“Explain before I say to hell with being Rico’s wife and I kill you for being a traitor. Because the last footage I saw was of Kirill and his men dragging you and Rico’s lifeless body in a car and driving off into the fucking sunset,” he sneers.
Kirill doesn’t take too kindly to the threat against me. “You kill her, you have to get through me.”
Carina’s eyes widen as her husband’s harden. Her mouth slightly parts and his forms a grim line. “You do realize you’re defending someone who belongs to The Donati Famiglia,” he points out.
Kirill corrects him, “I’m defending a warrior who valiantly saved your best asset in this family. You show her respect.”
Constantine’s nostrils flare as his eyes become consumed by fire. “Speak as if you can order me around again and I will have your tongue.”
Kirill rolls his eyes, unperturbed by his threat. “You Italians and your threats. Sounds like flirting to me.”
Constantine steps towards him ready to go at his throat but his wife’s hand on his chest stops him. “We listen. Cast judgment second.” She pins her gaze on me. “Speak, Imogen and it better be good.”
And I tell her everything without leaving a detail out. All except one missing piece that will truly reveal my fate.
“What was the price for his help?” Carina demands.
My tongue lays heavy in my mouth. Sweat trickles down my nape. “Zhen Haung’s location.”
Constantine and Carina are both still before me. “That was not your information to share,” Constantine growls between gritted teeth.
“And if I hadn’t Rico would be dead! I’m sorry but I had the chance to save him so I took it.”
“Do you know what this means?” Carina implores with her eyes the gravity of what I’ve done. “You may have ended the warwith the Irish Mob in which I applaud you for. But you have betrayed not only our trust but also the trust of our business partner in Tao. The Triads will pull the gun trade. There goes millions in revenue. He’ll come after us. Another war we will have to fight.”
“I know,” I mumble. “But I couldn’t let Rico die. He’s my husband. The love of my life. He’s everything. It had to be done,” I say severely.
“If I may,” Kirill interjects and the scorn Constantine sends his way is killer, “a proposition can be made today.”
“I don’t want your damn proposition,” Constantine spits. “It’s the damn principle! You do not betray family. This deserves punishment.”
“Hear me out,” Kirill demands and Constantine’s lips curl. “The gun trade. We could do business.”
He scoffs. “Fuck off, Kirill.”
“I’m serious. You give me location of Zhen I give you business with guns.”
Constantine eyes him warily. “And the war?”
“We cross that bridge when we get there. But my deal ends in ten seconds. You either take it or. . .”
Begrudgingly Constantine holds out his hand. Him and Kirill firmly shake on it. Carina then extends hers.
A new business deal has been made.
“Now. Location.”
“Alaska.”
“What city?”
“Valdez.”
Krill’s smile is devious and victorious. A predator is about to begin his hunt seeking his prey. I only hope she can survive him.
He then takes my hand, presses it against his forehead before placing a kiss on the back of it. The highest form of respect in the Bratva. “Until we meet again, princess. You stay out of trouble.”
I nod my head feeling strangely conflicted about him leaving. “Goodbye Kirill.”
