“I don’t know. He’s capable of anything. But I’m most afraid of him taking Pippa. I doubt he’ll allow her to live in California with me. I don’t want to move to Canada.”
Sadly, it didn’t appear a second chance was in the cards for us.
31
CIRO
Kira,the smug prick, sat beside Wolf. The brothers hardly resembled each other. Wolf was a beast of a man, tall and brawny, and gave offdon’t-fuck-with-mevibes. While Kira was what I called a wannabe crime lord, and a little man at that. The only physical attributes they had in common were hair and eye color, and an unreadable expression.
I drummed my fingers on the table, flicking my unamused gaze at my brothers and father. I didn’t need this shit right now. I’d just learned I had a baby and her safety was my top priority.
“Your situation with the Bratva is not my concern. You must leave…today.” I hadn’t thought twice about my decision regarding Kira’s predicament. He was nobody to me and I wanted to keep it that way.
“Today?” Wolf’s eyebrows shot up.
“Where will I go?” Kira asked in a panicked voice. “You know I’m rebuilding. I don’t have the money or manpower to protect myself.”
“It is not my problem.” I folded my hands on the meeting table and leaned forward, pinning Kira in place. “You know… If it was me, I would never risk your life or your family’s by betraying a more powerful man than myself. I would never bring that kind of danger to your door. Nor would I expect anyone to dig me out of the grave I dug. Why should I allow you to put mine at risk?”
Rage flashed in Kira’s eyes.
My brothers and I stared emotionless at the little man. They may not agree with me, but we always stood united. But in this case, Roman and Luca felt as I did. After the hell our sister had gone through when her fucking husband sold her, we wouldn’t put her or any other woman in the line of fire, especially not with the Bratva Pakhan. We were not well acquainted with the organization that was after Kira, and I didn’t wish to burn any lucrative bridges over a man I didn’t trust much less liked.
Incidentally, I might have felt differently helping Wolf’s brother if it had been after I’d dealt with my own personal situation. But Kira sought my family’s help at the wrong time, but again, not my problem. He could hate me all he wanted; my decision was final.
“We can protect everyone,” Wolf said in defense of his brother. “I’ll call Storm. He’ll send a crew up here. We can even reach out to some of our allies for back up.”
“You’ll be a father soon.” I shook my head, gravely disappointed at his attempt to sway my decision. “Think about the blowback for harboring a man who stole from them. Think about your child’s wellbeing. Your brother certainly didn’t.” God knew I was considering Pippa and Isla at this moment.
“You bastard!” Kira shouted.
“Quiet,” Wolf growled at his brother. He clutched his massive hands together as if considering my words before issuing his reply. I was confident my brother-in-law would do what was right forourfamily. Finally, Wolf turned toward his brother. “He’s right.”
“Brother, you can’t be serious.” Kira acted stunned and afraid. “I’m your brother.”
“You knew better, but did you care about the consequences? No. You just did as you pleased,” Wolf told him.
“I did but thought my brother and his family would help me.” Kira smiled at his brother, but Wolf showed no compassion.
Kira was a selfish asshole. I nearly rolled my eyes like a teenage girl.
“You put yourself before my wife.” Wolf looked like he could choke the life out of his brother. “If anything happened to Rosa and my child, I’d burn Russia to the ground.”
“And I’d be by your side,” I promised with a sharp nod.
“You ruthless son of a bitch!” Kira spat my way. “Family takes care of family.”
“I agree and you, sir, are not my family.” I stood from my seat, pulled my gun from the holster, and pointed it at his face. “I want you off my property within the hour. If you aren’t, I will put a bullet between your eyes.”
“Fuck,” Wolf barked. “No need for that. I’ll escort him off the premises myself.”
“Good.” I set my piece on the table in front of me, happy not to spill blood on our fine furniture and oriental rug. But I had a feeling I might get another shot at Wolf’s loser brother.
“Your arrogance disgusts me,” Kira shouted at me. Clearly, he wanted to die, but the slight wave of Padre’s handtold me to let the prick have his tantrum. “You’re more selfish than me.”
“Enough,” Wolf growled at his brother.
“I do not believe I’m more selfish, but if I am, I can afford to be.” I looked sidelong at Roman, wholly done with this meeting. “Let’s go.”
