Page 76 of Married to the Don (Kornilov Bratva Duet 1)

“You mean your honor.”

Fedor turns to me, eyes narrowed. “My honor is our honor. We share the last name.”

I sigh and try to come up with the words to explain to Fedor that he has to get his shit together or get lost, but before I can, my phone buzzes. I pull it out and see Rio Mazzeo’s name on the screen.

“Who is it?” Fedor asks.

I ignore him and open the text.

“Are they more important than me?” he shouts. “Are you going to ignore me while I’m standing right in front of you now? Goddamn it! I don’t know why I even got out of prison. Nothing has changed. You don’t tell me shit.”

I slam the phone down so hard I’m sure I just shattered the screen. “Shut the fuck up, Fedor.”

My little brother opens his mouth and then closes it. His cheeks go red, and I’m surprised he’s listening to me. I start talking before he changes his mind.

“The Mazzeos have responded.”

He steps forward, jaw set. “What do they want?”

“You.” I pinch the bridge of my nose.

Rio’s text was only three words long. Fedor or war.

“They want to kill me?” he asks.

I nod. “In exchange for the men you killed.”

Fedor is silent for a second and then barks out a loud laugh. “Ha. Those fucking pussies. What idiots. They have to know you would never turn me over to them. I guess we’re going to war.”

He whoops and hollers like he’s excited about the prospect. Like he’s happy to put our men at risk. When he realizes I’m not joining in, Fedor sits in the chair across from me with his brow furrowed. “We are going to war, right?”

“You fucked up a hard-fought alliance, Fedor. Dad worked with the Mazzeos for years, and I continued working with them in good faith. I kept the peace and in one stupid moment, you ruined it all.”

He shoots out of his chair. “So you’ll have me executed for it?”

“No!” I shake my head. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. You haven’t stopped talking long enough for me to think. I need a minute.”

“A minute for what?” he challenges. “What is there to think about? You got two options: me or war. Is there seriously a question? You know I’d fight for you, Vik. You know I’d die for you.”

My heart clenches at the sincerity in his voice. Fedor has made me question a lot of things in the last few years, but do I question his love for me? His loyalty?

Perhaps, if he knew everything I’d lied to him about, he’d change his mind. If he knew about Molly, he might want to go to war with me.

“I’d die for you too. But only if I had to. Only if it was the last chance to save you.” I tap my finger hard against the desk and look up at him beneath my brows. “Will going to war save you?”

“Obviously. If you don’t, they’ll kill me.”

“No.” I wave a hand to stop him. “If I fight for you now, will you stop behaving like this? Will you respect my authority and the Bratva and stop killing people on impulse?”

The crazed, caged look in Fedor’s eyes is gone. His bright green eyes are wide, and he looks down at the floor, ashamed. For the first time in a long time, I think I may have cracked through his crazy shell. I think I may have gotten to the Fedor hiding underneath it all. I may have finally found my little brother.

“Yeah,” he says softly, sitting in the chair, his shoulders slouched forward. He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Vik. This is all my fault. But yes, I’ll be better. I’ll follow your lead and be better. I swear it.”

I stare at him for a second, trying to remember this moment. For a brief, miraculous moment, I think it may be a turning point in our relationship. A shift towards a brighter future.

So, I pick up my phone and text Rio back one word.

War.

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