“Obviously, I think he’s right.” She smiled slightly, head tilted. “Honestly, I didn’t know what my father was up to until he threw me into the middle of all this. If I could go back, I’d do some things differently.”
“Like what?” Evgeni asked.
“Like tell my dad to go to Hell.” Her smile slowly faded as she looked down at her hands. “He was a drunk and a bastard and I put up with him for way too long, and now he got me into this situation because he was too selfish to deal with it on his own. Honestly, I wish I could turn back the clock and let Luke kill him before he ever came to me with that stupid dossier.”
I took a deep, slow breath and let it out. I knew the boss had some human pity inside of him, and Cara’s story was tough to hear without feeling something. I wanted to reach out and touch her leg or take her hand, but she stared resolutely ahead and faced the Pakhan like she wasn’t afraid, even though I knew she must’ve been terrified.
She wasn’t a part of this world. As much as her father was a bastard, she managed to avoid becoming the burned-out, used-up, broken human so many girls in her situation inevitably turned into. Somehow her soul remained untouched, and it was that small cleanliness in the midst of all this filth and fucked-up heartache that I wanted to preserve above all else.
“Touching,” Evgeni said, “but I think you’d be more useful if we gave you to the Lionettis.”
Cara sat back like she’d been punched in the face and I half stood. “Evgeni,” I growled, dropping the respectful title as I leaned over the table. “I can’t let you do that.”
The Pakhan’s guards stood up, some of them already pulling guns from their coats. German looked around, his body tense and ready to move, looking to me for the okay to start getting violent, but I couldn’t let it come to that. I didn’t come here to get German killed.
“Tell me why not,” Evgeni said, staring at me. “Give me a good reason why she’s useful, aside from the fact that you want to keep her for your little pet.”
“If you take her from me, I’ll walk. Maybe you kill me, maybe you kill her, but you’ll lose my crew. You know all of them will abandon you, and what’ll that say about the Morozov family, huh? Ten years of loyal service, all of it thrown away on a fucking whim.”
Evgeni’s jaw worked. “You’re giving me an ultimatum here, boy?”
“That’s right, it’s an ultimatum. You want to give her to the Lionettis? Then you’re going to lose me. But if you want to keep a loyal and productive soldier, then all you have to do is show a little mercy and let me keep her safe.”
Nobody moved. The entire room felt like it was packed with anxiety and uncertainty. The deli’s employees were nowhere to be seen, probably ran off the second things got a little dicey, which was smart for them. German seemed like his usual steady self, but I caught his hand drifting slowly to his waistband where he kept a gun tucked into his belt.
And Cara stared at me with her mouth hanging open.
She probably didn’t expect this. Hell, I didn’t expect it. I figured I’d fight back a little bit, at least argue to spare her life, but I didn’t think I’d actually threaten to sacrifice myself for her, and now it was obvious this was how it had to happen. Evgeni didn’t give a shit about her, but he had to understand that I did and I was willing to go a long way to keep her safe.
Evgeni let out a slow, rumbling growl. “I don’t like being pushed around by my own men.”
“Then don’t look at it that way. You’re rewarding me for ten years of service.”
He leaned back and crossed his big arms over his massive chest. “You want this that badly then?”
“Yes, Pakhan, I do.”
“You will double your tribute. And I will never give you something again for as long as you work for me. You will accept my orders without question, and if you ever so much as make a face or some fucking annoyed comment, I will remind you of this moment. I will own you, Luke, do you understand?”
“Yes, Pakhan,” I said through clenched teeth. I didn’t like the idea of owing another man that much, but I saw no other way out of this situation without bloodshed.
“Very well then.” He waved a hand at his men. “Stand down, all of you. The girl is free to go home with you, but if she becomes a liability, we will talk about this again.”
“She won’t.” I glanced at her and she stared back like she wanted to argue, but said nothing, only closed her mouth and hung her head quietly.