Page 37 of Wicked Knight 2

“Boris and his brother were arguing about something that went wrong and how it was Boris’s fault because he was such a bad shot.” He wiped his cheek. “Then Boris said he could fix it because you were dying anyway. He just had to make sure you died all the way.”

“Are you saying Boris and his brother were the ones who shot me when we drove into the city?” I pressed the heels of my palms to my eyes. What the fuck?

“Boris told his brother that if he wasn’t such a bad driver, he would’ve gotten a clear shot to your head. That’s when I dropped the cookie jar. The glass was everywhere. I panicked and took off running. But he saw me.” He sniffled. “He said if I told you, he’d kill me.”

“You were very brave telling me.” I reached for the back of his head and brought him in for a hug. “He won’t kill you, because I’m going to kill him first.”

“When?” he asked.

“Good question, kid. Come on.” I darted toward the house with Alexei on my heels.

We’d been in the courtyard for a good ten minutes. I had expected Boris to come out and face me. He had to know Alexei would tell me everything. So why had he not come out.

“Boss.” Tore met me in the foyer. “What’s going on?”

“Bring Boris’s brother to the library. That fucking traitor will have to answer to me.” I took the stairs two at a time. As soon as I reached the landing, Donata’s screams filled the hallway.

“Don’t get any closer,” she ordered.

I tried the door, but it was locked. Taking a step back, I kicked it in and rushed in. Donata was backed into a corner, holding a broken lamp in her hand. Most of the shards were around Boris’s feet. He seemed disoriented but determined to get to Donata. Fucking asshole. He realized his time with the Brotherhood was done, so he decided the only thing left to do was to stick it to me by going after my wife.

“I warned you.” I grabbed the back of his shirt and made him face me. “That if you ever touched my wife, I would kill you.”

I pummeled into his face twice and then twice more. When he fell to the floor, I wrapped my hands around his neck and squeezed. “Did you think I wasn’t going to find out?”

“You took everything.” He sputtered. “I was Papa’s right-hand man. He should’ve given her to me.”

“Before I thought kicking you out of the Brotherhood would be punishment enough. A coward like you won’t last a day out on the street. But you came after my wife, asshole. You don’t get to live.” I tightened my hold on him until his eyes bulged out, and he turned a sick shade of purple.

“Maxim, stop.” Donata braced her hand on my shoulder. “Please. He’s not worth it.”

“Stay out of it. You don’t know what he did.” I squeezed my eyes shut to clear my vision, but all I saw were Boris’s hands all over Donata. The image wasn’t even real. When I came in, Donata was holding her own. But the truth was, Boris would never stop being a threat to her if I didn’t end him now. “He deserves it.”

“Please. This isn’t you,” she begged.

“Fuck.” I pushed off him and rose to my feet. “Fuck.”

“Boss.” Tore appeared in my line of sight. “I got the brother. Papa’s waiting.”

“Take this one too.” I ran a hand through my hair to calm the fuck down. In the end, the trepidation in Donata’s eyes snapped me out of my rage. “He’s the one who shot me. And now this?” I pointed at the mess in the suite.

I turned to leave.

“Don’t go.” She reached for my hand.

“I’ll send Tore to guard the door.” I touched her soft cheek. “Alexei will stay too. You’ll be safe.

“Where are you going?” She followed me out into the hallway.

“To take out the trash.”

CHAPTER13

Another Kill for The Brotherhood

Maxim

“Maxim.” Alexei ran after me. “I want to go with you.”

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