Page 150 of Wrapped in Perfection

He's dressed how we are. His eye is black, which doesn't surprise me. It's quite amazing he and Boris only got one punch in before Maksim stopped it.

Killian has a black hat over his red hair. He nods when he gets in and slides next to Boris. They fist-bump.

Even in the dark, I catch a glimpse of the hunger in his green eyes. It's the same shift Boris has when it's time to do anything immoral. It's a need to destroy the enemy.

What will an Ivanov-O'Malley's eyes be like? Will he or she have an even more intense gaze?

I need to make sure Boris doesn't get pulled into the O'Malley's crime life. Killian was never a part of it until Sean died. Boris doesn't need to fall into their everyday problems.

It would be so easy for Boris.

Maksim fills Killian in on what we've discussed.

"I get Lorenzo," Killian states. "He's going to stare in my eyes when he takes his last breath."

"It's important we find out if they are working with Zamir. I don't know how you do things, but we must execute patience tonight," Maksim states.

"Zamir?" The color in Killian's face drains. "What does he have to do with this?"

"We believe he may be working with Lorenzo to take us down." Maksim informs him about our properties and what we suspect.

"If Zamir is involved..."

"That's why we're pinning this on him. Let Rossi go after Zamir," Boris claims again.

"We haven't agreed on that," Sergey states before I can.

"It's happening."

"Boris—"

"No, Maksim. I'm the one who deals with the debt every year. Not any of you. When it comes to Zamir, this is my decision to make. And Lorenzo's death will be pinned on him tonight."

"What debt?" Killian asks.

Boris sighs. "Nothing."

"No. I want to know. What do you have to do with Zamir? I have a right to know if you're with Nora."

"This isn't the time to discuss this," Maksim barks. "We're here."

The car goes silent. Neon lights flash on a sign with Hornet's Nest around an outline of a woman's body. A dozen cars are in the lot. The run-down building has no windows.

Obrecht drives to the back. As soon as he parks the car, a man steps out from the shadows.

"That's our cue," Obrecht says.

Maksim turns and looks at all of us. "There is no room for error tonight. We torture them until they tell us what we want to know. Then we end it, cover our tracks, and get out of here. Everyone understand?"

We all agree. I wrap my fingers around my pocket knife, sliding them along the cold metal. My stomach twists as it always does in these situations.

This needs to be the last time I kill until the day comes to end Zamir.

"They are in the private rooms with the dancers. Ilia will make sure the strippers aren't in the room," Obrecht informs us.

We get out of the car and walk through the alley and to the back door. When we get into the room, my brothers and I all pull out our guns.

Lorenzo and his three top guys are sitting on the couches, waiting for the strippers. They are half drunk and begin to shout.

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