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My voice drips with sarcasm. “Oh, so you’re saying that because there’s some semblance of order, that makes the Bratva better?”
Lucien’s jaw clenches, but he keeps his tone measured. “I’m saying that in the so-called normal world, the people pulling the strings are the same ones who smile to your face, shake your hand, and then stab you in the back. They manipulate, control, and destroy lives every day. But it’s all hidden behind a veneer of respectability.“ His eyes flash with disgust. “The politicians, the businessmen—you know, the ones you think are legitimate—they’re no different from us. Hell, some of them are worse because they prey on people’s ignorance and trust. At least in our world, you know what you’re dealing with.”
I stare at him, the weight of his words sinking in despite my resistance. “So what? You’re saying the Bratva is a better option?”
“I’m saying stop being so fucking naive, Isabella, and open your eyes.” He glances at the door and then back to me. “The world isn’t black and white. It’s shades of gray.” He gestures with hands. “As fucked up as the Bratva or Mafia and any other crime family may be, there’s still a certain honesty to it.”
“I’ve heard all this before,” I tell him. “Is this the crime lord mantra from some handbook you’re all given as soon as you can talk?” I snort. “Indoctrinating new recruits into a world of crime 101?”
Lucien sighs and shakes his head looking at me like I’m a lost cause. “Out there, on your own with your kids… How far do you think you’re going to get?” he asks. “Because, dear cousin, like it or not, you have quite a little bounty on your head.”
I look at him in alarm. “What do you mean? There’s a reward out for me in the crime world—what? I’m on the Crime World’s most wanted list?”
Lucien laughs. “I guess you can put it that way. And cousin, you and your babies are the rewards, especially because you come with an almost guaranteed alliance to some of the most powerful crime families in the world.“ His brows raise. “Then there’s the few extra cherries you and your twins come with—Velvet Transport, Strategic Packaging, and oh… let’s not forget direct access to the Reaper.” His brow furrows. “If he’s still alive.”
“Okay, I get it. My kids are the royalty of the crime world.” I lift my hand as much as I can to do a dramatic fist pump. “Yay.” I sneer. “I know my father is Strategic Packaging, and the Belovs are Velvet Transport, but who the hell is the Reaper, and why do I get them direct access to whoever it is?”
Lucien’s brows shoot up as he stares at me. “Your father’s the Reaper, Isabella. He’s the crime world’s hitman.”
“What?” I splutter. “I’m hoping by hitman, you’re referring to him being an attorney that puts crime lords that have overstepped in the crime world away!”
“Marco defends the criminals, but those he can’t defend and have been sentenced to the death penalty by a crime boss, your father carries out the sentencing, shall we say.” Lucien grins, enjoying the look of shock that must be on my face.
“You’re lying,” I splutter. “I don’t believe you!”
“I’d say ask him yourself, but we don’t know where he is or if he and your brother are even still alive!” Lucien’s words send a cold shiver down my spine.
“I thought Konstantin went to save him?” My eyes widened, and my throat is dry. “Do you think I can get untied, please?”
“If I untie you, are you going to behave?” Lucien asks.
“Yes.” I sigh. “I promise.”
“Konstantin went to the lodge and walked into a trap. Temur managed to escape to get back-up but when Temur got back to the lodge there was no one there.” Lucien’s words send a cold arrow straight to my heart.
Lucien stands and unties me, handing me the bottle of water Harry was feeding me earlier. I look at it suspiciously. He sighs and takes three big gulps of it, pulling out some wipes. He cleans the top and hands it to me.
“Satisfied?” He looks at me questioningly.
I nod, take the bottle, and start to down the water.
“Whoa there!” Lucien sweeps in and grabs the bottle. “Small sips, or you’re going to be hurling again.”
“Sorry.” My stomach starts that lurch thing it does when it’s getting ready to reject the sustenance I’ve just given it out the same way it came in. I breathe through the nausea.
“Come sit closer to the fire on the sofa.” Lucien offers me his hand.
I take it, and we move to the seating area, which is right near the crackling fire.
“Would you like a blanket?” he asks, and I nod. He pulls the soft throw from the back of the sofa and wraps it around my legs. “There you go.”
“How long have you known that Stacy was working with Lev?” I take the water back.
Lucien turns toward me on the sofa. “About a year or so.” He shrugs. “I tried to warn Konstantin as best I could about Lev and Stacy, but he wouldn’t listen. He knows about my relationship with Harry and called me a lovestruck fool blinded by my dick.”
“That does sound like Konstantin.” I nod. “But I have to agree with my brother not to believe you because you’re in a relationship with Harry. You do know what Harry did to Stacy when she was thirteen, right?”
Lucien sighs again. “If you’re talking about Harry abusing Stacy, that’s a lie made up by a very disturbed teenager who didn’t want to share her best friend with him.”
