Page 43 of Cartel Viper (The Cartel Brotherhood #2)

There’s a protracted silence before my sister answers.

“Maks warned me that he’s mob. I know you’ve figured out a lot of stuff about Maks and his family without me telling you. That was all Maks needed to tell me for me to figure shit out. Since you don’t ask me about shit I can’t tell you, I figured I’d do the same.”

“I appreciate that. But Maks and Drew couldn’t be more different. Laura, Drew’s been—he’s—fucking hell.”

“Madeline, did he hurt you?”

I don’t answer fast enough.

“Maks! Maks!”

“Laura?”

“Drew hurt Madeline. I want him now.”

“Laura, wait.” I knew she’d blow up.

“No. I know you won’t tell me everything. I’ll make that piece of shit tell me every secret he’s ever had. If he touched you with anything but love and adoration, he will die for it.”

My sister doesn’t exaggerate. She’s always been protective of me, but since becoming a mom and marrying into the bratva—there’s nothing I wouldn’t put past her when it comes to defending her family.

“Laura, I will tell you everything. You can tell Maks what you want after, but I can’t do this with him to hear it. I’m sorry, Maks, but I can’t. It’s too?—”

“I understand. Malyshka , find me when you’re done talking to your sister.”

I hear a door close, but Laura remains quiet.

“I looked that word up after the first time I heard Maks call you that. It sounds so sweet, and it is. Javi calls me chiquita for the same reason.”

I let that bomb land, but it doesn’t explode the way I fear.

“You’re going to marry him, aren’t you?”

It’s not an accusation. It’s not even resigned acceptance. There’s a tinge of humor that lightens things for a moment.

“I don’t know.”

“Mads, if he’s calling you that, then it’s as good as a proposal.

These men are affectionate with their family not outsiders.

They don’t date, and they don’t have relationships with women they don’t plan to marry.

If he has a pet name for you, then you need to understand whatever promises he makes, he will keep them.

Whether it’s to love you till his last breath, to do his best to make you happy, or to protect you from anything—Mads, Javi plans to marry you.

I also bet it’s the best sex you’ve ever had. Kinky as fuck.”

“Laura!”

“What lie did I tell?”

“None. I just can’t believe you said that.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve always been the blunt one. I don’t like the idea that you’re becoming a Diaz, but I’ll deal. Tell me what the fuck is going on with Drew. No more detours.”

“Things were fine for the first two years. Drew became the boss around the same time as I moved in. He became possessive and controlling to an extreme. He could be a little nasty when we argued, but it blindsided me the first time he hit me. I tried to leave. I tried more than once, but he stopped me each time. I couldn’t get away before he’d find me, and the consequences convinced me it was safer to just stay. ”

“He abused you for two years. Madeline, I’ve been married for nearly six. You must know the Kutsenkos not only would have helped you, but they would have ensured he couldn’t retaliate.”

“Laura, he heard every conversation I had with you. Read every text, every email. He had me followed everywhere —even at work—and kept cameras in our house. I was never truly alone. I discovered he bugged our place when I bought a burner and tried to call you. He sent men in. They broke the phone and locked me in the bedroom until he got there.”

My voice trembles as I remember that day. I thought I would die, but it didn’t stop me from trying to use a burner two more times.

“I couldn’t communicate with you without him finding out.

I couldn’t warn you he sent men to watch you periodically.

Just enough to scare me into staying quiet.

I spent months painting in secret and selling my art covertly to hide enough money to finally get away.

I was in Brooklyn for nearly a month before my path crossed Javi’s.

I tried to hide from him, but he’s—persistent. I confessed to him like I am you.”

I don’t want to explain the sketchy ass man who picked up my art from the darkest depths of the employee parking lot while I was inside the hospital.

I can tell her about that later when she realizes I couldn’t have worked entirely alone.

I also don’t want to tell her about the money and drugs I hid because that’s now the Diazes’ business.

“I made a huge mistake going to Enrique’s reception. I should have stayed hidden and lied about having work like I’ve done in the past. Drew found out. Probably saw a photo of me online or something. He sent men to get me. I went to Javi.”

“You could have come to me. To any of us.”

“I know, but Javi is who I needed.”

Laura sighs, and this time I hear resignation. “I know I could go to anyone in Maks’s family, and I know deep down I could still go to the Diazes. But I will always want Maks before anyone else. I will only ever feel safest when I’m with him. I get it.”

“I know you do. But when you add the twins to this, I refuse to go near you. I will not have Drew or any of his men get near you, Mila, or Konstantin, or any of the other Kutsenko kids because I’m his target.”

“We can hide you without you being at one of our homes. Though you’d be safer on one of our properties than anywhere else.”

Each Kutsenko couples’ home—plus their Andreyev cousin’s—is in a gated community with a private wall and gate around their property. They have armed security patrolling around the clock. They aren’t out of shape rent-a-guards. These are bratva men. It’s the same as here at Enrique’s.

I never understood why Luis and Margherita didn’t have the same security as Enrique.

I figured it was because he wasn’t the jefe , just the jefe’s younger brother.

Then I’ve watched Maks’s relatives marry and move into properties like his and Enrique’s.

I think it’s Luis’s reputation. I overhead Maks’s brother call Luis el Espíritu Santo once.

The Holy Spirit. I asked Laura about it.

She frowned but told me if Luis visits someone, they know their soul is about to depart their body.

“Laura, you know why I’m safest with Javi. You already said it.”

“Madeline, Javi can finish him, but I will see Drew before he dies.”

“I don’t want you in the middle of this.”

“Too fucking bad. You’re my sister.”

“Laura, there’s still more to this story.”