by Lylah James
My question was met with silence. It lasted for a few seconds until I couldn’t handle the suffocating silence anymore.
“I asked, where is Viktor?” The panic in my voice couldn’t be mistaken.
One of my boys was missing. One of Alessio’s men, his brother, was missing.
I looked at everyone, but their faces told me nothing. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. This couldn’t be happening.
Not Viktor.
It was a joke, like always. They loved to worry me and pull my leg during unexpected times. It must have been Viktor’s plan. He was the player, the one who could make me laugh even when I wanted to cry.
But this time, I wasn’t in the mood to joke.
Turning to Alessio, I grabbed his arm. “Are you going to answer me, Alessio? Or just stand there? I asked a question. Where is Viktor?”
His furious blue eyes met mine, and he pulled his arm back, almost causing me to stumble back. “He will not be coming back.”
“What do you mean by that? Where is he?”
I suddenly felt sick. This couldn’t be happening.
Viktor was more than Alessio’s second in command. He was his best friend. His brother. They were bonded not by blood but by choice. By hearts.
This moment was one that left me speechless. And then angry. Tears clouded my vision as realization sunk in.
“What have you done, Alessio?” I asked quietly but already knowing the answer. When he didn’t answer, his gaze moving away from mine, he confirmed what I already knew.
“I asked a question, and I want an answer.”
His glare could cut through glass. He stared at me, unflinching, like my anger and sadness meant nothing to him. “And I already answered, Angel.”
His voice was surprisingly soft even when his gaze held red hot fury.
“Don’t call me that,” I hissed, finally breaking into cold sweats. Each word had become harder to speak.
It made me realize that I had been blinded for so long. Nothing was perfect…I just thought it was. I wanted to believe that it was.
A perfect family.
Without another glance, Alessio started to walk away. My back straightened as he bluntly ignored me.
“Don’t walk away from me. I am speaking to you,” I said, louder.
Maila flinched in my arms, and I heard a small whimper as she started to struggle. Her chin wobbled as if she was about to cry.
I rocked her back and forth, soothingly. All the while my gaze stayed on her father’s back, glaring at the sight.
“Maddie, can you take Maila?” I asked, already handing her over. Maddie shook her head, trying to clear her shock from Alessio’s announcement.
“I got her.”
I went upstairs, following behind my husband. I found him in our bedroom. His back was to me as he stared off into the distance, his gaze on the wall.
“He is dead, Ayla. I left him bleeding in a dark alley. You won’t be seeing him again,” he murmured. The anger in his voice wasn’t mistaken.
“Why would you do that? How could you?” I asked rather softly. It was the moment when I didn’t know if I should be crying or yelling. Maybe both. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to do either.
“You know why.”
“Is it because of what happened? Alessio, I thought we talked about that. I explained what happened!”
I walked closer. Alessio stepped away, his back rigid. Almost like he couldn’t bear for me to be close to him.
“He touched you!” he growled low in this chest.
Once upon a time, I would have loved those words, that tone. Today, I just hated it.
“He was drunk!” I hissed back, suddenly wanting to shake some sense into Alessio. “He didn’t realize what he was doing, and I stopped him before he could do anything else.”
It had happened weeks ago. In the middle of the night, I had caught Viktor stumbling in the corridor, looking for his room. But he was drunk…he didn’t know what he was doing. He tried to kiss me, but it never happened.
I thought Alessio understood that.
He swiveled around, a dangerous glint in those blue eyes I loved so much. “He touched what is mine. And he had no right to touch you.”
I swallowed, already knowing I was losing this battle. It was never mine to win.
Desperately, I tried to reason with Alessio. But knowing him, it would make no difference. “I told you. He didn’t touch me because he wanted to. It was a mistake. I stopped him before anything happened. Why are you acting like this?”
He stalked forward, forcing me to take several steps back. When I hit the wall behind me, Alessio crowded my space. With his hands leaning on the wall on either side of my head, he caged me in.
“He touched my wife,” he repeated, his voice dangerously low.
His head bent forward slightly until his lips were so close to mine. With his gaze on mine, holding me in place, he continued. “His lips were this close. His fucking lips almost touched yours, Ayla. And you know damn well I don’t play nice to anyone who touches you.”
I breathed in, trying to stop my wildly racing heart. Remembering the scene clearly, I knew it looked bad. Alessio would never forgive Viktor. Not when it came to me.
“I stopped him,” I replied softly.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“He didn’t mean it.”
His lips turned up into a smirk. Not a nice beautiful one. More like an evil smirk, one that said Alessio Ivanshov was about to kill you and you had no choice but to accept your fate.
“Do you really think that, Ayla?”
Shaking my head, I tried to push him away. “What you did was wrong. Worse than what Viktor did. Only because he didn’t do anything wrong. He didn’t kiss me. He was drunk and not in his right mind. He didn’t mean to hurt you.”
When he finally moved, I walked away from the wall and his furious gaze. “But you? You hurt him knowingly.”
