Page 85 of Anton

I used to draw too when I was young, before my father decided it was a waste of time better spent on other things…like murder. When he wasn’t around, I would sneak into my room, pull out my notebook and the pack of colored pencils Konstantin bought me, and draw until I heard footsteps coming down the hall. Then everything went back under the mattress.

It was the only thing I ever managed to keep from him. He would have killed that part of me too if he’d found it.

Looking at Lev now, I’d like to think this is the one thing I gave him, because there isn’t much else in me worth passing down.

When I catch Konstantin watching me again, I look away and eat a few forkfuls of potatoes just to give myself something to do before he starts asking questions. Then I turn my attention to whoever is talking, or at least pretend to.

Tomorrow, we have a meeting at the Whitlock farm, and I haven’t let myself think too hard about Thora being there. Lev glances my way before tearing a page from his notepad and holding it out to me.

When I hesitate, he extends it farther until I accept it. Then he returns to his sketching as if nothing happened.

For a few seconds, I can’t make sense of what he’s given me. It’s a park, and I recognize Volchok and myself right away, but there’s a woman standing beside us. The longer I study her, taking in the small nose, brown eyes, and long chestnut colored hair…

Is that Thora? But how the hell would he know?

Ya nichego ne ponimayu. I don’t understand anything.

When I shift my attention back to him, he’s already staring at me, those quiet eyes holding mine, and it’s as though he’s telling me something without actually saying it. I just can’t hear it.

I fold the paper and tuck it inside my jacket before one of my brothers notices and starts asking questions I don’t know how to answer.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

ANTON

We enter the Whitlock farm the following afternoon, me riding ahead of my brothers’ cars. The engine vibrates through the bike as I pass the main office, then the bed-and-breakfast and the stables farther back, before the mansion comes into view at the end of the drive.

I don’t know if there’s any real point to this meeting. We’ve already had one, and these svolichy made themselves clear. They’re not going to stop running guns to our clients.

Things were peaceful between us before that, even with the overlap in the businesses we run—guns, gambling. We had an agreement, though. They kept their clients in the South and the West; we kept ours from Minnesota to Maine. Then they got greedy, and here we are.

I kill the engine and swing off my bike, tucking my helmet beneath my arm as Konstantin pulls in behind me, followed by Aleksei and then Kirill. They park in a loose line near the house while I remain where I am, surveying the property.

She could be anywhere out here, watching me right now, probably wondering why I’m ignoring her. Why every time she gets close enough for me to finally take what I want, I’m the one who pulls away.

But it’s what I have to do. She’s no good for me.

Except I’m not even sure I believe myself anymore.

Muttering a curse, I set my helmet on the seat just as Konstantin steps out of his Royce.

His gaze holds mine a little too long before he nods and addresses the rest of my brothers. “Everyone on their best behavior.”

His attention settles pointedly on Aleksei.

“I won’t say a word.” Aleksei gives a quiet laugh. “Just know I’ll be skinning them alive in my head.”

“You may do whatever you wish inside that brain of yours.” Dry humor passes over Konstantin’s face as he straightens his jacket. “But once we step inside, we practice decorum until there’s no longer a reason to.”

Aleksei’s grin widens while Konstantin fixes his focus on the house.

“Davay, poshli.” Come on, let’s go.

We follow him up the front steps, and the door opens before he can ring the bell, an older woman in a house staff uniform stepping back to let us through.

“They’re waiting for you in the study. Left and down the hall. Very last door.”

“Thank you, but we know where it is.”