Page 92 of The Bratva Sinner

“Careful,” he warns.

“Why? Am I wrong?” I spread my arms. “This is all very elegant, Maksim. Very pretty. But I know what’s under it.”

“You don’t know anything about what’s under it.”

“I know enough.” I meet his eyes. “I know you let a woman get beaten in one of your houses this week. I know girls are leaving because they’re scared. I know someone set your stables on fire and killed a man in a parking garage because of the business you run. I’m not judging you for what you are. But don’t stand here and look at me like I’m the problem.”

For once, he has nothing to say.

And then, “I’m done with this conversation.”

“Of course, you are.”

He straightens his tie and gestures to one of his men. I watch him disappear into the crowd, and then I’m guided into the house through a side exit.

“Get off me.” I jerk my arm away.

The men say nothing. I could pitch a fit, but I’m over it. I kick off my heels and leave them in the middle of the hall. I climb the back stairs, gripping the railing as I walk to my room. I will not be in his bed tonight, or maybe ever again.

I don’t know how to exist in this world. I’m not sure I ever will.

24

Maksim

Cinder is at the house when I come downstairs. I know she’s pissed before she says a word. It doesn’t take much to piss her off, and she’s been in a pissy mood for weeks.

I know why. Lila.

“Before you say anything…” I start.

“She handled herself well,” Cinder says, “until the champagne.”

I pour myself a cup of coffee and say nothing. I know there’s a lecture coming. I need caffeine to hear it.

“For someone who’s never really drank before, good champagne at a party full of strangers while her husband lets women crawl all over him is actually pretty restrained,” Cinder says.

“She made a scene.”

“Maksim, I’ve watched you work. I know what it looks like. I also know what it looked like to a nineteen-year-old girl from nowhere who doesn’t know the rules yet.”

“She needs to learn them.”

I have no idea why Cinder is defending her. I sense more is coming.

“She’s smarter than you’re giving her credit for. She was uncomfortable but still made small talk with people she has nothing in common with.” She picks up her cup. “Honestly? I’d have done worse at her age.”

“You’d have stabbed someone.”

“Ididstab someone.” She says it without blinking. “My point stands.”

I stare at the backyard through the window. The crew left it immaculate. You’d never know there was a party with more than a hundred people back there last night.

“She’s going to be the thing that either makes you or costs you everything,” Cinder says. “Maybe both.”

I turn to look at her. This is the lecture I’ve been waiting for.

“I’m not saying to get rid of her,” she says. “I’m saying figure out what you want her to be in this world. Right now, she’s trying to figure it out by herself, and she doesn’t have enough information to do it right. You brought her in, but you haven’t actually brought her in. You’re sleeping with her. You crossed that line, and now you need to figure out what you’re going to do with her.”