Page 31 of Savage Little Secret

Pavel Muratov: You have made yourself and your family an enemy of the Muratovs. You will be the downfall of the Bratva if you continue down this path that you’re on.

Victor Kardashev: You’ve already betrayed the Bratva by denying an alliance with the Suyunovs. If you do not kill the spy and provide proof of her body within the next 48 hours, there will be hell to pay. You do not want to cross us any more than you already have. This is your final warning, Ivanov.

Andrei: What the hell have you been up to, man? I’ve been hearing crazy shit! You need to call me.

Countless messages from other Bratva families. Threatening to wage war. Already waging war.

This is exactly what the Irish wanted. The Bratva to destroy itself.

Cara tipped the first domino. I pushed the rest.

I’m the one causing chaos, and the only way to stop the damage from getting worse is to sell my soul to Artur and kill the woman I love. It doesn’t matter if it’s fair. I still have to deal with it somehow.

My phone buzzes again, making me sigh and slow down to a stop at a street corner. Other people walk by me, living their own normal lives, while mine crumbles. A new message from an unknown number pops up on my screen.

It’s different from the rest.

We know that you have Cara. Release her alive, and we won’t kill any more of your men.

No signature. They don’t need one.

I breathe in deeply as I read the message again. The Irish have finally sent their warning.

I doubt that Sean is shaking in fear over his daughter’s disappearance, but he’ll still want her back for intel or to save face. She’s no good to them if she’s my prisoner. It makes him look weak. And honestly, Cara is a sitting duck if she remains in my custody for much longer.

I walk until the sun drops and the city lights come on, piecing my thoughts together to form a plan that’s stupid and will get me in even more hot water.

Even if I do obey the commands of the Council, they’ll still find a reason to oust me. They’ll claim that I’m not trustworthy or loyal enough to lead.

And where will that leave me?

My father would call this weakness. I push aside his disappointment that I’m about to lose everything he built.

Right now, I only have control over one thing: what I do with Cara.

The only move left is the one no one will expect.

When I head back to my penthouse, I stop outside in the hallway where Denis is keeping guard. “You don’t have to keep guard any longer. Go patrol our properties with the others.”

Denis frowns as he glances behind him at the front door. “What about her? You should have an extra guard in case she tries to escape.”

I meet his eyes. “That won’t be an issue for much longer.”

A look of realization crosses his face, prompting him to nod. “Yes, sir.”

I watch him head off down the hallway, my heart racing.

Tonight, it’s just me and Cara.

I’ll do what I need to do, and nothing will ever be the same again.

12

Cara

After hours of silence, I finally hear the front door open and shut.

It’s confusing. Whenever I hear Dmitri come home, my heartbeat immediately quickens, but fear now lances through me too. I don’t know what to expect from him anymore.