Cruel Vows

“Trust?” Spartak’s eyes widen. “Your brother.” He glares at Luca. “Shot me on my wedding day and you expect me to trust you?” He laughs, and it’s an evil, piercing sound that grates on my nerves.

Luca fidgets with the gun under his jacket. He’s always been trigger happy, and that was one of the worse moves I’ve ever seen him make when he shot him.

I grip hold of his arm and try to knock some sense into him. “This won’t work if we’re at each other’s throats.”

Rourke nods. “I agree with the Italian, unfortunately.” He glances at Spartak. “My father was murdered by your—”

“Don’t go there again. I’ve told you countless times I was not behind the death of Ronan. What good would it do me killing the man I expected to partner with?” His eyes narrow. “I don’t break my deals, Callaghan.”

“I thought we already deduced it’s quite possible that Adrik was behind your father’s death.” I look Rourke in the eyes. “It would make sense.”

Rourke nods. “It would, but if you’d have let me finish, I was going to say that he was murdered by someone in your organization, even if it was Adrik, and I’m still willing to put it aside and work with you.” His eyes narrow. “Neither you nor your son are dead, so I don’t really see what you’re whining about.”

Spartak’s jaw clenches, his fists bunching as he starts toward Rourke.

Maxim stops his father in his tracks. “He’s right.”

Despite his son stopping him, the rage doesn’t ease in his eyes. I can’t deny that I’m dubious about working with a man so unpredictable as Spartak Volkov. His son, Maxim, seems to have more sense.

“Shall I make the arrangements?” I ask.

Spartak glares at me with a look so chilling I feel it right to my bones. A look that makes me understand why a man so formidable as my father fears him. “No, I will.” His eyes narrow. “You will all come to Podolka, and I will arrange for Hernandez to be there.”

Rourke tenses at the mention of the club where his father was hit, but I’m surprised when he doesn’t make a fuss. Instead, he nods. “It’s a deal.”

“Fine, Podolka it is,” I reply, despite the glaring look Luca gives me. He wanted us to run things, but I know when not to rock the boat. If we are going to succeed in taking down Adrik, we need to work together no matter how hard it gets.