Chapter 158 160

Chapter 158 160
Mikhail’s eyebrows hit his hairline. I just sigh. I’ve stopped being surprised when she pops up. She’s like a fucking cockroach.

“Oh. Mikhail…” Her eyes narrow before she struts past him into my house. “Am I late?”

“You can’t be late if you weren’t invited.”

Konstantin steps in front of Francia to box her out. “You aren’t part of this deal.”

“I was until you cut me out. You broke your word, but I won’t break mine. I said I’d be here until the end, so here I am.” She picks lint off the shoulder of her black dress like everything is la-di-fucking-da, but her hand is shaking. “What happens here tonight concerns me. I’m staying.”

“Get out, Francia,” Mikhail barks. “You lost. It’s over.”

Francia is ready to face off with the Sokolovs in my foyer, but it’s a waste of time. I know how this ends for all of them. As far as I’m concerned, the more the merrier.

Besides, none of them should be here. If the Sokolov Bratva was just a touch more inexperienced, I’d kill them all where they stand and be done with it. But they are a genuine threat, even with their meager resources. I won’t throw my men into a war if I can avoid it.

“Everyone is staying,” I announce. “Go to the dining room. Grab some champagne.”

“What are we toasting to?” Francia asks.

I slide my arm around Katerina’s shoulders and smile. “A new beginning.”

Katerina goes rigid, but her family and Francia are all too thrilled to notice. Konstantin thinks I’m marrying his daughter. Mikhail and Francia are both looking around like they expect Cora to be wheeled out to them on a silver platter.

You better celebrate now, I think. It won’t last long.

Katerina and I lead the way to the dining room, where flutes of champagne are waiting on a tray. I take one and gesture for everyone else to follow suit.

It’s a hell of a scene. A room full of enemies sitting in a circle and sipping champagne. Completely unaware of the noose tightening around their necks.

I stand at the head of the table, glass in hand. “I know we’ve all had our troubles. There’s a lot of history here. Betrayals and partnerships alike. Secrets and lies aplenty. I brought you all here because I want to start this next phase of my life on the right foot.”

Konstantin raises his glass in cautious agreement. “I like the sound of that.”

“Good. I’m glad you agree with me.” I step back from the table just as the doors behind me open.

I don’t need to see Yasha and Lev to know they’re there. They’re standing on either side of the kitchen doors, waiting. Konstantin’s eyes dart between them and me, trying to get a read on the situation.

“Not that it matters either way,” I continue. “I don’t give a fuck about your feelings or whether you agree with me. It would just make things simpler if you did.”

Mikhail points to the door behind me. “What are they doing here? You said security would stay outside.”

“Your security would stay outside. This is my house. If you thought I’d be unarmed while you walk in here making demands, you’re even dumber than you look.”

Konstantin lurches to his feet. “This is against the spirit of the arrangement.”

“And kidnapping the woman I love was in the spirit?” I snap.

Konstantin frowns. I can practically see the gears churning in his head. Am I talking about Katerina? Or someone else?

So many people kidnapped. Who could possibly keep track?

“If you can’t honor the conditions you required, then we’ll leave,” he spits. “You can’t marry my daughter and treat her family like this.”

Katerina is doing exactly what I asked her to do. She’s sitting quietly and staying out of my way. If only her father and brother were as accommodating.

They both step toward the door as if there is a chance in hell I’d let them walk away.

“Sit the fuck down, both of you. You’re not going anywhere. I haven’t even made my announcement yet.”

“With the way things are going, I don’t think I want to hear it,” Konstantin seethes. “I’ve waited a long time for this, Ivan. For you to follow through with your commitment. If we’re going to be family, then—”

“That is where I’ll stop you, Konstantin. You’re wasting your breath. We will never be family. I won’t marry Katerina.”

Konstantin exhales sharply. “You’ve made your decision then.”

“There was no decision to make. I can’t marry her.”

“Can’t?” he asks. “Or won’t?”

Konstantin is looking at me like he wants to impale me on the wall. Mikhail is searching for an exit. The rat wants to flee, but there is nowhere to go. Not until I release them. If I release them.

“Can’t,” I repeat. “I can’t marry Katerina—or anyone else, for that matter. It’s too late.”

I extend my arm out, champagne flute held lightly in my hand. I only have to wait a few seconds before delicate fingers slip around the stem.

I revel in their stunned silence.

Cora does, too. I can see her out of the corner of my eye, head held high, shoulders back. She is sheer grace as she presses the glass to her lips and drinks. Just like I told her to.

She tips the champagne back slowly, letting the light reflect off the glistening diamond on her ring finger.

I take her other hand in mine and face my guests. “I’m already married.”

56

IVAN

The announcement is still settling over the silent room when a chair scrapes away from the table.

It happens quickly. Francia is staring open-mouthed one second; the next, she throws her chair back and sprints at Cora.

Arms flailing, mouth open in a scream, Francia looks like she’s possessed. Maybe she is. It would explain a lot.

I don’t think—I just react. I shift over to block Cora and Francia slams into my chest instead. But it’s like trying to hold a rabid raccoon. She’s so focused on her goal that she barely notices me. She just reaches over my shoulders and keeps clawing, screeching, scratching.

I shove her back, but before I can take a swing, Yasha beats me to it.

My second-in-command grabs Francia by the collar of her little black dress and flings her to the ground. She immediately tries to crawl back up, but he plants a foot in her chest and kicks down hard. Her head bounces off the tile with a nasty crack and she goes limp.

“Damn it,” Yasha mutters to himself. “I hoped that would last a little longer.”

More chairs scrape as Mikhail and Konstantin move closer for a better look.

“She’s breathing,” I tell them. “Not for much longer if she wakes up and runs for Cora again. But for right now, she’s breathing.”

“I don’t care about her,” Konstantin hisses, glaring at Francia’s crumpled body. Then his rage shifts to Cora. “This is about her. We had a deal, Ivan.”

“So did we,” Mikhail grits out. His beady eyes are fixed on Cora. “You belong to me.”

An animal sound I can’t control shudders through my chest. It’s the only response I can manage that doesn’t involve cracking their heads open.

Cora squeezes my hand. “I never belonged to you, Mikhail. I never will.”

Konstantin snorts. “This won’t stand. Katerina has been ruined by her connection to you. No one will marry her now. Not with this trail of drama behind her. She’s useless to me.”

Katerina doesn’t flinch. If anything, she’s probably thrilled. She never wanted to be used by Konstantin.