Page 4 of Relentless Knight

I won’t let my strength fail me anymore.

I would rather die than survive like that.

The Kings rescued me, after five years of fighting tooth and nail to live as a gutter rat. For that, I will be forever grateful to their family. Indebted really. And now that I’ve learned what it means to take life by the balls, I will never be a victim of it again. Not even to something as trivial as the pain of stitches.

“You’re not the only one with men to think of here!” Tatiana shouts, her commanding voice slicing through my errant thoughts and bringing me back to their argument.

I glance in her direction to ensure she’s not demonstrating any violent tendencies before turning my eyes back to Quinn’s talented hands. Not that I really expect Natasha’s sister to get physical. Natasha might know how to handle herself in a fight—I’ve seen the younger Sokolov sister throw knives with lethal precision. But Tatiana’s skill is in her intellect.

And though I would follow Killian into any battle, I can’t deny that Tatiana’s tactical intelligence is unparalleled. She’s not wrong. If her men had held up their end of the plan she put in place, I wouldn’t have had to step in at the end and we all could have made it out without a scratch. But strategy and planning wasn’t where the scheme fell short.

“Well, maybe that’s the problem,” Killian counters, voicing my opinion. “You’re so focused on your men, you haven’t taken into account what happens whenmymen have to finish the job you can’t. You need better men.Reliablemen.”

“I’m sorry. Are you blaming this on me?” Tatiana asks, waving in my direction. “Because it kind of sounded like that whenyou’rethe one who jumped the gun. I told you to hang back, and look what happened because you can’t listen?—”

“Enough!” Natasha insists, cutting her sister off as she steps out of Killian’s arms. “We’re on the same side here. Remember? And let’s not forget that the missionwassuccessful—even if it didn’t go off without a hitch. The only way we’re going to work together is if we stop squabbling and find a way to do it better next time.”

“I’m fine,” I insist because I know Killian’s going to bat for me as much as he is to antagonize Tatiana. And while he might enjoy razzing the youngpakhansha, I can tell she’s stressed over her new reign.

I suspect it’s because she’s having a hard time keeping her father’s men in line. They seem less inclined to respect her command since she’s a woman—even if she’s clearly more intelligent than the majority of the men I’ve seen in charge. But I recognize the dissent in her ranks that wasn’t there under her father’s rule.

It’s not a surprise in our male-dominant world.

They probably don’t like taking orders from a woman. And though I would have no issue with it, especially considering how spot-on her strategies have been, I don’t doubt they consider it emasculating. Typical Bratva men.

As far as I’m aware, she’s the first female mafia boss of any kind in New York.

And her ascension happened both unexpectedly and after the brutal murder of her parents, without her father announcing her succession. None of which has helped her claim.

Quinn casts me a look that says she disagrees with my assessment that I’m fine. But I’ve had worse and survived. It wasa clean cut. The guy didn’t pierce any vital organs, and with her expertise, I’ll be as good as new in no time.

“All I’m saying is Lance wouldn’t have been hurt at all if you’d let me manage my men,” Tatiana gripes.

“And all I’m saying is we handled it so Lucian’s captain couldn’t slip through our fingers. Again. You’re welcome.” Killian flashes a wolfish grin.

As they fall into another bout of bickering, I roll my eyes and turn my attention to Quinn as a distraction. “How’s school going?” I ask.

It’s my default question for her because if there’s one subject I know will get her talking, it’s nursing. And I enjoy hearing about her passion. No one talks quite like Quinn—it’s as if her cup is brimming with enthusiasm, and whenever someone takes the time to share in her interest, that zeal overflows until the room is bursting with vibrant energy.

“This last semester just might kill me,” she admits, her hands never pausing their work. But her lips curl into a smile that tells me she loves it all the same. “Between the hours doing clinicals and studying for the NCLEX, I think the term ‘exhaustion’ has taken on a whole new meaning. But the information is fascinating, and I’m enjoying the NICU a lot more than I thought I would. I’m excited to graduate, though, and start putting my degree to use.”

“Aren’t you doing that already?” I ask, glancing pointedly at her hands.

Quinn laughs, the bubbly sound effortless and melodic. And it fills the room with a levity that breaks the growing tension in Tatiana’s corner.

“You have a point,” Quinn says, her smile radiant as she ties off her final knot and snips the thread.

“What’s funny?” Killian asks, turning his attention to us and ending the squabble.

“Lance was just pointing out that I’m already putting my nursing degree to use.” Quinn applies antiseptic ointment to my wound with a light, delicate touch that sends a shiver down my spine. Then she follows it up by applying a square of gauze that she tapes over my perfectly symmetrical stitches.

“You better not be trying to convince her to stay on after she graduates,” Killian warns.

Color pools in Quinn’s cheeks, and she glances up through her thick lashes to meet my eyes momentarily. Then she drops her gaze back to the bandage she’s taking extra care to secure.

I just shake my head. I wouldn’t dare ask that of her.

“Good,” Killian says, pulling Natasha back into his arms.

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