“Bye, Yuli!” Desya shouts from the grounds. “I’ll be back for you. And for the little Lozhkin in her belly, of course.”
Then he’s gone.
I barely hear the rumble of Maksim’s engine. The rumble of many more—the reinforcements I sent him to get.
I barely even hear Mia’s voice asking me, “Are you hurt?”
All I hear is what Desya said.The little Lozhkin in her belly.
And judging by the look on Mia’s face, she heard him, too.
8
YULIAN
The little Lozhkin in her belly.
Desya’s words ring endlessly in my ears. Nevertheless, I force myself to go through the motions. Do what’s expected of a leader.
Because we’re at war, and wars aren’t won by losing your head.
“Maks, take Nikita to the hospital,” I order calmly. “Make sure she’s checked out by the best.”
“I don’t need?—”
“Yes, you do. Say one more word, and you’re out of my Bratva.”
Nikita’s lips press into a tight line. Her eyes keep glancing at the door, a flash of poison green. She wants to make Desya pay. She won’t rest until it’s done.
Good.Because neither will I.
Maksim puts one of Nikita’s arms around his shoulder. “C’mon, girl. Let’s get you back into fighting shape so you can punch thatmudak’s lights out, hmm?”
Nikita grunts. It’s as much of an agreement as he’ll get.
“I’ll go with her,” Mia says. “I can keep an eye on her on the way?—”
“No. You’re staying here.”
“But—”
“I saidno.” My voice twists into a snarl. “You and I are going to talk.”
Mia blinks. There’s worry in her eyes, red-rimmed and black-circled. But right now, I can’t muster any pity.
She doesn’t argue back. Her fingers are trembling, picking at the dirty hems of her wrist cuffs. Purple peeks out from underneath them, surrounded by the dark yellow halo of older, fading bruises.
I want to kill Brad for this. Want to watch the light go out of his eyes like a dying candle.
But first, I want the truth.
Maksim leaves. Nikita goes with him. My men are bustling outside, following orders from their immediate superiors, scouring the estate grounds.
Mia opens her mouth to speak. “It’s not what it looks like. I?—”
“Then tell me he lied.” I round her up, fists balled at my side. “Tell meyoudidn’t.”
She doesn’t speak. Heartbreak fills her eyes.
