“Or they just caught wind of what the Irish were up to and said why the hell not?” Pyotr says with an edge of bitterness in his voice.
We’re like a bleeding, vulnerable animal laying out in a field full of hungry predators. Of course, they’re going to catch a whiff of our scent and join the hunt.
“I think we’re past the point of dissuading them from attacking us. We need to prepare for an all-out war,” Matvei tells me. “We’ve got a big assault heading our way any day now.”
“What do you want us to do, boss?” Pyotr asks.
I remain silent as my mind goes blank, offering me no words to speak. They just handed me some of the worst news that I could’ve received, and they want an answer now?
I have no idea what the fuck to do next.
I don’t know how to stop the wave of violence about to crash down on us.
“You need Dominik’s help.”
The room goes dead silent.
My eyes snap to Alina after she speaks up, and my stomach fucking sinks because I don’t want her to be right.
“ThePakhandoesn’t need that traitor,” Eduard says in Russian as he pushes off the wall. He steps toward her, hisjaw tight and palm open like he’s going to punish her for disrespecting me.
I don’t think. I just move.
My arm flies out, slamming across his chest, knocking him backward hard enough to make him fall to the floor. “Don’t even think about laying a hand on her,” I warn him.
Eduard scrambles away, putting his back flush against the wall as shock fills his eyes.
Valentin goes rigid, and he does the smart thing by keeping his mouth shut.
I turn away from them to look at Alina, losing my breath when she stares right back at me silently, her expression unreadable.
I shouldn’t have done that. I should’ve waved Eduard off and told Alina to keep her mouth shut.
But I didn’t.
I protected her. Claimed her as mine in front of my own men. Like she means something to me. Like she’s more than my reluctant prisoner.
Fuck.
I’ve been treating her that way this whole time because I want her to be more.
Ever since she nearly died in my arms, she’s held me captive in a way that may very well ruin me.
And soon, everyone will know it thanks to my reaction.
“Get out. Both of you,” I say before I make things worse. Eduard and Valentin hurry out, shutting the door behind them.
“Everything okay,Pakhan?” Matvei asks, sounding confused.
“Anything else to report?” I bite out.
“No, sir,” Matvei says. “Not on my end.”
“Not yet. We’ll keep at it, though,” Pyotr adds.
“Do that,” I tell them before pressing the button to end the call. Silence fills my office as I hang my head for a long moment to try and compose myself.
When I walk around my desk toward her, Alina watches me but doesn’t say a word. Her thighs tense, though, squeezing closer together.
