Page 12 of Obsession of the Bratva

I flinched. He had already built an entire reality from the lies I told him. A reality where I betrayed him and abandoned him and replaced him. And every decision he had made since then rested on that foundation. The worst part was that I had built it for him with my own hands. One lie at a time. The weight of that settled heavily in my chest.

Nico stepped back, creating distance between us. “Get some sleep. The house is locked with guards stationed everywhere, so don’t even think about escaping.”

Escaping hadn’t even occurred to me. His voice had become emotionless again. Then he turned away, and just like that, the conversation was over. I stood alone in the foyer long after he disappeared, listening to his footsteps fade and understanding one terrible truth.

The wedding was gone. My old life was gone. The future my father had chosen for me was gone.

But the future waiting here wasn’t any better.

Because the man upstairs believed I had destroyed him. And until I found a way to tell him the truth, I would remain trapped between two lives. Belonging to neither.

I had met a stranger at an animal shelter and accidentally fallen in love. Tonight, standing inside his house with locked doors behind me, I realized I had accidentally broken him, too. The difference was that my version of the story ended with sacrifice. His ended with revenge.

And I had the terrible feeling that revenge was only beginning.

Chapter 3 - Nico

“Another.”

The bartender glanced at the nearly empty bottle beside me, something flashing in his eyes.

“Sir, I think you’ve had enough.”

I slid a hundred-dollar bill across the counter without looking at him. “Another.”

The bill disappeared, and so did the objection. A fresh glass appeared in front of me moments later. I stared at the amber liquid, drinking half of it in one swallow. It burned, but not enough. Nothing burned enough these days. Not the alcohol. Not the cigarettes I had picked up again after nearly four years without touching one. Not the sleepless nights and definitely not the image of Vera standing before that wedding dress, getting ready to get married to that asshole.

The bar around me pulsed with noise as music vibrated through the floorboards. People laughed too loudly, and glasses clinked. A woman somewhere behind me was flirting with a man who was pretending not to enjoy it. Despite the alcohol in my system, I heard all of it, but none of it mattered. Because every time I closed my eyes, I saw white lace. Every time I took a breath, I remembered that church. And every single time I remembered that church, I remembered the look on Vera’s face when she turned around and saw me.

I lifted my glass again.

“You’re making a spectacle of yourself.” The voice was familiar. Deep, controlled, and definitely disappointed. I didn’t turn around but took another sip of my drink instead.

“That’s unfortunate,” I said.

“Nico.”

I closed my eyes. It was Kliment. I should have known someone would find me eventually. I had left Vera at the safehouse and had disappeared for three days. Viktor had probably reported it to Kliment directly. Or maybe Jarek had tracked my phone. Or maybe my brothers simply knew me too well to know exactly where to find me. I felt someone take the stool beside me, and another body settled on my other side.

Then another.

Wonderful.

The entire fucking family was here.

I finally turned my head, and Jarek grinned. Fyodor looked mildly concerned, and I couldn’t blame him. I probably looked like shit. I didn’t even remember the last time I had slept properly or changed clothes. My suit was rumpled, and my brown hair was a mess. My green eyes were bloodshot, and I felt like a homeless man. Kliment looked exactly the way an older brother looked when he was debating whether to strangle you or help you.

Once again, I couldn’t blame him. I had brought this on myself.

“Nice place,” Jarek said, looking at the seedy bar.

“It’s awful.”

“It really is,” Jarek agreed.

“Then why are you all here?”

Jarek shrugged. “Because you’re here.”