Page 161 of Bratva and Betrayal: Kirill

“That I believe,” I scoff and shoot his other knee.

He screams, “Okay. Yes. She didn’t want to leave you.”

Whatever pride he has left bleeds out with the admission.

There it is: She didn’t want to leave you.

I straighten, the tension in my shoulders easing in a way that has nothing to do with forgiveness and everything to do with finality.

“Thank you. You tried to take everything from me,” I say, my voice soft considering my words are meant for a dead man.

“Kirill…” Chernov makes a final plea to me. “Tamara. Don’t hurt her.”

“Your daughter will live. But with the shame that you’re a traitor to my crown.” I smile. “I have no intention of ever touching her or even going near her.”

Chernov relaxes. “Thank you.”

“I doubt I’ll be able to get anywhere near her when Eduardo shows up.”

“What?”

“I know about her and the Mexican Cartel King. And apparently you knew about it, too. Are you picturing what he’ll do to her?”

Chernov’s eyes widen, and I love that his final seconds will be horror-filled, thinking of what awaits Tamara.

“Good.” Smiling, I pull the trigger again.

The bullet finds its mark between his eyes, and his head snaps back. His body goes slack almost instantly. The room stills around us, the aftermath settling like dust.

I lower the gun slowly, my gaze lingering on him for a beat longer before I turn away.

I glance back at Sandrine, at the woman who was stolen from me and found her way back.

For a second time in a lifetime.

Chapter 54

Kirill

“Wait!” Sandrine yells. “My father. His car crash. Was it an accident?”

Drago and I exchange looks, and he narrows his eyes at me.

She’ll find out from someone else.

Fuck…

“Did he kill my father?” she asks, looking at Chernov’s dead body.

Sandrine needs to know the final truth. I was given my closure. She deserves the same.

“Sandrine. About your father…”

Her shoulders tighten, and she turns to me with tears in her eyes. “You killed him, didn’t you?” She sniffs. “I don’t blame you, but⁠—”

“I didn’t kill him, baby.” I take a breath. “But I’m responsible for his death. I dragged him to my warehouse after you went missing. Questioned him for hours about where you were. He said he didn’t know. Told me you never showed up. Said you must have left me and I deserved it.”

“Kirill,” she cries. “I’m sorry.”