The Darkest Temptation (Made 3)

I was sure I’d get a reaction from Alexei then, but the man was still immersed in awkward grieving.

Ivan shot a cautious look at Alexei before saying, “I could have had multiple shots. I just wasn’t interested.”

I laughed. He couldn’t have her, so now he wasn’t interested. “You know, you remind me of a two-faced bitch. I’m beginning to wonder if you even have a dick.”

“Because I chose Alexei’s side? You call me a bitch, but you’re holding a grudge like one.”

Unperturbed by the insult, my mind flickered to the past. “I always knew something was off about you—the awkward loner who sat next to the trash cans in prison. Charged with murdering your grandma. I mean, your fucking grandma. The news painted her as this sweet old lady, but you convinced everyone of how evil she was . . .” I leaned back in my chair. “She really was a sweet old lady, wasn’t she?”

Murderous heat flared in his eyes.

“What’d she do? Forget to cut the crusts off your peanut butter sandwich?”

“Go to hell, D’yavol.”

Kristian and Alexei were now silently watching us, but I continued because I had shit to say.

“When I took you under my wing, you liked whatever I liked. I could say I liked a cucumber shoved up my ass, and you would say you liked it too. It was fucking annoying, but you were loyal to a fault. Only you weren’t, were you?”

Red washed up Ivan’s neck. “I don’t regret fucking you over. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

“I know. Because you’re a fucking snake that can reveal your true psychotic self under Alexei. He loves his men unhinged. I should know. I worked for him too.” I did multiple things on that man’s orders that I couldn’t even stomach thinking about today.

My eyes slid to Alexei to see his on mine. I wondered if he was mentally killing me, or if he was reminiscing on the past as well. Or maybe he was thinking about Mila and how I was indefinitely submersed in her life now—whether she liked it or not.

Kristian was content with his tumbler of vodka, though I could tell he was ready for things to turn south quick.

Ivan let out a bitter breath of amusement. “You call me a snake. Yet you’re the one who kidnapped a fucking innocent woman.” His eyes narrowed. “There’s no chance she’ll stay with you,” he snarled. “She isn’t that stupid.”

“So aggressive over a woman you supposably don’t even want,” I drawled. “Let me guess . . . Alexei promised you Mila when I first took her. And then he changed his mind, thinking Carter would be better after all. And you went along with it because you’re content kissing his ass.”

The shady flash in Ivan’s eyes confirmed it.

“I’m sure he gave you a consolation prize though—a trafficked girl to tide you over. Did you cut her up like you did your granny?”

Ivan lunged for me but halted when Kristian pulled out his gun and aimed it at his head, tumbler still in hand.

“Yeah. I wouldn’t if I were you.”

Alexei got to his feet. Besides in the hospital, this was the first time I’d ever viewed him so passive and defeated. At this point, revenge was a non-issue. The man was slowly killing himself.

He met my gaze with venom. “You’ve murdered my son.”

I raised a brow. “You almost killed him when he strangled one of your expensive girls to death.” I shrugged an indifferent shoulder. “So I didn’t really think it would be an issue.”

His eyes flashed. “You have my daughter in your hands now, so I have no choice but to end this now. I can’t afford to lose her on top of Dimitri with more war.”

I didn’t exactly have his daughter . . . though he must assume she’d chosen my side by taking that bullet for me. The thought brought me back to the second I noticed what she’d done, and my chest tightened. If she would have died and taken all her sunshine with her . . . fuck. The idea made me sick and made me see red at the same time.

“It’s a good excuse, Alexei, but we both know you’ve lost your touch. If Moscow wasn’t mine, it would have been another’s by now.”

His jaw tightened as he held in a retort, and then he turned to the door. “Come, Ivan.”

As Ivan picked up the severed head and followed his owner like a lapdog, I said with feigned concern, “And I might reconsider your hiring process.”

“Go to hell, D’yavol,” Alexei snapped.

“Can you guys mix it up a little?” I returned with annoyance. “Your insults are tired.”