His hands fisted at his sides, and I knew I had hit him straight in the heart. “You killed him,” I whispered. The tears finally escaped, falling down my cheeks.
I saw his eyes tracking my tears, following the drops. His jaw tightened as he gritted his teeth. Was it in anger, or was he hiding his pain…I didn’t know.
I made no move to swipe the tears away, letting him feel my pain. “He trusted you, Alessio.”
“And I trusted him. But he broke that trust. The moment he thought of you as someone to be desired and fucked, he broke that trust.”
My eyes widened, and I took a step back. “You are disgusting.”
“Truth hurts, doesn’t it, Angel?”
When I didn’t answer, he let out a dry laugh. With a broken heart, I couldn’t even say anything. There was nothing to say.
Alessio had already made up his mind. He did the one thing I thought he would never do.
The world tilted, and it felt like everything was crashing around me, falling underneath my feet. Alessio started to walk away, and I could only stare at his retreating back.
Before he could step out of the room, my voice stopped him.
“He was your brother.”
My final words. I had hoped they would make a difference. But what a laughable thought. Those words wouldn’t bring Viktor back.
He was…really gone.
Alessio paused at the doorway. His voice was low and rough as he spoke.
“You are right. He…was.”
The door closed behind him, leaving me in the silence of the storm he left behind.
Decades of friendship. Decades of brotherhood. All gone within days.
Viktor was gone.
The man who could make me laugh. The man who sometimes had wiped my tears away. He loved Maila unconditionally. He loved Alessio.
He was a man who would do anything for his family. Lay his life down for those he loved. In his eyes, we always came first.
For Alessio to kill a man like that, it was despairing.
“How could you, Alessio?” I whispered
brokenly.
The world slowed to a stop as the past faded into the present. My mind swirled with each image, and then I saw him…
His arms opened wide, and I jumped into his embrace, holding him tight. My tears soaked his shirt, but he didn’t seem to care. He held me just as tightly.
“You came back,” I choked through my cries.
“Yeah. I’m home, baby girl.” His reply was soft as he moved slightly. With my body no longer hugging his, we faced each other.
He gave me a small smile and then winked. “Miss me?”
I shook my head. “Not really. Phoenix and Nikolay kept me entertained enough.”
“Ha. Those fuckers are boring without me,” he replied, looking behind my shoulders.
“I can’t believe you’re finally home,” I whispered, my eyes taking all of him in.
He winked mischievously. “It took me long enough, but I am here now.”
His teasing laughter brought a smile to my face. Everything felt surreal. Viktor was home. After one year, he was back where he belonged.
“Viktor!” I heard a squeal, and then Maddie flew into his arms.
“Are you trying to kill me?” he asked, hugging her just as tightly.
“How? I don’t understand…” she cried in her chest.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m home now. We will discuss everything later.”
Maddie pulled away, questions burning in her eyes. “But…”
His stern voice stopped her flow of words. “Let’s forget about this for now. I don’t want to talk about it, Maddie.”
Viktor turned to me. “Where is my potato?”
Just then, I heard babbling coming from my right. Turning to my side, I saw Princess and Lena standing near the kitchen. Lena appeared like she had seen death, while Maila was oblivious.
“There is your potato,” I announced, pointing at my little firecracker.
“She’s walking,” he said in astonishment, his eyes practically bulging out.
“Of course, she is. She doesn’t sit for more than five minutes now.”
“Mama,” she said in her cute baby voice, walking toward me.
Bending down as far as my pregnant belly would let me, I smiled at my baby. “Come here, Princess.”
Her smile widened, and I smiled at the sight of drool covering her chin. As I opened my arms for her, she started running as fast as her little chubby legs would let her.
But before she could make it into my arms, Viktor swooped forward. Maila quieted down, her eyes widening in shock and fear.
She looked back at me and then at Viktor again. Back at me again and then at the rather strange man holding her in his arms.
Her chin wobbled as she started to struggle out of his arms. “Mama,” she whimpered, reaching for me. “No. Mama.”
Viktor panicked at the sight of Maila crying. “Why is she crying?”
Maila practically slapped him in the face as she tried to reach for me again, sobbing her heart out. Quickly, I took her in my arms, soothing my frightened baby.
“I’m sorry. She was just shocked, that’s all,” I apologized as Maila finally settled, giving Viktor a weird look.
She wrinkled her nose at him before burying her face in my neck.
“She doesn’t remember me,” Viktor said quietly.
Biting on my lips, I looked down at her. “She was so little when you…”
My words died in my throat, and silence fell around us. Viktor nodded, without any words.
All too quickly, it felt like a cold air had hit me. Viktor’s soft eyes turned into a glare as he stared behind me. It was deadly. If his glare could burn someone on the spot, the person would only be ashes right now.
Without turning around, I knew who was standing behind me. My heart went to my throat, suddenly suffocating me.
“Excuse me. I have to deal with something,” Viktor said, walking past me. Not something. Someone.
I grabbed onto his arm. “Please, Viktor.”
If I had to beg, I would.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Alessio already making his way upstairs. Viktor tracked his movement, his hands fisting at his sides.
