Page 47 of Merciless Union
“No,” I say. “Don’t kill him.”
Erik curls his hand into a fist. I force him off me with a resounding punch, and he falls to his knees. I stand up and kick him in the stomach, making him groan.
I continue kicking him and kicking him until he’s a heap on the floor. Alive but in serious pain.
“I want you to remember this day, Erik. Remember the day I killed your father. I have power over you. I always will. So, no, I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to let you live with this reminder—never fuck me over.” I spit on him. “There will always be consequences. You can be loyal to me or get the fuck out of the Bratva. You won’t be a made man any longer. Your choice.”
He looks up at me with so much anger. “You’re going to regret this one day, Maxim. Mark my words.”
“I look forward to it. Now tell me where the fucking drugs are.”
He sighs, dropping his head. “They’re in a warehouse in Brooklyn.”
I nod at Nik. “Get the address from him. I’m done here.” I glance at Vladimir. “And send someone to clean up the body. Make sure everyone knows this will happen to them if they disobey me.”
I storm out of the house and to my car. The car door rattles as I slam it shut. My hands clench around the steering wheel.
I let out a primal ror, hitting the wheel with my fist. Then I fall silent.
None of this was supposed to happen.
Becoming head of the Bratva should have been easier, considering I was just following in my father’s footsteps. And now with Arina’s mother dying and her distance from me, I don’t know what to do.
I need to put an end to Stepan. I need to get back in my wife’s good graces, not that I ever really was to begin with.
I need to make a change.
I drive away, trusting Nik to handle everything. I keep driving until I reach George’s house.
Compared to all the banging I did on Stepan’s door, the gentle knock on George’s door seems so quiet in comparison.
He answers, looking haggard. “Mr. Petrov? It’s good to see you. Please, come in.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, stepping inside. The house feels much more silent and dead than the last time I was here—the day Arina came into my life.
“Would you like something to eat?” he asks.
“No. You must be going through a lot right now. You don’t need to wait on me hand and foot. Today, I’m not your boss. I’m here as your friend.”
He blinks, tears forming in his eyes. “Thank you.”
“I’m here to offer my condolences about your wife. Oksana was a nice woman, the little bit I talked to her. But her influence on Arina is clear. Your daughter is a strong, confident woman. You should be proud.”
He sniffs. “I am. Thank you. Her mother was the best woman I ever knew. I’ll miss her every day of my life.”
The love he feels for his departed wife is clear in every word he says. I wonder, will I ever feel love like that? Is it even possible for me? Do I even want to, knowing how much pain it would cause me if I lost it?
“I’m here because I wanted to offer you something,” I say. “Let me plan the funeral.”
“Oh. I, uh, don’t know what to say.”
I hold up a hand. “Let me plan it as a gift of sorts for you and Arina. I want to make things easier on you both. If Oksana had any wishes for her funeral, send me the information, and I’ll plan the best funeral for your wife. The one she would have wanted.”
A tear slips down his cheek. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. Petrov.”
“Maxim, please.”
He takes a step towards me. “I know it’s not common, but could I hug you? For your generosity?”
