Page 120 of Victor's Lethal Desire
Adrian's jaw tightens. He doesn't answer.
Lucian steps forward and places both hands flat on the table, leaning forward slightly.
"We get Los Angeles," he says. "The Volkovs pull out completely and take the remains of the Bulgarians with them. They leave it entirely to Matei without fear of them coming back."
He pauses, his gaze sweeping over each of us.
"We get their routes through Europe. Every port, every smuggling line, every bribed customs officer that Dimitri built using Ivan's name."
Another pause.
"And now, we'll get the entire Bratva supply chain, clean of Dimitri's rot. We gain enough to reach heights we've only ever dreamt of."
His gaze hardens.
"And most importantly, we secure peace. For all of us."
Adrian shakes his head.
"At what cost, though?" Adrian asks. "Your life?"
Lucian straightens up.
"If that's what it takes."
Matei shifts beside me, his arms folded across his chest.
"Lucian, we would never ask you to..."
"I'm not asking for permission," Lucian says, cutting him off. "It's done."
Adrian turns away, his hands gripping the back of a chair.
"You can't just..." Matei says, but he's interrupted.
"I told all of you I would sacrifice whatever was necessary to ensure we succeed. I run this family and I've made my decision."
"But it's your life," Matei says.
Lucian stops. He turns his head and looks at Matei.
"This family is my life, brother. All of you are my life."
The room goes still, and no one speaks.
Lucian's gaze shifts to me, and he stares at me for a long moment.
"Always for the family, right?" he says.
The words punch through me.
My own words. The same thing I've said a thousand times, the same justification I've used to rationalize every lie, every manipulation, every life I've taken.
I nod slowly.
"Yes."
Lucian holds my gaze for another beat, then turns toward the door.