My voice brought his attention back on me. “Please don’t fight.”
“Ayla…”
“I know what he did was wrong, but maybe just talk without fighting,” I quickly spoke.
“I would really appreciate if you stay out of this. It doesn’t concern you,” he replied stiffly. I flinched at his tone. “Whatever happened is between Alessio and me.”
He pulled his arm back, walking away.
“Don’t hurt him,” I murmured.
He continued walking without turning around. But I heard his voice. “Did you beg for my life too? Or is this a special treatment only for Alessio?”
“You know that’s not true. I just don’t want you fighting with each other. Your loyalty was one that I used to admire,” I returned, desperately trying to calm him.
He paused at the staircase, slightly turning toward me. “Like Alessio’s loyalty? Fantastic brother he was, wasn’t he?”
He dug deeper into my heart with his words, taunting me, forcing me to face the truth.
It’s a lie, I reminded myself. He is just angry. He will get over it.
When no reply came from me, he continued his way upstairs. My shoulders slumped down in defeat, and I could only hope.
I just prayed that this encounter didn’t end with either being shot.
Chapter 6
Konstantin aka Viktor
It was hard turning away from Ayla when all I wanted to do was hold her in my arms and never let go. I wanted to soothe her worry and fear.
I wanted to hold her and tell her how much I missed her. Her voice. Her laughter. Her smile. Everything about her.
But I had something to deal with first. Someone to deal with…a past to put at rest. Another step in the game.
Another step toward the throne that only one person could hold.
There can only be one King.
And in the end, there would only be one King standing.
A promise made before, a promise to hold. A promise that would be fulfilled.
The door to his office was open, an invitation to enter. I found Alessio sitting behind his desk, looking just as dangerous as he always did.
His elbows were on the table, his chin resting against his steepled fingers. He stared at me with emotionless eyes, but I could tell they held plenty of promises. The anger was hidden but always there.
Alessio was silent, just calmly staring me. It was his way of making his enemies nervous and cower underneath him. I grew numb to those stares many years ago. They didn’t faze me any longer.
“I am thinking if it would be polite to offer you a drink.”
He finally broke the silence, his words loud and clear. Walking forward, I stopped beside the couch.
“That would be appropriate, but I am not here for a drink,” I drawled, crossing my arms.
He shrugged. “What are you here for then?”
I raised an eyebrow, chuckling lightly. “I am surprised you’re even asking.”
“Just trying to build up a conversation. I haven’t seen you in a year,” he replied, standing up to his full height, looking bigger and meaner.
“Right. I remember. The last time we saw each other, you left me for dead. After shooting me in the heart and my ass.”
He cocked his head to the side. “So you are here to return the favor?”
“That’s the plan.”
Alessio looked unfazed as he poured himself a drink, his glass full of brandy. He filled another glass before pointing it toward me.
I accepted the glass. “I think a drink is in favour. To warm ourselves up. The night is still young.” He spoke slowly, sipping as he stared at me.
With a raised eyebrow, he watched my reaction. Alessio was an asshole. Plain and simple. An arrogant asshole that I was tempted many times to shoot in the face.
Hold
ing the glass to my lips, I poured the entire contents in my mouth, drinking the whole thing in one large gulp. It burned my throat, but only slightly.
Slapping the glass on the table, I rolled my shoulders. The tensed muscles started to relax, and I breathed out.
The corner of Alessio’s lips turned up slightly in a small smirk.
“You know, I should win a fucking Oscar for this shit. Hollywood would be stupid not to bag me as a lead role,” I started, feeling my own lips turning up. “I’m thinking of changing careers.”
He placed his glass down, next to mine. The smirk still was present on his face.
Alessio took a step toward me before wrapping an arm around my neck. His other hand went to my back, slapping me hard. And then hugging me.
I heard his voice over the roaring of my blood.
“Welcome home, brother.”
I wasn’t crying. I swear I wasn’t crying.
Chapter 7
Viktor
Brothers till death.
It was what our fathers taught us. Something we had lived by for the last thirty years of our lives. Words to remember and never forget.
I was born to stand beside Alessio, on his left. While his wife would stand on his right.
Our fates were decided long before we even took our first breath. Brothers till death.
How Valentin Solonik thought he could break this was still a fucking shock to me. Was he that stupid?
Well, that was a dumb question. He was that stupid. Stupid fucker who kept me away from my family for a year. A whole fucking year. For what?
Revenge. A dangerous game he wanted to play.
He didn’t care what he destroyed in his path. He wanted to be the King, the Pakhan. The God-fucking-father.
What he didn’t realize was that as long as I was breathing, that would never happen. I had always lived with only one purpose. To protect my family. Fight for them. Kill for them. Hell, I would even lay my body down, waiting for death if that meant protecting them.
Just like in a game of chess, the knight protects the King. And the Queen.
If Solonik wanted to play a game, I would give him one. My gaze met Alessio’s again, his darker than usual. Giving me a nod, like he could read my mind and agreed to my every single thought.
