Page 32 of Sinful Union

The door swings open before I can respond, and Vlad steps in. His glare sweeps between us, reading the tension instantly.

“What’s going on? Are the two of you having a meeting that I’m not a part of?”

Piotr doesn’t hesitate before speaking. He doesn’t even glance my way before replying to our brother. “Kat lacks the guts to move forward with our plan. We may need to resort to other measures.”

I stiffen. The anger that had been simmering beneath my skin finally spills over. I stand and step toward Piotr’s desk, planting my hands on the polished surface, leaning in. “Excuse me?”

Piotr shrugs, as if my reaction doesn’t faze him. “If you won’t do it, I’ll find someone who will.”

Rage ignites in my chest. “You don’t get to decide that,” I snap.

Piotr smirks. “Don’t I?”

My hands tighten into fists. “I am not a cold-blooded killer, Piotr. I won’t kill a man without proof, without a damn good reason.”

He tilts his head, looking at me like I’ve now become a problem that needs to be solved. I can tell he’s pissed, barely holding it together.

“Where the hell is this coming from?” he asks, his voice rising. “While we were formulating the plan, you were chomping at the goddamn bit to see Pavel dead. In fact, you were adamant about being the one to do it. And now, suddenly, you’re getting cold feet and making excuses.”

He has me there. I wasn’t a helpless little bystander in the plan. I’d helped put it together, promised to see it through.I purse my lips. “I just want to be certain, that’s all.”

The air in the room is thick, suffocating. A silent battle waged in glares and clenched fists.

Vlad clears his throat, stepping between us. “Enough,” he says firmly, “both of you.”

Piotr leans back in his chair once again, exhaling loudly as if we’ve exhausted him. “This was never supposed to be this complicated. He should already be dead.”

Vlad’s eyes flick to me. “I think it was always going to be complicated.”

Piotr scoffs, shaking his head. “No, she’s just making it that way.”

I inhale sharply, clenching my teeth to keep from screaming. Piotr acts like this is all so simple. As if taking a life—takingthislife, in particular—is just another business transaction. But it isn’t. Not for me. Not for Vlad, either, apparently.

Vlad crosses his arms over his chest, his jaw tight. “She wants time,” he says. “Give it to her.”

Piotr levels him with a cold stare. “Are you kidding? She doesn’t deserve more time. If you ask me, she’s grown weak. She’s simply stalling.”

“Screw you, Piotr,” I shoot back.

Piotr looks at me with that infuriatingly calm and amused expression.“I have proof.”

My heart kicks up. Finally. “Then show me,” I challenge.

His smirk is slow and condescending. “I can’t. The man who told me died three years ago.”

The rush of anticipation that had flared turns to ash. I laugh. I can’t help it. The situation is so ridiculous that all I can do is laugh. Even Vlad’s serious expression cracks for a moment.

“What’s so goddamn funny?” he asks.

“That’s not proof, Piotr, that’s a fucking rumor from a dead man.”

His gaze hardens.

I say, “Like I told you, I’m going to do some digging, whether you like it or not.”

Piotr’s gaze darkens, his jaw tightening. “You’ll do what you’re told.”

“No, I won’t.” The air ignites, the disparities between us erupting in an instant.

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