Page 154 of Bound By Revenge

Nik pauses for the briefest moment before asking, “How did you do it? Kill Maxim, I mean.”

Dmitri exhales heavily, and his fingers move to the gold necklace around his neck. He pulls it out from beneath his shirt. “The room was dark. Maxim had a few drinks in him. He didn’t hear me come up behind him. I used this,” Dmitri says, running his fingers over the chain. “Wrapped it around his neck, and that was it. I left him where you found him.”

Nik’s face remains stoic, but I can see the pain in his eyes, as clear as day. Even smothered by Dmitri’s hand, silent tears spill down my face—for Nik, for myself, and even for Dmitri.

“I didn’t want to kill Maxim, you know,” Dmitri says quietly, his voice raw with regret. “I tried to resist my father. I really did. But he wouldn’t let it go. Maxim had to die that night.”

Dmitri’s jaw tightens, his grip on me faltering for just a second. “During the party, he called me,” he continues, his voice breaking slightly. “Made sure I could hear her cries through the phone… just to make sure I’d follow through with his plan.”

The gala’s surveillance feeds. The call we saw Dmitri take…

It hits me like a freight train. I was even more of a pawn in the stronzo’s game than I realized. Just like Dmitri said, his father had been steadfast and specific about the terms of myassignment. I had to steal Nik’s diamond that night—nothing else would do. Every move I made was part of a much bigger puzzle, and I hadn’t even realized I was a piece of it.

“All of this because of Erin and Lorenzo?” Nik asks, disbelief coloring his tone.

“That’s part of it, I’m sure,” Dmitri says with a grim nod. “But not the whole picture. My father never let go of the humiliation Maxim—and, by extension, you—put him through with Erin. But it was more than that. He never accepted that the Russians and the Irish run things now. He’d love nothing more than to see you and McGuire to destroy each other. And he knew the bad blood between you two would make it easy to start a war.”

Nik sighs, low and frustrated, the sound cutting through the cold, still air. “He wasn’t wrong about that. But that doesn’t mean he gets to win. We can turn this around. Destroy him, save your girl, and figure out how to handle the Irish. You and I are family, Dmitri. We'll work this out. Just let Kat go.”

Dmitri exhales shakily, and for a moment, I think he might actually listen. But when he speaks again, his voice is filled with quiet defeat. “I can’t tell you how much I wish I could believe you. But I know you too well. You can’t possibly mean that—not after everything I’ve done. If it were just about me, I’d take the chance. But I can’t betherlife on it.”

Nik sighs slowly, his broad shoulders sinking slightly, and for the first time, his gaze shifts away from Dmitri. His dark eyes find mine, and for a moment, the rest of the room fades away.

The chill in the air disappears as his eyes roam over me, as lovingly as a caress, like he’s trying to memorize every detail. There’s something in his expression—something raw and unguarded—that makes my breath catch.

When his gaze finally locks back on mine, something in his eyes makes me want to weep.

“I understand,” he says softly, the words heavy with emotion. His eyes stay fixed on me as his tone drops, steady and calm. “Take me instead.”

Chapter 55

Kat

Dmitri’sclammy hand smothers my scream, trapping it in my throat. I shake my head frantically, trying to beg Nik with my eyes.Don’t do this. Please don’t do this.

Nik looks at me, his dark brown eyes glowing with warmth and affection. He studies me for one long, heart-wrenching moment before turning his focus back to Dmitri.

“Think about it, Dmitri—you don’t need Kat if you have me,” Nik says, his tone calm but commanding. “I’m worth more as a hostage. With me, you’ll have all the leverage you need. Let her go, and I’ll go with you willingly.”

Dmitri’s grip on me tightens slightly, but he doesn’t respond.

Nik presses on. “You can bring me to your father and make your demands. Tell him to summon the Seven Families to witness me surrendering thebratvato the Italians. In exchange, he lets Kat, her friend, and you go. And he frees your girl. That’s the deal. I’ll even give give him information he can use to fuck with McGuire. He won’t refuse.”

I thrash as hard as I can against Dmitri’s iron grip, trying to break free. But he doesn't even flinch. He’s too strong, restraining me with a casual lack of effort that feels almost insulting.

“He’ll kill you, Nik,” Dmitri says, his voice low, almost regretful. “The second you surrender, you’re dead.”

“I know,” Nik says simply.

“You’d have to lose your phone,” Dmitri adds with a sigh. “And disarm yourself.”

Nik pulls out his phone and gun without a second thought, sliding both across the floor toward Dmitri.

“Done,” he says, with an unsettling calmness, as if this is just another business deal.

The tears come fast and hot. I sob against Dmitri’s hand, the sound muffled but unstoppable.This can’t be real. This can’t be happening.

“I need to restrain you too, Nik,” Dmitri says firmly, his eyes fixed on Nik.

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