Elio’s attention shifts to Evelina for the first time, taking in her disheveled appearance, my jacket around her shoulders, and the ashen hue of her face, before his gaze lands on Marco’s body sprawled on the floor.
“He forced himself on her,” I continue, my voice hard. “Cornered her in here, locked the door. I had to shoot my way in.”
I don’t mention that by the time I got here, Evelina had it handled. Marco was laid out on the tile. Whatever self-defense training she’s had, it paid the fuck off tonight.
One of Elio’s men with a buzz cut and a long scar across his cheek speaks up. “This Russian’s lying. Marco wouldn’t do that. He’s loyal. He’s been with the family for two years.”
“Watch your fucking mouth,” Dem growls, taking a menacing step toward the man. “A loyal rapist is still a rapist.”
Scarface’s weapon swings toward my brother. “Make me, you Russian piece of shit.”
“Everyone shut the fuck up!” Elio’s shout echoes off the tile, his expression carved in stone.
Evelina goes rigid beside me, pressing closer like she’s trying to disappear into my side.
“The woman. Is she your girl?” Elio jerks his chin toward Evelina.
She’s looking up at me, waiting for me to answer.
If I claim her, she becomes a target. Something Elio and his men could use against me if this stand-off goes south.
“She works for me.”
She flinches, and her gaze falls to the floor. I’d rather hurt her feelings than have Elio’s men know they can use her to get to me.
Elio clicks his tongue. “That’s not what I asked.”
I don’t answer. Instead, I look at Matvey. “Take her down to my car. Wait with her until I’m finished here.”
Matvey raises his eyebrows like he wants to ask,You sure you don’t need me here?But the truth is, if these fuckers want to blow us away, my brother’s presence won’t stop them.
I give him a subtle nod, and he holsters his weapon and moves to Evelina’s side, offering his arm. She takes it without a word, without looking back at me, and walks out with her spine straight.
Elio’s mouth settles into a humorless line. “So you risked our alliance over a woman you’re just fucking. That’s real smart, Baronov.”
“Like I said, she works for me. And that’s not the point. There’s no alliance if you employ rapists.”
“He’s not a rapist,” Scarface starts up again. “I saw her flirting with Marco by the bar. She practically invited him in here to fuck her. With all due respect, boss, these Russians are fucking playing you.”
“Is that right?” Elio’s voice goes lethally quiet. He turns his full attention on Scarface, gun still in hand. “You calling me stupid, Nico?”
“N-no, boss, that’s not what I meant. I’m just saying … are we really going to side with thisstronzoand his Russian whore?”
Elio’s smile reminds me of a shark. He raises his gun and shoots his soldier point-blank through the head. His body hits the floor with a heavy thud. The room goes silent.
Dem and I exchange a look. I sure as shit didn’t see that coming. Watching him execute his own man for disrespecting the alliance and calling Evelina a whore earns a sliver of my respect.
Elio steps over the body without looking down. “Anyone else want to question my judgment? Anyone else think I’m too stupid to know when I’m being played?”
No one speaks.
“Good.” Elio lowers his weapon and his remaining soldiers follow suit. “I don’t tolerate rapists. Drunk or not. And I won’t stand for anyone undermining me. If any of you have a problem with how I run things, with this alliance, with working alongside Bratva to take down the Ghost, then walk out right now.”
No one moves.
“Then lower your fucking weapons and call in a crew to clean this mess up.”
Elio crosses the room and stops in front of me. “Next time you have a problem with one of my men, save me the fucking headache and let me deal with it. Not you.”
