“You’re not afraid of him.”
It isn’t a question.
I don’t answer.
He studies me another second. Then he nods to himself.
“If Maksim is who you want,” he says evenly, “I wish you luck.”
My brow lifts.Want?
“That almost sounded sincere.”
“It is.”
He steps closer—measuring.
“Because he will not be easy,” he adds. “And he does not know how to lose.”
I hold his gaze.
“I don’t either.”
That makes him smile again.
Only this time, I can feel the respect radiating off of him. He moves past me toward the door.
“Don’t make me regret this,” he says calmly.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
His hand rests on the door handle.
“One more thing.” I glance at him. “If you’re playing him…” He pauses. “…don’t.”
A warning. He opens the door. “Let’s get you home.”
“My home?” I ask hopeful.
He chuckles dark and low. “You know which home I’m talking about.”
***
Living with Maksim Korsakov is… interesting. The man spends more time dying his hair than in meetings.
I’ve been in multiple bratva meetings. Learned more information than I ever needed to give over to Gabriel. But each demanding text from him gets ignored.
Maksim needs to be reeled back. His empire is huge. His men organized, buthim?
Reckless. Impulsive. Acting before thinking and daring anyone to stop him.
Always going somewhere half cocked, all bravado, no strategy.
Vaska has strategy, Maksim doesn’t listen.
Dimitri is brute force, but controllable.
Ivan has tactical skills not being put to use.
