Page 96 of Born into Blood

“Doesn’t seem like you’re in much of a position to be demanding anything,” Danil adds.

Vitaly gives a soft laugh. “I don’t know about everyone else, but I could use an apology.” He holds out his hands, wiggling his fingers like he’s beckoning forth the words from Vladimir’s pursed lips. “Don’t be shy,” he says, “just let it come from the heart. I think we’d all prefer sincere and unpolished instead of rehearsed and fake.” He looks over at his brothers and smiles even bigger. “Right?”

“Definitely,” Lev agrees. “Nothing worse than a fake apology.”

“Better make us believe it,” Luka says, a dangerous smile playing at his lips, “and when you’re done, you can call Radek out.” He looks down at all the cream carpet we’re standing on. “I hope you have a good housekeeper. Blood stains are an absolute bitch to get out.”

Vladimir looks like he’s about to bust a blood vessel. His face is red, veins protruding along his neck and temple. I’ve never seen anyone look so angry and helpless at the same time. He knows it’s suicide to go against the Melnikov family, but he also really doesn’t want to swallow his pride and apologize.

He swallows the last of his drink right along with that last bit of stubborn pride, slamming the glass down so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t crack. He looks between the men in front of him, and it takes several seconds before he can force the words out from his clenched jaw.

“I shouldn’t have come into your territory without your permission.”

We all stare at him, waiting for more, but when it’s obvious that the lackluster apology is all they’re getting, Vitaly laughs and shakes his head.

“That’s not an apology. You’re just stating a fact.” Vitaly looks at his family. “Do any of you feel better? Because I don’t. I’m still deeply offended.” He turns back to a very pissed-off Vladimir. “Try harder.”

“Careful,” Vladimir warns.

“Or what?” Lev asks. “You’re operating out of Prague now, right?”

“Yes,” Vladimir tells him.

Lev nods. “So if we went to Prague and kidnapped someone under your protection, you’d be okay with that?”

The look on Vladimir’s face says it all.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Lev crosses his arms over his chest, waiting for a better apology.

“I’m sorry I came into your territory without permission. It was disrespectful, and it won’t happen again,” Vladimir says, almost sounding like he means it.

“Much better,” Roman says.

“That warmed my heart,” Vitaly says, putting the palm of one hand on his chest. “Seriously, I almost got chills.”

“Radek,” Luka says, reminding him that we’re not even close to being done here, “and we need her mom brought out.”

Vladimir nods at his bodyguard, and the man walks out without a word, returning less than a minute later with the man who will most likely star in all my nightmares for the foreseeable future. Luka feels me stiffen beside him and leans in closer.

Cupping the back of my head, he leans down and presses his mouth close to my ear. “I need you to stay in the room with my family for this so I know you’re safe, kisa.”

“Okay,” I whisper. “Be careful, Luka. Please don’t put yourself in danger because of me.”

He pulls back and smiles. “I can’t think of a better reason than you, kisa.” Leaning closer, he gives me a kiss that’s way too short and then gently nudges me closer to his cousins. “Don’t watch,” he says before saying something to Max and Val in Russian. The two men crowd in, keeping me between them.

“Don’t worry,” Max tells me. “This won’t take long.”

I watch Luka make his way to the center of the room. Without his shirt, his muscles and tattoos are on full display, making him look even more dangerous than usual. Radek looks furious. He’s yelling something in Russian at Vladimir, but his boss just shakes his head. I don’t need a translator to know that Radek’s demanding a stop to this thing, and his boss just told him a big fat no.

Knowing there’s no escape, he turns to face Luka. “You sure that bitch is worth this?”

“He’s not very bright, is he?” Val mutters beside me.

“You’re already going to die a painful death,” Luka tells him, “there’s no reason for you to keep adding onto it, but feel free to keep talking shit about my girl if you want. It’s not going to bother me to take your tongue before I kill you.”

My stomach lurches at his words, but I’m assuming this is the talking smack phase of the fight and that he’s not being serious. Radek laughs as they start to circle one another, neither one giving the other their back.

“You can try,” Radek tells him, “but I’m guessing it’s going to be your ass on the floor bleeding out in front of your girlfriend in a few minutes.”

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