Page 88 of Until Death or Defeat

“You don’t need to swear tome. You need to swear toher,” Artem demands as he points at me. “I don’t give a fuck about his apology, this isn’t for my benefit.Sheis the one who needs you to be sure.”

My eyes stay on him, because my stomach can’t help but flutter each time he passionately demands justice for me.

“Gigi, I am. I know I haven’t always been the responsible sibling, but I’m ready to buck up now. I needed Leo’s help to get myself ready to be someone who would be worthy by your standards.”

I hesitate before I answer. Is it really that big of a deal to him? I don’t think I’m that hard to please.

“I’m...not trying to set impossible standards. I just don’t get why you wouldn’t come to me instead of Leo.”

He looks at Artem, sighing when he doesn’t speak up and then looks back at me.

“You should focus on your new life, Gigi. You don’t need to be worried about this shit.”

“Mynewlife? I live in the same fucking city still. This is still my family, my home,” I gesture to the air.

“I don’twantyou involved in it, Gigi,” he finally admits.

“Why? What the hell is so wrong with me that you all keep me away like the fucking plague from anything that’s worthwhile to me?”

My voice breaks, and Artem grabs my arm and pulls me beside him. “This isn’t the time for this,moya. We have bigger problems today,” he reminds me firmly.

“So, did you say Leo might know more about the men who approached your uh, uncle?” Roman asks, redirecting the tension.

“Well, he said that he spoke to some suspicious characters sometime before the wedding too. But he said they didn’t specifically mention Gigi, only Artem.”

“Well, either way, if it was the same men, we have a big problem on our hands. Both of our families. If Leo doesn’t have anything useful to offer, I rather he—” Artem is interrupted when Caesar’s phone rings, Leo’s name lighting up the screen.

“Hello? Yeah, she’s here. Well, everyone is. Yeah. Seriously? How do you know? Are you sure? Because—Okay. I’ll let them know. I’ll be there soon either way.” When Caesar hangs up, I look at him eagerly.

“Well?”

“Well, he said that he knows them. Not knows them, really, but he knows a guy who does. I guess that was how he ran into them. He said he got an address from his friend and he wants me to meet him there.”

“You’re fucking kidding, right?” Artem asks in his deep voice.

“Look, my uncle even told Gigi about these guys, right? It can’t be a lie. Leo and my uncle aren’t as close now that he’s grown up, they’re not suddenly in cahoots. Leo’s worriedabout Gigi just like you are,” Caesar rattles off, and Artem scoffs.

“Well, Uncle Rob did seem concerned about the Russians, he even went to my dad about it and they haven’t spoken in twelve years. There’s no way he would lie about something like that. Can’t we hear Leo out?” I ask Artem, turning to face him and asking with my sweetest voice.

“Moya sladkaya navinya devochka, I can’t let you anywhere near something like that,” he replies, his hand on my cheek.

I’m sick of how often he purposely says things I can’t understand lately.

“If Leo is right, we can go confront the men. That’s what you want, right? Blood?”

“No, what I want is your safety. You aren’t going anywhere near that shit and it’s final.”

“I have to go, and I’d prefer if you three would go with me,” Caesar says, gesturing at Artem and his brothers. “I need to handle this. It’s my problem now, and Leo is already there waiting. He doesn’t want to waste any time, he said we might not have another chance to surprise them.”

Artem looks at Roman, who nods once.

“What? What’s happening? You’re not all just going to leave me here while you go?!”

“What did I tell you about listening to me today?”

“Fuck listening to you! This is my family! You and Caesar can’t just . . . you guys can’t just leave me and . . . what if something happens, how would I . . . ”

I feel my mind spiraling as my stomach has already sunk as low as possible, and then strong hands hold my head in place.