“Who says I did anything?”
He huffs. “Because you’re the fucker who shot me in the back. But you’re married to my sister now which means I have to be on good terms with you. That doesn’t mean I’m a push over. What are you keeping from us?”
I sigh, rubbing my neck. No point in keeping this from them. They’ll find out eventually. “I killed Matteo Rossi.”
“Your friend?” Nikolai asks. “Why would you do that?”
“Because he kidnapped Kira.”
Gregor shoots to his feet. “What? Where is she? Is she all right?”
“I got her back but I killed Matteo in the process. I’m sure Marco has already figured out I’m responsible. He’s been itching for a fight for a long time now. He was waiting for an excuse to go after the Bratva and knowing that I killed Matteo to save Kira, a Bratva daughter, gives him all the ammunition he needs to start a war.”
“Then you shouldn’t have killed Matteo,” Nikolai says.
“A little too late for that, I’m afraid.”
“It sounds like he killed Matteo to save my sister.” Maksim frowns. “You really saved my sister? Why didn’t you tell us she had been kidnapped? We would have helped.”
“Because I knew you’d worry too much or you’d get in my way. I was going to do what I had to do to get Kira back. I’m not going to apologize for that.”
Gregor paces back and forth, rubbing his face. “I’m glad my daughter is alive. Of course I am. But this new war is going to put her in danger and it’s because of you. We made peace with you to avoid getting out of a war and now you’re the reason we’re going to be plunged right back into one. How is that for fucking irony?”
“I couldn’t let Matteo live. He was going to keep going after Kira. I did what I did and I don’t regret it. But I will keep Kira safe. I have so far.”
“It doesn’t sound like it,” Gregor snaps. “She got kidnapped under your watch. You’re not protecting her at all.”
I stand up and glare at Gregor, facing him head on. “I saved her. I got her back. That’s all that matters. And I won’t let Marco hurt her. I won’t let any other fucker hurt her ever again. That’s my promise.”
“I can’t trust you. I never wanted my daughter married to you in the first place. I only agreed for peace and because Nikolai gave me no choice. But if my daughter gets hurt because of you, I will kill you.”
“Hold on there, Gregor,” Nikolai says. “Enzo is our ally now. You can’t make threats to him, especially when he is married to your daughter.”
“Then I’m taking my daughter back.”
“Like hell you are,” I snarl.
Gregor points his fat finger in my face. “You are not fit to protect my daughter. I am taking her back. And the best way to deal with a war is give you to Marco. You’re the reason he’s so angry. If we give you to him, then he’ll back down. And my daughter will be safe.”
“And then we’ll have the entire mafia on our heads,” Nikolai says. “Enzo is the only one keeping the peace. Don’t act irrational, Gregor. It sounds like Kira is safe and that’s all that matters. Don’t fuck this up.”
I don’t say a word as I glare at Gregor.
“No,” Gregor says. “I was never all right with you giving my daughter away to him. I never wanted Kira married to the enemy. I am taking my daughter back where she is safe.”
Gregor takes a step to walk away but I grab his arm. “You are not taking Kira from me.” Not when I’ve finally claimed her. Not when I feel her in my soul.
“She is my daughter.”
“And she is my wife.”
Gregor scoffs. “You don’t love her. You’ve only been married for a little over a month now. You don’t know the love I have for my daughter.”
“If you truly loved her, you would have fought harder to keep her from me.”
“I’m fighting now. You were supposed to protect her but hearing that she got kidnapped by one of your friends tells me everything I need to know. You’re incapable of keeping her safe.”
“I got her back,” I growl.
