Page 143

Like I’d known he would. Like I knew what would come next.
“And you will come home to family.”
It wasn’t a question. This was the price of his assistance, one I’d long believed was too high to pay. He didn’t mean a house or even a city. Coming home, to my father and brother, meant that I would join them, that I’d undertake the training and become part of theOrganizatsiyathat dominated their lives.
The Sidorov Bratva.
My mother had been right about my father all those years ago. He’d grown his hustles into billion-dollar interests aspakhan. Maxim now held that title. They thought of it almost as a birthright.
I thought of it as a curse. I’d vowed to never bow to their demands. But it was a vow made before her.
Before Theory.
Before this need to avenge, to protect.
For her, I’d break this promise to myself.
“They’ll never accept me,” I warned.
Even as Sergei’s son, I was an outsider, thenegrbrother of the currentpakhan.
“They will accept you or die,” Maxim countered. “You will come.”
“When?” I asked.
“Soon. A show of… unity is required,” he said vaguely. “I assume you’ll go somewhere to tell me what assistance is needed.”
I sighed. “I’m in a good spot.”
“Then give me details.I brat, dobro pozhalovat' domoy.”
And brother, he’d said,welcome home.
I shook my head at his words, praying I didn’t regret this. But then, for her, how could I? Together, Maxim and I worked out a plan. We would erase everyone who had directly hurt her and subdue the rest of the bastards they associated with.
During the walk back to the Stone House and the shower I took after, I made an uneasy peace with the promise I’d made Maxim. I’d need to tell Theory the truth about me and my paternal family. I hoped it wouldn’t scare her too badly, because I wasn’t letting her go. I’d tell her, just not right now. We’d cleared the air about so much so far, I didn’t want to overwhelm her.
Soon, I vowed, sliding into bed with her, ready just to hold her. I was surprised to find her awake. She came willingly into my arms.
“Targen?” she murmured.
I pressed my lips against her forehead. “Hmm?”
“I want you to touch me.”
I held her more tightly. “Always,” I promised.
“This time, no stops.”
Ahh, shit. I sat up abruptly. Baby wasn’t playing fair. It was too soon after what she had revealed. She probably wasn’t in the right headspace. I had to handle her carefully, talk with her more. And even as I told myself all that, my dick was getting harder than quantum physics.
“It’s too soon,milaya. Your feelings have to be everywhere right now.”
This principled shit when all I wanted to do was get lost in her thick curves was hard. She shook her head sharply, then she sat up, too.
“But I’ve been wanting to be closer to you, Targen. I was just scared that the scars?—”
“I will never figure out how you thought I, looking like a fucking monster, would judge you for your scars.”