes. “Our thoughts are of no consequence to you?”

That’s putting it mildly.But I rein in my tongue and remember that, at the end of the day, I have to lead. And in order to lead, you can’t alienate your closestvors.

Even if one in particular is being a pain in the ass.

I stare my uncle down. “Are you saying that you’re opposed to my decision?”

“Are you saying you’ve alreadymadethe decision?” He turns to look at his older brother. “And do you agree with it?”

Fyodor doesn’t spare a glance in Vadim’s direction. Instead, he gazes at me. He looks like a man with no skin in the game. We might as well be discussing the weather, not violent underworld warfare. “The Oryolovs and the Makarovs have been allies for four generations. This bad blood with you and Adrik started as silly, friendly competition.”

“That’s what I’ve believed all these years, too,” I agree. “But something changed along the way. It became more than just friendly sparring. It became fucking personal.”

“Ruslan’s right,” Kirill offers, throwing his voice into the fray. “Adrik crossed a line by abducting Sergey and stealing the Venera formula. If that weren’t enough, he also botched Ruslan’s launch of Venera. A botch that cost civilian lives—”

“There will be a great many more civilian lives lost if you engage Adrik in open war,” Vadim points out.

“You surprise me, Uncle,” I muse. “You’ve never been one to advise caution. I believe you once called it the ‘coward’s first instinct.’”

Vadim’s eyes flare. “That is only where our enemies are concerned.”

“And what is Adrik if not an enemy?” I crack my knuckles and lean forward. “He’s certainly no longer a friend to the Oryolov Bratva. Especially given the threats he has made against Emma.”

Vadim stiffens, his skin going blotchy with unease. “He threatened Emma?”

“He made a point of commenting on her pregnancy.”

Vadim’s eyes bulge. “But…how? We were the only ones you told. And none of us would betray you.”

“Can we be sure of that?” Fyodor asks quietly.

For the first time, I notice the thin sheen of sweat on my uncle’s brow. He runs a hand over his head. “I know Arkady, Nikolai, and Mikael. All three of those men would rather slit their own throats than go against the Bratva.” His attention veers to Fyodor. “Do you agree, brother?”

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