Chapter 134 Chapter 134
Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Four
Dimitri's POV
We drove back to the safehouse in silence. Alexei sat in the vehicle behind us. Separated by metal and glass.
"Do you think he will ever forgive me?" I asked Irina quietly.
She looked at Nikolai sleeping in her arms.
"I do not know," she said honestly. "But he stayed. That means something."
"Does it?" I asked. "Or does he just want to kill Lucia as much as I do?"
"Maybe both," Irina replied. "Maybe that is enough for now."
I looked out the window at the passing city.
My city.
The empire I had built with Alexei.
"I chose you," I said suddenly.
Irina turned to me. "What?" she asked.
"When Lucia made me choose," I continued. "In my heart, I chose you. Not just Nikolai. You."
"Dimitri..."
"Alexei was right," I said. "If it had been just you and him, I would have saved you. And I hate myself for it."
"You should not," Irina said softly. "I am your wife. Choosing me does not mean you do not love him."
"But it means I love you more," I replied. "And that is what is killing him."
"Then let's help him heal," Irina said. "Let's show him that love is not a competition. There is enough room in your heart for both of us."
"How?" I asked desperately. "How do I make him believe that?"
"Time," Irina said. "And patience."
We pulled up to the safehouse. A large estate on the outskirts of the city. Viktor's men had already secured it.
We got out of the vehicle. Alexei emerged from his. He looked terrible. The adrenaline was wearing off.
"You need medical attention," I said.
"I am fine," Alexei replied.
"You are not fine," I argued. "You have been tortured and beaten. Let the medic look at you."
"Why do you care?" Alexei asked coldly.
"Because you are my brother," I said simply.
Alexei stared at me for a long moment.
"Fine," he said finally. "But only because I do not want to die before I kill Lucia."
We went inside.
The medic examined Alexei while Irina put Nikolai to bed.
I stood by the window, watching the city lights.
"Dmitri," Viktor said, approaching me. "We have a problem."
"What now?" I asked tiredly.
"The Kozlov family," Viktor replied. "They know Lucia failed. They are pulling their support."
"Good," I said. "Let them abandon her."
"That is not all," Viktor continued. "They are demanding payment for their resources. Money that Lucia promised them."
"How much?" I asked.
"Ten million," Viktor said.
I laughed bitterly.
"Of course," I said. "They help destroy my family and then demand I pay for it."
"What do you want to do?" Viktor asked.
I thought about it.
The Kozlovs were powerful. But they were also cowards. They had used Lucia to do their dirty work. And now they wanted to profit from it.
"Pay them," I said.
Viktor looked surprised.
"What?" he asked.
"Pay them the ten million," I repeated. "But make it clear that this is the last time. If they ever come after my family again, I will destroy them."
"Are you sure?" Viktor asked.
"No," I admitted. "But I am tired of fighting. I want this to be over."
Viktor nodded and left to make the arrangements.
I turned back to the window. And found Alexei standing behind me.
"You are paying the Kozlovs?" he asked.
"Yes," I said.
"Why?" Alexei demanded. "They helped Lucia. They should pay, not us."
"Because I want peace," I replied. "I want to focus on finding Lucia. Not fighting a war on two fronts."
"You are weak," Alexei said.
The words stung.
"Maybe," I admitted. "I am tired of losing people I love."
Alexei was quiet.
"The medic says you have three broken ribs," he said finally. "And internal bruising. You should be in a hospital."
"So should you," I replied.
"I am not the one who just had to choose between his son and his brother," Alexei said.
I turned to face him. "Are we going to talk about it?" I asked. "Or are we going to keep dancing around it?"
"There is nothing to talk about," Alexei said. "You made your choice. I understand."
"Do you?" I asked. "Because it does not feel like you do."
"What do you want me to say?" Alexei demanded. "That I am happy you saved Nikolai? That I am grateful to be alive? That I forgive you?"
"I want you to be honest," I said. "Tell me what you are really feeling."
Alexei looked away.
"I feel like I lost my brother," he said quietly. "Not today. But months ago. When you chose Irina over everything else."
"I never chose her over you," I protested.
"Yes, you did," Alexei replied. "Maybe not consciously. But you did."
I wanted to argue. I wanted to tell him he was the one at fault. He took Irina from me from the beginning.
"That is not true," I said.
"Is it not?" Alexei asked
I opened my mouth to answer.
But I could not.
Because I had stopped treating Alexei like an equal. I had started treating him like a problem.
We stood in silence for a moment.
"Can we fix this?" I asked finally.
"I do not know," Alexei said honestly. "But I am willing to try. If you are."
"I am," I said immediately.
"Then we start with honesty," Alexei said. "No more secrets. No more lies. If you have a problem with me, you tell me. And I will do the same."
"Agreed," I said.
"And you need to make a choice," Alexei continued.
"What choice?" I asked.
"Me or Irina," Alexei said bluntly. "You cannot have both. Not after everything."
My heart sank.
"Alexei..."
"I am not asking you to leave her," Alexei interrupted. "I am asking you to decide what kind of relationship you want with me. Do you want a brother? Or do you want a business partner you see twice a year?"
"I want my brother," I said firmly.
"Then prove it," Alexei challenged. "Show me that I matter."
"How?" I asked.
"I do not know," Alexei admitted. "But figure it out. Because if you do not, we are done. And this time, it will be permanent."
He walked away. Leaving me alone with my thoughts. And my guilt.
I almost lost him today. I almost watched him die.
And the worst part was that I had chosen to save Nikolai without hesitation.
Though Nikolai was Alexei’s son, I didn't care. I love Irina and her son is my son.
The door opened. Irina walked in.
"Nikolai is asleep," she said. "How are you?"
"Alexei wants me to choose," I said.
"Choose what?" Irina asked.
"Between being his brother or being your husband," I replied.
Irina's face fell.
"He said that?" She asked.