Page 57 of Vitaly

Settimo Gruco is the don of the Italian mafia. Nikita’s worst enemy.

“Wow… I’ve missed so much,” I say, mystified.

Pity shines in her eyes as she gives me a kind smile.

“Alexa Volcov lost her virginity.” I shake my head like I can’t believe it.

Her jaw drops, and she slaps my chest, a laugh bellowing out of her. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“That you were prude as hell.”

“Thatis the Bratva way. Or did you forget?”

“Not the Italian way, obviously.”

“Actually, I waited until my wedding day.”

“Did you really?” I grin, thinking of Settimo Gruco waiting to get laid.

Biting her lower lip, she hums like she’s considering lying then shakes her head. “No, actually, I lost it right outside this bathroom.”

“Seriously?” I laugh. “Gross.”

She laughs with me, her face flushing red. As her laugh trails, she looks away, several seconds passing between us while we allow the friendly banter to come to an end.

“Right, so anyway,” Alexa goes on, obviously uncomfortable. “Whatever you have planned, I wanted you to know, the Italians are behind you one hundred percent. We’ve been to war oncesince Nikita took over and have flirted with a second every day since. With the understanding that there will bepeacebetween our organizations when you take over, we’ll help you take him out.”

My arms cross over my chest as I lean against the white, cinder block wall. “And what will you do to his followers who may not be so open to his assassination? I imagine there would be quite a few if I use the help of ourrivalsto kill him.”

“Every single person you tell us to take out, we will take out. Plain and simple. We just need to know who, where, and when.”

I run my tongue along my teeth. “Convenient for your hubby to weaken the Bratva at the Bratva’s command. What an opportunity for him.”

Her round cheeks pinch as she glares. “Did you miss the part where I said we wantedpeace? This would be us helping you.”

“Why?”

“BecauseNikita?—”

“Could’ve been assassinated by your husband at any time, and yet he’s chosen to let him live. Because we both know killing Nikita isn’t worth the war it would bring the Italians. You wantmeto stop that war from happening. It’s clever, Alex. Really, it is, but?—”

“Vitaly, listen to me.” Alex closes the distance between us to place her hands on my arms. The way she looks at me makes the smug playfulness I feel evaporate. She looks serious…Emotional. Like this isn’t a business venture. Like this is personal.

“Whoever you think Nikita is, scratch it from memory. He is vile beyond belief, and right now, I promise you, he has a plan to kill you in the most wretched, sadistic way. He isn’t sitting back waiting for you to make a move, Ipromiseyou. He is more fucked up than your grandfather could’ve tried to be. I get that you think tearing down the Bratva would be in the Italians’ bestinterest, butNikitais tearing down the Bratva. He kills more of his own people than the Italians have ever touched. No one with Russian blood in this city is safe as long as he’s alive,especiallynot you.”

No one with Russian blood in this city is safe.

No one.

Not even Alexa. Or more likely, her family. Her friends.

That’s what this is about. It isn’t about her husband or even the Italians. It’s about her.

I sigh. “Settimo has no idea you’re here, does he?”

Her face twists with guilt as she lets her hands fall from my arms and takes a step back. She doesn’t answer, which says enough.

Of course he doesn’t know. He doesn’t knowme. He’d never send his wife to a park at one in the morning to meet a hardened criminal known for getting his father and friends killed.

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