Page 130 of Toxic Temptation
“I think you know.”
He smiles, a malicious display of gleaming veneers. “Ah, yes. Your little doctor.” He leans back, studying me. “Pretty thing. Doesn’t look like she belongs in your world.”
I’m across the table before I realize I’ve moved, my hand wrapped around his throat. “Her name is Vesper. And you’re going to stay the fuck away from her.”
“Touchy, touchy.” He doesn’t struggle against my grip. Doesn’t even look concerned. “She’s already in this, boy. The moment you brought her into our family, she became fair game.”
“She’s not part of this business.”
“Tell that to her slashed tires.”
My grip tightens. “That was you.”
“Of course it was me.” The sound of his laugh grates on my nerves. “What did you think would happen? That you could parade some innocent around and expect no one to notice? To use her?”
I want to crush his windpipe. Want to watch the life leave his eyes. But that would make me exactly what he thinks I am—weak. Emotional. A man who can’t control himself.
I let go and sit back down.
“Let’s cut the bullshit,” I say. “You want her gone so you can sabotage the custody case. Except we both know you don’t give a damn about Luka.”
“You’re right. I don’t.” He reaches for another joint, lights it with steady hands. “But I do care about what the boy means to you.”
It takes everything I have to hide my grimace.
“You’d do anything for him,” Ihor continues, smoke curling around his face. “Kill for him. Die for him. It’s pathetic, really. A grown man brought to his knees by an eight-year-old.”
“Watch your mouth.”
“Why? Because you’ll hurt me?” He takes a long drag, eyes never leaving mine. “You can’t touch me, Kovan. Not as long as I have leverage over the boy. And we both know Yana listens to me now.”
My hands curl into fists under the table. “Name your price. What do you want for Luka?”
“Such a simple question. Such a complicated answer.” He studies the glowing tip of his joint like it holds all the secrets of the universe. “See, if I give you the boy, you have no reason to keep me around anymore. No reason to cut me in on the profitable ventures. No reason to pretend we’re family.”
“You have my word?—”
“Your word?” He throws his head back and cackles. “Your word is worthless. I need insurance. Luka is my insurance.”
“He’s not a fucking pawn.”
“Wrong. That’s exactly what he is.” Ihor gestures to the photo behind the bar. “You want to know why I never respected you or your brothers? Why my loyalty died with your father?”
I don’t answer, but he continues anyway.
“Because you’re all weak. Every last one of you. You, Vitalii, Pavel… disgusting. Your father was strong. Ruthless. He ruled with his head, not his heart. But you?” His lips curl with disgust. “You’re slaves to your emotions. You fall in love, you get attached, and then you act surprised when someone uses it against you.” He stands, smoothing down his jacket. “A real leader can’t afford to love, Kovan. Love is a weakness. A blind spot. A knife waiting to slide between your ribs.”
“Is that what happened to Vitalii?”
“Vitalii died because he loved the wrong woman. Because he put his heart before his brain. Because he was weak.” Ihor’s eyes glitter with satisfaction. “Just like you.” He starts to walk away, then pauses. “Thanks for the chat. You should visit more often. It’s good for the men to see theirpakhanfrom time to time.”
Again, I barely manage to suppress the urge to execute him here and now. If it weren’t for Luka, that’s exactly what I’d do.
But he knows that. Ihor knows exactly what he’s doing—undermining my authority, questioning my strength, making me look like the same scared kid who used to hide behind his older brother.
But as I watch him walk away, something cold and hard settles in my chest.
He’s right about one thing: Love is a knife.
