Page 45 of Cruel Russian Monster
My fingers gripped his shirt tight at the collar, my face inches from his.
Marten and Pyotr rushed to my side but didn’t move to stop me. They knew better.
I allowed Avit his say at my house, now he needed a reminder of who the fuck I was.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I growled. “You think because you're my brother, you can talk to me like that? Have you suddenly lost all respect for me and my title in this family?”
I shoved him harder against the wall. He kept his mouth shut.
“While you're locked away behind those goddamn club doors, I’m the one spilling blood to keep this family breathing. I’m the one out there, day after fucking day, holding the line.”
I stepped back half an inch, still holding him.
“I am the one catching bullets, taking the heat. All to ensure that Lev comes home every damn day to his wife and child. To make sure every damn day our faction leader and brother is safe.”
I finally let go and jabbed a finger into his chest.
“With our men dying every fucking week, our human resources are dwindling. We have no allies, Avit. No fucking backup. We needed a different strategy. By tying Vera to me, to this faction, Artyom has no choice but to stand down, or he risks killing his own sister.”
I clenched my fists trying to reel in my anger, and Avit still glared at me, as though every damn thing I was saying was entering one ear and going out the other.
“And even if that sadistic fuck doesn’t care,” I continued, “Zahkar and Yegor will. They'll ensure that those fucking Rykov soldiers stay on their turf. Once we have Artyom and his fucking shit under control, we can work on rebuilding alliances and recruiting help to find out who the fuck has been terrorizing our faction and who kidnapped Katya.”
This time, his glare faltered. I pressed my finger against his chest.
“So until you are on the battlefield every fucking day, don't you fucking dare come at me for trying to keep myself, my men, and my fucking family safe.”
I didn’t look back as I walked out.
As I headed to the car, Ninel and Mariya were already on their way toward me. Ninel stopped in front of me, forcing me to halt. Without a word, she pulled me into a hug. Mariya followed.
“We love you, Jaroslav,” Ninel whispered. “We may not say it enough, but thank you. For everything you do for us.”
Mariya kissed my cheek. “We love Vera, too. She’s a keeper. We’ll find a way through this.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, jaw still clenched.
They turned back toward the house while I kept walking toward the car.
Vera was leaning against the passenger side door, arms folded, eyes shooting daggers.
I didn't say anything. I just unlocked the car and opened the door for her. Once she was settled, I hopped into the driver's seat.
The drive back to the house was tense as fuck. Vera was looking out the window while I tried to focus on the road.
Tonight hadn't gone as expected…and it wasn't because Lev didn't take the news well. Even though I told my brothers he would, I knew after all the shit that went down between Artyom and Lev, he would push back against the decision.
The unexpectedness came solely from Vera.
Like what the fuck?
Why would she come to my defense after everything I had done? Shouldn't she have been agreeing with Lev, begging him to talk me into annulling our marriage since we hadn't had sex yet, and getting her back home?
Not only did she go defend me, but fuck, she went hard on Lev.
And seeing her stand her ground was like a fucking aphrodisiac.
Did she lie about anything she said?
