Page 41 of Vitaly

“Well?” is all he asks.

I’ve been dreading this moment. He wants answers I don’t have in timeframes that are impossible to achieve. And now more than ever, I truly don’t believe I’m ever going to know what Vitaly is planning. I don’t think he plans to tell a soul. Certainly not me.

The most powerful gift you’ll ever receive is your enemybelievingthey know your intention. Do not ever reveal it. Everything you do should come as a surprise.

All I know is what he tells me. And what he tells me is, based on his own philosophy, a lie.

But it’s all I have for Nikita.

“I don’t know how true it is, but so far, all he seems to want is me.” I keep my voice so even, I’m positive he can’t tell it’s a lie. “Like you said, he feels he has a right to me. I think he’ll tell me more, but it’ll take time to build his trust.”

Seconds pass before Nikita nods. “Fine. Start earning it today.”

“Yes, sir.” I move when he nudges my back. My heart beats wildly as I head up the stairs to prepare for my first day as a soldier, a title I truly didn’t earn. It’s all fake. I’m no soldier.

I’m just a temporary spy.

12

MILA

“So who’s driving?” Vitaly asks as he walks behind me toward the same SUV my assailants drove. I don’t even know if anyone has cleaned it. It could still smell like a corpse.

“I don’t drive.”

I walk around to the passenger side and slip my hand from my leather jacket to open the door. My hair swings in a high ponytail when I climb in and rest my hands in my lap, the suede material of my black pants warm against my palm.

Vitaly climbs behind the wheel and starts the engine. “Too good for it?”

I flick my gaze his way. “What?”

“You said you don’t drive. What are you, the queen?”

I roll my eyes at his teasing tone and stare out the windshield as he drives through the gate. Conversation needs to happen. It must happen, so it’s lucky for me that Vitaly is chatty.

But it’s going to make for a long day.

And my driving, or rather mynotdriving, will not be the first topic. It is kind of sad that I don’t know how. I’d rather he just think I’m stuck-up.

“Think we’ll run into Alik today?” he asks when we’re a mile or so down the road.

Alik. I nearly laugh.

“If I were you, I would hope not.”

Vitaly takes his eyes off the road to glance at me, obviously wanting more.

“You know how you ruined my family’s legacy, and I hate your fucking guts for it?”

He doesn’t respond.

“Yeah, well, if there’s any one person in the world who hates you more, it’s Alik. You got him tortured, right? You’re the reason he has that red iris?”

Still, Vitaly doesn’t respond.

“Plus, he was a soldier for a long time, you know. Like assassin shit. Clean-up crew until Nikita took him under his thumb, and he isloyalfor it. The only reason Nikita made him underboss is because Alik is trustworthy, and Alik is trustworthy only because he fucking hates you and will do anything it takes to keep Nikita in charge.”

Because if Nikita isn’t in charge … it would be so easy for Vitaly to take over. Half the Bratva is hoping for that. But not Alik. Definitely not Alik.

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