Page 54 of Relentless Knight

“Not men. Man. I’ll do it,” Lance says.

And my heart sinks.

27

LANCE

God love my foster brother for coming to the same conclusion as I did without me having to say it. The only problem now will be breaking the news to Quinn. But after last night, I know what has to happen. And it has to be me.

“Not a chance,” Killian growls. “I’m sick of sitting back and letting you two have all the fun. I’m killing the bastard who I should have killed long ago.”

I know he’s referring to the day Lucian hinted at forming an alliance against Boris Sokolov. He still feels guilty for not putting an end to the Italian’s brash idea to kill the Russianpakhan. But neither of us had believed Lucian would be crazy enough to assassinate Boris. And it was too late when we realized his boastful speech was actually the foundation to a plan he’d already hatched.

“You’re not going alone,” I state.

“No, I’m taking you with me,” Killian agrees.

Normally, I would take him up on the offer in a heartbeat. Riding into battle with Killian is one of the best feelings in the world, brothers in arms crushing our enemies as one. But if this conflict has taught me one thing, it’s that Quinn won’t survivethe loss of her brother. If one of us has to die, it’s going to be me. I can’t risk the Kings losing our boss. And he knows that—even if he doesn’t want to admit it.

“One would be quieter. And I know where I’m going. If we’re doing this, we need to get it done fast and get it done right. The mission has a higher chance of success if I go in alone.”

Killian’s jaw works as he grinds his teeth in frustration. I know how desperately he wants to see the light leave Lucian’s eyes. But I can see the resignation in the set of his shoulders even before he speaks up.

“Fine,” he growls.

“Um, no,” Tatiana interjects, crossing her arms over her ample breasts so the cleavage shows above her designer dress. “Not fine. Who put you two in charge? Last I recall, this wasmyfight that you agreed tohelpwith.”

Hackles rising, I fight to keep my irritation under control because we’re well past the point of this conflict belonging to the Sokolov sisters alone. Tatiana might not know it yet, but Lucian has threatened the woman I love more than once, and I won’t let it happen a third time.

“Who would you suggest, then?” I demand, crossing my arms over my chest. “From where I’m sitting, you don’t have a single man in your ranks that you can trust beyond a doubt. And that’s what we need for this mission.”

“As it just so happens,” Tatiana hisses. “I have the perfect person for the job—my father’s secret weapon.”

I haven’t heard hide nor hair about the Sokolovs’ secret weapon in so long, I’d started to wonder if he went into retirement—or died alongside Boris at the charity event where Lucian Agosti and his men gunned the oldpakhandown. And I frown as I wait for a better explanation.

But Killian bristles immediately, sitting forward as he grips the arms of his chair. “Absolutely not,” he snarls, earning asurprised look from both me and Tatiana. His green eyes blaze as he glares down the Russianpakhansha, and for the first time, she actually looks a little taken aback.

Then her chin rises in a look of proud defiance. “Oh, what? You think your man is somehow superior?” she snaps back, her expression imperious.

“No, I?—”

Before Killian can give his reason, the office door swings wide, and Quinn and Natasha stalk in, their expressions stormy. It’s clear they picked up on enough of our conversation to know what’s going on. And neither looks particularly happy about our decision.

Killian tenses as his eyes meet Natasha’s, and he gives the slightest shake of his head. But whatever their silent exchange means, I can tell they’re at odds. Because she crosses her arms over her chest and strides forward to stand behind Tatiana.

“If you’re discussing who gets to kill Lucian Agosti, I’m throwing my name into the hat,” Natasha states boldly, her silver eyes daring Killian to say no.

Stunned speechless, I look between the newlyweds, trying to make sense of what the hell is going on.Natasha intends to kill Lucian herself?I know the girl is good with self-defense, and she can throw a mean knife. But she’s hardly a hardened soldier.Before the charity ball, when she killed a man to protect Killian, had she even taken a life before?

Glancing toward Quinn, I realize she must be as lost as I am. Because her green eyes are wide as they dart between the two Russian sisters and her brother. But the other three are having some kind of deadlock stare-down that tells me we’ve been intentionally left out of the loop. And as Killian and Natasha glare at each other, Tatiana sits back in her chair, pursing her lips in a look of smug satisfaction.

“No,” Killian says flatly. He practically snarls it, and I’ve never seen him so angry at Natasha before.

“What is going on?” Quinn asks quietly, her voice bordering on nervous.

My instincts tell me to go to her, to shelter her in my arms. But we still haven’t had a chance to talk to Killian yet. He woke me not two hours after I went back to my room and dragged me down here for this meeting.

I wait for Killian to speak up, but for once, his lips remain sealed as he holds Natasha in a steely gaze. And with a long-suffering sigh, she turns to Tatiana.

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