“Why am I always the last one to know about what’s happening in this family? After all the sacrifices I’ve made, I’m as much entitled to know as any of you are.”
I chuckle at his statement. What fucking sacrifices? Compared to the shit Misha, Sasha, and I have dealt with, Kostya’s had it easy. But the resentment from the little he had to give up is starting to show, and the last thing I need is him pulling a full Kostya on me. So I sit down beside him at the kitchen table and tell him everything I know.
Of course, I leave a few details out. Kostya doesn’t need to know every detail of my plan to get Kira back to us. And that means leaving out everything that has transpired between me and Stella. Like hell I’ll tell him I took her to the lake by my place outside the city, the only spot in all of Chicago that always gives me a taste of home. He doesn’t need to know I’m practically rebuilding my whole damn strip club just because she made me feel like a shitty underboss. And he sure as hell doesn’t need to know that ever since Stella walked into my life, I’ve been out of sorts, wrestling with feelings I have no business having.
“That’s it? That’s all you know?” he asks, disappointed.
“Like I said, I’m working an angle. I’ll find Kira soon enough.”
“Angle. Right.” He scoffs.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know. But something tells me you’re keeping more shit from me. And I don’t like it.”
“You’re being paranoid. I’m not keeping anything from you. I told you all I know.”
“Then why do I feel like you’re lying to me?”
Blyad.If Kostya can read my inner turmoil this well, then I really am royally fucked.
“It’s your mind playing tricks on you,” I lie, before flicking his temple. “It would’ve worked better if you weren’t so hungover.”
“Stop gaslighting me, Kill. I don’t need to be sober to know when one of my brothers is hiding shit. And you’re definitely only telling me half the story.”
I grind my teeth, done with this bullshit. “You know what? Think whatever you want. I’ve got real work to do.”
“And I’m coming with you,” he says, standing up, then hissing in pain when the world tilts on him.
“What good are to me in your pathetic condition? Just go to bed and sleep your hangover off.”
“Fuck you. I’m as much a part of this family as anyone,” he fires back, voice rising. “I deserve to know what’s going on. Which means I’m going with you, whether you like it or not.”
“I already told you,” I say, losing my patience. “You’re staying here, and that’s the end of it.”
“See?” He points at me with a scowl. “Why are you getting so fucking defensive? Oh, I know why? Because you’re full of shit!” he adds, pissed. “If you’re going out to find Kira, then I’m coming with you. She’s my niece, too, asshole!”
Kostya struts over to the living room, forcing me to follow his ass. When I see him grabbing his coat, my hackles rise. If I don’t stop this now, this is going to turn intopolneyshiy pizdetsreal fast.
“Konstantin, stop!” I order, my voice hard with authority.
“Fuck you!” he says, picking up my car keys from the console table.
“I’m serious. Don’t you dare leave.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No!”
“Kostya!” I grit my teeth, having lost all my patience with him.
“Fine!” he raises his arms in the air. “You want me to stay? Then tell me where you’re going. Where you’rereallygoing. And don’t dare lie to me. I’ll know if you are.”
“I’m going to see her, okay?” I blurt before I can stop myself.
“Her?” His brows furrow. “Kira?”
