"Because I don't have a death wish!" She's shouting now, past caring about volume. "You think Roman would let me live if he knew I slept with you? He'd kill me. Or worse—he'd kill Anya. Or you. Or all of us."
“Why would he kill me?”
She slaps a hand to her forehead. “You insufferable asshole. You are competition. You are the rightful heir to his throne. A throne he all but stole. And me. Pull your head out of your ass and think about it, Maksim.”
I’m not going to pretend I haven’t considered Roman’s role in my disappearance. He did take my seat, but my father was still alive. He was healthy. Roman couldn’t have known he would die and there would be no one to lead the bratva.
And Roman is like family to me. Or he was. I’m not so blind I can’t see the games he’s playing now, but that’s just a man marking his territory. He wants to ensure I know he’s king. Daring me to challenge him.
"Help me escape," she says desperately. "Please.”
"Escape,” I scoff. “And go where? Roman's people are everywhere. You wouldn't make it past the gates."
"Then help me get past the gates!" She's begging now, pride abandoned. "You have access. Clearance. You could—"
"Could commit treason against my pakhan?" I step back.
"Prove your humanity by saving an innocent girl!" She follows me. "Maksim, please. Not for me. For Anya. She doesn't deserve what's coming."
"I need to think," I say finally.
"There's no time to think! The wedding is in nine days!"
"Then you have nine days." I head for the door. "Use them wisely."
"Maksim—"
"Go to bed, Kira." I don't look back. "And stay away from me."
I leave her there and head straight out of the estate. I need answers. Real ones.
And I know exactly where to start.
Kira's father lives in a house he can't afford, maintained by money his daughter provides. It's after midnight when I arrive, but I don't care.
I pound on the door until he answers, looking disheveled and terrified.
"Maksim. This is... unexpected."
"We need to talk." I push past him into the house. "Now."
He closes the door. "About what?"
"About six years ago. About your debts. About the payments you took." I turn to face him. "Who paid you and why?”
His face goes from white to gray. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do." I step closer.
"Nothing!" But sweat beads on his forehead. "Those were business investments. I was, I, we, it was bad investments.”
"Investments." I crowd him against the wall. "That started right before I was kidnapped and continued for months after? Coincidence?"
"That was a difficult time." He's practically whimpering. “I was grasping at anything. I may have made up some investment opportunities to cover other debts.”
I grab him by the collar and slam him harder against the wall. “I was going to marry your daughter. You know you would have been okay. I would have taken care of the family.”
"It would have positioned her!" He's practically squealing now. "Positioned her tooneday be the Bratva queen when you took over from your father! Your father was young. Healthy. It would have taken years for you to inherit.”
