Page 43 of Cruel Russian Monster
“How the hell could you make a decision like this without consulting me? Have you even considered how this could backfire on the faction…on all of us?”
Jaroslav stood, too. His shoulders were squared, voice calm, but I saw the slight twitch in his jaw.
“Lev, it’s a good idea. We just have to…”
“Just have to what, Jaroslav?” Lev snapped, taking a step forward. “March up to Artyom’s front door and say, ‘Hi there, surprise! Vera and I are married!?’”
“With Vera here, he’ll have no choice but to cease fire,” Jaroslav insisted.
“Or he’ll tell every ally he has that we kidnapped her and forced her into marriage, and rip through this entire faction in the name of rescuing her!” Lev snarled.
He stepped right up to Jaroslav now, nose to nose.
Jaroslav’s fists clenched tight at his sides, his shoulders tensed.
“You are my underboss. I trusted you to make the right calls for this faction. I’ve always trusted you.”
Lev’s voice dropped, like he was holding on to a thread that was ready to snap at any second.
“But this? This decision right here?” He pointed at me. “The one you made without talking to me or anyone else here? This could be the death of all of us.”
Seeing a man like Jaroslav, who carried ten feet of presence in every room, being cut down like a tree didn't sit well with me.
It not only made my stomach turn, but it pissed me the hell off.
“The death of whom, Lev?” I snapped, shooting to my feet.
All heads swiveled in my direction.
“The only thing dying here is the power your faction’s held onto for decades.”
Lev glared at me, stunned, but that didn't stop him from responding.
“You think you have the right to stand there and disrespect me in my home because I allowed you to build a relationship with my wife?” he sneered.
I ignored Lev's question completely, forging forward with the point I was trying to make.
“If Ninel or Mariya were over in Rykov territory, would you attack it?” I asked, voice cold.
His nostrils flared. But I could see the wheels turning in his head.
“Based on your silence, you wouldn’t. Because you wouldn’t risk your sister getting hurt.”
I stepped forward, heart pounding.
“Jaroslav did what he thought was best since all of your efforts to stop Artyom have been a dead end. He did what he thought would prevent the death of your faction and your family.”
“He could've consulted me,” Lev snapped.
“And you would've told him no!”
“Vera…” Jaroslav's voice was soft, but it was filled with a warning. A warning I didn't give a shit about.
I looked around the room.
“I've seen Jaroslav around all of you over the past few months while visiting Katya, and he has nothing but love and respect for all of you.”
Then I drove my last point home, refocusing on Lev.
