Page 81 of Until Death or Defeat

“You seem okay, it must have gone how you hoped.”

“Well, he definitely had nothing to do with her murder. He didn’t have any information, though. But, I...feel better. Iguess.” I admit it reluctantly, not wanting to fully open up with him still. Each day that goes by, I’m more and more anxious by the connection we have growing. I’ve gotten to a point where if I was without him, I would feel alone. Without his stupid brothers, I’d be alone.

“Good, then you’re prepared for my news.”

I nod, sighing and walking over to go sit at a barstool. He takes that as a hint and pours me a glass of that rum he had bought for me, and a glass of vodka for himself.

“It was as if she was assassinated, but not by someone who has ever used a long-range rifle before. They...missed at first. And that is a very important detail.”

I take a breath, trying to not internalize the details of it. “So, that eliminates the idea of a hit, right?”

He bobs his head to the side as if to shrug before downing his glass. “It could still have been planned, but maybe it was more personal. I know you won’t like what we all think.”

I roll my eyes and down my glass to try to relax, taking a moment before I freak out. “I am so tired of you all pointing fingers at my family. You seriously thinkLeowould kill my mother? Plus, if he did, my uncle wouldneverhave forgiven him. He’s fucked up over her death, Artem.”

“I get it, but there is no other theory here. Unless you want to explore the possibility that it was your father, no one else has a motive.”

“Seriously? He was home with me, Artem. Can you guys get real? It could’ve been some nobody who wanted to hurt my father by killing her. Maybe they mistook my uncle for him.”

He’s quiet for a moment as he considers it, looking up. “Maybe. But not many people hate your family.”

“Well, Leo is shitty but he doesn’t hate us. Like I said, it isn’t possible. I thought the whole point of you guys taking her to a pathologist was to get real information?”

“And we did,solnishko, it has been twelve years, it isn’t as if there can be any more information than what he got. We needed to know about the conditions to move forward before we accused anyone and handled them.”

“Handledthem? What, you’re going to fucking kill Leo?”

“If I must, yes. I will kill anyone I have to, even your brother, your father, your best friend, and I couldn’t give less of a fuck if that would make you hate me even more than you do now, because you must bealiveto hate me,solnishko, and that is all I concern myself with.”

“You think I would let you kill my family?” I yell out, appalled by his audacity to say that shit like it’s casual.

“The reason you aren’t the head, is because you aren’t able to make these decisions. You rely too much on your emotions. It’s simple, Giselle; you either kill or be killed in this kind of life, and I will gladly be your weapon. You do not need to yield me for me to kill for you, you only need to stay how you are.”

“And how am I, Artem?” I ask as I move close, getting in his face, ready for whatever new fucking insult he has to throw at me to bring me down now.

“You, are here, exactly how I need you. Breathing, screaming at me, full of fire. All I ask is that once I prove I’m worthy of being the gun in your hands that you will never stop being like this. Never stop being the beacon that calls to me when it all dims out, because it always fucking will.”

“You...you’ve fucking really lost it this time, haven’t you? Are you saying this because we finally fucked this morning?” I say, not as loud this time because I’m shocked by his outburst. What kind of ridiculous poetic shit was that?

“That was inevitable, I only sped up the timeline to ease your nerves.”

“Toeasemy nerves? You’re going to pretend that you did that for me?”

“If it was for me, I would have fucked you the wayI’vebeen craving the last nine years,solnishko. I only did that foryou.”

I can’t help the thrill that rolls through me at his words, but I keep my arms crossed and raise my nose. “Well, don’t do anything‘for me’again. I didn’t ask for it.”

“Fine, this time, I’ll do it for me.”

20

Artem

“What are you doing?” she asks as she takes a step back.

“Exactly what you said I should do,” I say flatly as I come closer, and her ass hits the couch.

“No, no, I did not fucking say that, so don’t twist my words.”