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Ruin finally looks up at me, and I can see the decision in their depths. He’s going to kill our father… but he’s waiting for something first.

We don’t have time to wait.

“Hold on,” I call out, keeping my gun trained ahead. “Just hold on. Let’s talk.”

Maybe I can stall for time?—

The knife digs deeper, making Ruin wince.

Fuck.

“What if we trade?” My heart hammers inside my chest as adrenaline kicks through my system. I swallow, knowing that what I’m about to propose will piss my brothers off…and undoubtedly sign my own death warrant.

But I’ll do anything to save my brothers from this bastard.

Even break their hearts.

“Give me Yuri,” I say slowly, lowering my gun, “and I’ll get you what you really want.Whoyou really want.” Searing pain wracks my nervous system as my heart and my head war with each other. Even Ruin, motionless until now, glares at me.

If I go through with this, I’m moving to the top of Ruin’s hit list. Quite frankly, I’ll deserve it and every second of Hell that awaits me.

The truth is, we’ve all wanted the same thing from the start: Celia Monrovia, the prettiest girl in the bratva. Our father is no exception, although he doesn’t want to keep her for himself…

He wants to torture and kill her.

A life for a life—our mother’s for Celia’s. A fair trade, in our father’s eyes.

I can’t force air into my lungs as guilt swallows me whole. Somehow, I manage to say the words that will bring not only my downfall, but my entire family’s ruin.

“I’ll give you Celia if you give me Yuri.Alive.”

My father’s wickedness spreads like a wildfire, consuming every flicker of humanity dwelling within him until there’s nothing left but a devil grinning at his prey.

“You have yourself a deal.”

* * *