Page 62 of Brutal Unionn

Aleksandr mutters something in Russian I can’t quite catch, but when I look up I see Lily shaking her head at him like he’s a puppy who peed on the carpet. Just as the elevator dings again. I hear Nikoali’s voice ring through the office.

“I’ll be back in an hour tops, but if the fever doesn’t go down Roshin will take you to the ER, and I will meet you there.” He waves at Lily, turns and looks into the room with a narrowed gaze, the door blocking most of his body. “Because I said so.”

I give him a tight smile, showing my hands so he knows I won’t try to hurt him this time…at least not immediately. “Alright. I love you, Kotik.”

Nik hangs up and enters the room. “No knives this time?”

“Are you going to disrespect me this time?” I counter, leaning back in his expensive leather desk chair.

“Of course not, Vor.” He nods, bowing slightly in a sign of respect.

“Then close the door and sit.” I nod, pointing to the two chairs in front of me.

They follow accordingly, sitting across from me like two loyal guards rather than my brothers. “I have called you here as your sister, not as theVor v Zakoneof the Bratva.”Highest ranking official of the Bratva.

“This must be good,” Nik chuckles, leaning back in his chair.

Aleksandr’s brow twitches. “I thought you couldn’t trust us.”

“I can’t, but this is my only option,” I shrug. “You are my only option, because I need you to back me… not just as soldiers or subordinates—but as blood.”

“Whatever you need Nadi,” Alek nods.

“I have a boyfriend.”

Aleksandr scoffs so loudly it echoes. Nik blinks, as if I’ve just spoken in tongues.

“You brought us in here,” Nik growls, “like this is a fucking emergency—and it’s about aboyfriend?”

“Not just any boyfriend,” I say, eyes narrowing. “Sho.”

Aleksandr closes his eyes. Nik shoots to his feet, the chair scraping hard against the floor.

“You want us to give up ourbiggest bargaining chip, ouronly leveragewith the Yakuza—for yourboyfriend?” he snarls, pacing as his hand grip his hair at the root.

I stay seated, as calm as I can. “Yes.”

“You’ve lost your goddamn mind,” Nik snaps, pointing toward me. “Aleksandr told you who Sho was. I thought you had a cute crush, not this. This is too fucking far--”

“I am not asking for you to go to war with them,” I bite back. “I am just not giving him over to the Yakuza. ”

Alek leans back, running his hands over his face, before huffing out a sound of annoyance. “Would you give up the Bratva for him?”

“No.” I meet his gaze. “I want both. And if you are truly loyal to me, as your flesh and blood, then you will help me have both.”

“You cannot have both, Nadia. You choose this family. You choose the Bratva, or you choose him.”

“Nikolai--”

Aleksandr sighs. “Nik’s right. You can’t have both. You know what the council will say if they find out?—”

“I don’t care what the council says,” I snap. “I care what you say. I care that you will stand beside me and help me. Nikolai, we did everything for Gwen. You never had to choose between us and her.”

Nik leans back slowly, rubbing a hand over his jaw, eyes dark with conflict.

“I am not asking you to like this,” I continue, the words catching on the dread curling like smoke in my chest. “I am asking you not toabandonme. Don’t make me choose.”

The silence stretches. Aleksandr looks away first, jaw clenched so tight the veins in his neck stand out.