Page 133 of The Bratva King

The fact that he knows about Gabby and Luke puts every instinct I have on alert.

“Bullshit.”

“I give you my word.”

“Your word means nothing to me.”

There’s a pause. I hear him breathing on the other end of the line.

“Mr. Sokolov, I understand you’re angry. But I’m telling you the truth. We have not authorized any action against your family. It’s just business.”

“Agreed. I returned it in kind.”

“We are not the ones attacking your family,” he snaps.

“Then who?”

“I don’t know. But I suggest you find out before you make more enemies than you already have.”

I clench my jaw. “You fuck with me again—you or anyone connected to you—and I will burn your operation to the ground. Every business you own. Every place you hide. Do you understand me?”

“I understand you’re a man who values his reputation,” Castellano says smoothly. “As am I. Which is why I would not violate the treaty that has been in place for years.”

“Then quit fucking with my property!”

I end the call.

Everything I know about the Italians says he’s full of shit. They have been pushing back against my expansion for years. But a small part of me—the part that’s kept me alive this long—wonders if he’s telling the truth.

"You believe him?" Pasha asks.

"No."

But I'm not sure anymore. And I hate not knowing more than I hate being wrong.

"Think he'll seek retaliation?"

“No. I think we’re done. For now.” I roll my shoulders, but the tension remains. "Doesn't mean we stop watching. Everyone stays at the estate until I know for sure."

"And Gabby?"

I take a deep breath. “I don’t want her to know everything yet. I’ll ask her to stay at the estate.”

He laughs. "Good luck with that."

She’d do it. If it were for Luke’s sake, I know she would.

I just have to make sure she doesn’t find out how much I haven’t told her.

31

Gabby

I’m starting to feel safe for the first time in years.

I’m sitting at the dinner table, watching Luke explain the difference between a stegosaurus and an ankylosaurus to Nikolai, who’s listening with the serious expression he gets when Luke talks. Like every word matters.

Mila and Olga are at the table, too. Pasha is taking a nap. I don’t know what happened last night, but I understand enough to know I don’t need the details.