Page 91 of Blood Oath Christmas
"Agent Cole was feeding information to Vadim," Viktor continues, his voice steady but grim. "She and Vadim have been sleeping together for months. Word is, they actually care for each other, which makes this whole thing messier. Maksim approached her, wanting to turn evidence against the family in exchange for immunity and a new life."
My stomach churns. Maksim, one of the main guys assigned to protect me. The man who stood beside Konstantin through so much.
"The plan was elegant in its simplicity," Viktor says, and I hear the disgust in his tone. "Get rid of Ivy so she couldn't testify against Vadim while simultaneously gathering evidence against us through whatever she might overhear or witness. Two birds, one stone."
I glance at Konstantin, and for just a moment, I see it—the flash of hurt that crosses his features before his mask slides back into place. But I caught it, that brief glimpse of the man beneath the Mafia boss, the one who trusted Maksim like a brother.
My heart aches for him. I know what betrayal feels like, but this… this is different. This is family turning against family, and in Konstantin's world, that's the deepest cut of all.
"Bring him to me," Konstantin says, his voice quiet and cold as winter steel. "Now."
Viktor nods and steps out, leaving us alone. The silence stretches between us, heavy with unspoken words. I want to reach for him, to offer comfort, but I know better. Right now, he's not my husband. He's the head of the Mikhailov family, and he has a duty to perform.
"You don't have to stay for this,moya dusha," he says without looking at me, his gaze fixed on the door.
"Yes, I do." The words come out stronger than I feel. "I'm part of this family now, Konstantin. For better or worse, remember?"
He turns to look at me then, those green eyes searching my face. "This isn't going to be easy to watch."
"I know." I stand and move to his side, placing my hand on his shoulder. The muscle is tense beneath my palm. "But I need to be here. We're in this together."
Something shifts in his expression, a warmth that cuts through the cold mask. He covers my hand with his, squeezing gently. "Together," he agrees.
The door opens, and Viktor returns with Maksim. My former friend walks in with his usual confident stride, that easy smile on his face. He has no idea what's coming, and somehow, that makes it worse.
"Boss," Maksim says, settling into the chair across from the desk. "Viktor said you wanted to see me. Everything okay?"
Konstantin leans back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. When he speaks, his voice is conversational, almost friendly. "Tell me about Agent Cole."
I watch Maksim's face carefully, and I see the tiny flicker of panic before he schools his features. "Agent Cole? The FBI agent who was supposed to be protecting Ivy? What about her?"
"How long have you been feeding her information?"
The question hangs in the air like a blade. Maksim's face goes pale, then flushes red. "What? Konstantin, what are you talking about? I would never?—”
"Don't." The single word cuts through Maksim's protests like a knife. Konstantin's voice drops to that dangerous whisper that makes my skin prickle. "Don't insult my intelligence by lying to me."
Maksim's composure cracks. "You don't understand. This family, this life, it's not what it used to be. Your father, he had vision. He had?—”
"My father is dead." Konstantin stands slowly, and I can feel the menace rolling off him in waves. "Killed by the Antonovs while you stood by and watched."
"I was following orders!" Maksim jumps to his feet, his face twisted with anger and desperation. "I was protecting the family's interests!"
"By betraying us to the FBI? By putting my wife in danger?" Konstantin's voice never rises, but the temperature in the room seems to drop ten degrees.
"It should have been me," Maksim snarls, all pretense gone now. "When your father died, it should have been me who took over. I've bled for this family, sacrificed for it. But no, it goes to the golden boy, the precious son who was handed everything."
The words hit their mark. I see Konstantin flinch, just slightly, but he recovers quickly. "And so you decided to destroy what you couldn't have."
"I decided to save what was left of it." Maksim's chest heaves with emotion. "You're weak, Konstantin. Marrying some outsider, bringing her into our business. Your father would be ashamed."
The silence that follows is deafening. I can hear my own heartbeat, can feel the tension crackling between the two men like electricity. When Konstantin finally speaks, his voice is deadly calm.
"Viktor, gather the family. The field behind the east barn. Ten minutes."
Viktor nods and disappears again. Maksim's face goes white as he realizes what's happening.
"Konstantin, please. We've been friends since we were children. We?—”
