Page 87 of Of Murder and Matrimony

“I’m not hearing this,” Yuri lamented, covering his ears.

“You can’t tell me you’ve never been rough with a woman.” I pegged them both with knowing looks, and they blushed, giving me all the answer I needed.

“It’s not the same,” Adrik insisted. “You’re our sister.”

“I’m a grown woman, and I’ve been on my own for a long time without you riding in like white knights.” Standing, I leaned against the table. “I’m married, and I’m in love. I’ll fuck my husband when I want and how I want!”

“Gross,” Yuri muttered, wiping a hand down his face. “Don’t say shit like that.”

I’d studied my brothers’ movements. If I could get to the bottom floor of the building, I’d have a good shot at escape, as long as their men didn’t recognize me. It had been what I was planning as I sat idly by and didn’t fight them. Maybe I wouldn’t have to resort to jailbreak.

I braced my hands on the table's edge and looked imploringly at my brothers. “Take me home. Please. I miss my Dante. You’re killing me by keeping me from him. And for what? Because somebody fucking lied to you!”

“If I take you back, he may never let us see you again,” Adrik said, showing the first crack in his resolve. I needed to wedge that open more.

“He’ll let me see you if I ask,” I insisted.

Adrik scoffed. “He refused to let us see or speak with you after you married.”

“I won’t let that happen again,” I promised, my hand fisting in the hem of my basic white t-shirt. “If you negotiate a truce, it will be a non-issue.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Yuri warned, crossing his bulky arms over his chest. “A truce is unlikely.”

“But why?” It was something I didn’t understand. “I still don’t get why you killed Antonella. That’s not like you to target women and children.”

“We didn’t.” Adrik’s reply was vehement, and I didn’t detect any deception. “We were set up. When we tried to tell Ettore, he instigated the war.”

“That’s not the story Dante knows. You’re saying somebody staged the explosion to make it look like you ordered the hit.” My mind raced, but I could only think of one logical explanation. “There’s a mole in the Neretti organization. Somebody is feeding you information, but not the right information. What if they’re playing both sides?”

My brothers considered that, and Adrik leaned forward with interest. “That would be a dangerous game to play. What would that person gain?”

“Confusion,” I thought out loud. “War. A distraction? Who would benefit from you being at war with the Italians?”

“Almost everybody,” came Yuri’s gruff reply. He glanced at Adrik. “It might be time to find out who Ilya is getting his information from.”

Adrik nodded slowly. “Perhaps.”

I made my final push. “Take me back. It will look like a gesture of goodwill, and I will convince Dante to sit down with you. Especially if his father won’t listen. I can make my husband hear you out.”

Adrik sighed and ran his hand through his ebony locks, mussing it thoroughly. “I don’t know.”

“Please.” I clasped my hands, not above begging. I couldn’t take the separation from Dante any longer. It would drive me crazy. “If you don’t let me go, I’ll defy you at every turn. I’ll never stop trying to escape, and I’ll never forgive you for keeping me from the man I love.”

“Olesya, don’t say that.” Adrik reached out and separated my hands, taking one in his. “We only want you to be happy.”

Tears burned my eyes, and for the first time, my brothers looked guilty. “I can’t be happy without him. It’s like living without my heart.”

He brushed the back of my hand with his thumb and nodded. “Fine. We’ll take you home.”

“Now?” I pushed desperately.

“As soon as I get men to the car,” he said, turning to Yuri. “Have Ilya grab Sergei and meet us downstairs in half an hour.”

“Yeah.” Yuri shot off a text and took the plates from the table to busy himself.

When Adrik stood, I lunged for him, wrapping my arms tightly around his broad shoulders, snot staining his black suit as I sobbed and gratefully choked out, “Thank you.”

He hugged me back, kissing the top of my head. “Anything for you, moya kukolka. Try to get Dante to listen, though, yeah? I’ll meet with him on neutral territory.”

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