She nodded and followed me inside to my office. Once behind closed doors, I pulled her into my arms, and she laid her head on my chest.
“Are you scared of me?”
She shook her head and looked into my eyes. “No. I’ve never been afraid of you, nor will I ever be.” Her brows knitted together. “Is that what had you worried tonight?”
“Yes,” I admitted truthfully. “I was afraid you’d see the brutality of my world and decide you don’t want to be a part of it.”
She lifted her hands to my face, her lips spreading into a sad smile. “I know brutal, Seth. What you did tonight was nothing compared to what I’ve seen.”
“It can get worse,” I said.
She shrugged and shook her head. “Then I’ll figure things out when that time comes.”
I pulled out my phone and was about to call Nikolai when his name flashed across my screen.
“Nikolai,” I said, my voice devoid of all emotion.
“You went after Jagger, didn’t you? I can’t seem to get him on the phone.”
“That’s because he’s dead,” I hissed. “You don’t go after one of my own and live through it.”
Nikolai blew out a long breath. “You’re changing, big brother. Your loyalties aren’t with your people anymore.”
I scoffed. “Jagger wasn’t one of mine. And you have no fucking clue what loyalty is. That’s why this ends now. You and me, Nik. One fight, one winner. The last one standing gets everything.”
Nikolai chuckled. “Are you sure you’re ready to fight me?”
“I’m ready to end it,” I growled.
“What will happen to that whore of yours when I kill you?”
I glanced over at Wren, who tensed at his words. “If anything happens to me, she’ll be perfectly fine. You, on the other hand, wouldn’t fare so well.”
“I’ll put a bullet in her head just like I did her brother.” Nikolai responded venomously. Wren’s eyes blazed and she turned away, her body shaking with rage. “She’s working with the fucking FBI! Who’s to say she’s not getting close to you to take you down, too?”
“Enough!” I shouted. “I’ll call you with a place and time. You have two days, brother.”
Nikolai scoffed in disgust. “Is our father going to be there to see his golden boy fall?”
“Everyone will be there,” I fired back. “That way, you can’t fucking cheat.”
Nikolai huffed. “I don’t need to cheat. I look forward to your call. Make sure to get your affairs in order.”
Wren glared at the phone, her resolve hanging by a thread. I knew it took a lot out of her not to say anything.
“Sleep well, Nikolai,” I said and hung up.
Wren stepped up to me, her emerald gaze wild with fury. “I amnotworking with the FBI against you.”
I pulled her into my arms. “I know that.”
“What happens now?”
I exhaled a tired sigh. “Now, I find a place for me and Nikolai to fight. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt. Unfortunately, the hardest part is what I’ll be doing tomorrow morning.”
Wren looked up at me, her forehead creased. “What will that be?”
A strand of hair had come out of her ponytail, and I tucked it behind her ear. “My father and I have to tell my mother what’s happening.”
