Page 19

Chapter

Nineteen

LUNA

I see the moment Dimitri wavers. “I’m not sure.”

“You’re not sure?” Anton asks flatly.

“Dimitri,” Maxim hisses. “Just make a decision. Need I remind you? Luna has a knife to her throat!”

“It’s not your sister on the line,” he hisses back.

“Fair enough. But as much as I hate this, Anton makes a good point. If you do as he says, if you broker a peace between us and Anton, it would mean everyone would be safe.”

“You’re just saying that because you want Luna to be safe.”

“Of course, he is,” Jasper remarks. I almost forget about him. “Maxim isn’t willing to take the hard road. He never has.”

Maxim shoots Jasper a glare before turning back to Dimitri. “I will end my life if it means peace.” He looks to Anton. “Would that satisfy you instead? Leave Katya alone. I’ll make the sacrifice.”

“No!” I cry.

“Luna, I can’t stand back and watch you get hurt. And I can’t blame Dimitri for not wanting to give Katya up to this madman. So, I’m willing to die, Anton. It’s a good deal. You can have your peace.”

“I never agreed to this,” Dimitri says.

“Well, it’s either your sister or me. Either I die, or he marries Katya. So, if I die today, then Dimitri, you better make fucking peace with Anton and keep Luna safe, or I will come back from the grave and murder you myself.”

“This is an interesting proposition,” Anton says, holding me closer. I whimper. Maxim speaks with his eyes, trying to tell me everything will be all right.

But we know that’s not true.

“Do you accept?” Maxim asks. “My death instead of marriage to Katya?”

“You would really give your life up for this girl?”

Maxim doesn’t hesitate. “I would. In a heartbeat.”

“Mmm.” Anton looks between Maxim and Dimitri. I hate how long he’s taking. The knife is still digging into my skin. Not hard enough to seriously hurt me, but it’s still absolutely terrifying. “Fine. If Dimitri refuses to give me his sister in marriage, then I’ll accept Maxim’s death. I’ll be willing to end this war. But it would have to end. You”—he looks right at Dimitri— “can’t shoot me the moment Maxim is dead if you agree to that. I have other men. They know where I am. They’ll continue my fight if I’m dead. So, there’s no point in killing me. If I’m alive, I can tell them to back off.”

“You seriously want peace?” Dimitri asks.

“I do. The question is: Are you willing to take it? Maxim is willing to make the sacrifice here. He’s willing to die. All you have to do is choose that. I won’t go after your sister.” He pauses. “Or … if you give Katya to me, no one else needs to die.”

“Maxim,” I cry. “Please don’t do this.”

“I’m willing to, Luna. If it means you’re safe, I’m always willing to die for that. I love you.”

I inhale sharply. Maxim didn’t tell me he loved me before when I told him. Hearing it now makes it all real. I finally found my home, and it’s getting taken from me.

I don’t want this to be a goodbye.

“I love you, too,” I tell him.

“Aww, how sweet,” Anton mocks. “But I kind of want to hurry this along. So, Dimitri, make a choice. Maxim’s death or Katya’s hand in marriage.”

Dimitri looks between Anton and Maxim with so much uncertainty in his eyes.

“It’s ok,” Maxim says. “I won’t blame you, Dimitri. I wouldn’t save me over your sister, either. That’s why I’m willing to do this. But you have to keep Luna safe if you do. You have to promise me that.”

“I should remind you,” Anton says, “that if you choose Maxim’s death and then try to fuck me over and lose, I won’t give you another option for peace. This is a one-time offer. I’m being completely serious. Just think about that.”

I can’t just stand here and watch Maxim die for me. I know Dimitri won’t save him. He’s going to save Katya because … why wouldn’t he? Katya isn’t here to make this choice. She isn’t here to decide her fate.

But Maxim is, and he’s choosing this.

But I have a choice, too.

I don’t have to stand idly by and watch the man I love die. Ed ripped my choices away from me. Jack tried to do the same. So did Jasper. But Maxim always made me believe that I had a say in my life.

I have a say now.

Without hesitating, I grab Anton’s hand and bite down hard. He yelps, and the knife by my throat loosens, giving me enough space to break free of his grasp. My hand is still on his hand, and I manage to grab the knife from him …

… and stab it into his shoulder.

“Fuck,” he mutters, stumbling back, clutching his arm.

“Luna,” Maxim gasps as I run to him. The moment his arms are around me, I feel safe. “Luna.” He kisses my forehead and looks at me like he’s realizing I’m actually standing before him.

Dimitri raises his gun, but Anton pulls the knife out of his arm and hurls it at Dimitri’s head, forcing Dimitri to duck down. In that time, Anton pulls his own gun out.

“Let’s just think this over,” Anton says.

Both he and Dimitri have their guns trained on each other, and neither one is moving.

“What’s there to think over?” Dimitri asks. “I think I want you dead.”

“And I think I could put a bullet through your eyes. Or …” He points the gun right at me, but Maxim steps in front of me.

“Leave her out of this,” Maxim growls. “This fight isn’t with Luna. It’s between us. Luna, run. Right now. Get out of here.”

“I can’t leave you.”

“Run, please. I can’t see you get hurt.”

No matter how badly I want to stay by Maxim’s side, I know he’s right. I played my part. I got myself to freedom. But it’s Maxim’s job to finish this. He can’t do his job if he’s worried about me.

I squeeze his arm. “I love you.” Anton catches my eye and gives me a little wave. I shudder and run from the lighthouse.

The moment I’m free of it, I know I’ll never step foot back inside.

MAXIM

With Luna out of the way of danger, I can think more clearly.

And what I think is that I want to be the sort of man Luna would be proud of.

Making peace is the only way.

“Dimitri,” I say. “You heard Anton. If you kill him, he just has his followers ready to hurt us. If they’re anything like Anton, they’re fucking insane and don’t play by the rules. I’d rather not look over my shoulder every day worried about Luna. I know you don’t want the same. So, I’m still willing to die. For peace. I’m willing to make that sacrifice.”

This will leave Luna heartbroken, but it’s better she’s not here to see this happen. It’s better she remembers me standing tall than on my knees.

“Are you sure?” he asks raggedly.

“Yes. I’m taking this choice off you. Don’t make Katya pay.”

“Well …” Anton clicks his tongue. “She did insult my mother. She’s not exactly innocent.”

“I never cared about my mother,” Dimitri growls.

“That’s because she’s dead,” Anton says point blankly. “But my mine is very much alive, and she doesn’t take kindly to being insulted. Katya has a part to play in this. You need to get her married. This is a good chance to make a good alliance. If I’m married to your sister, Dimitri, I’ll be a loyal ally. You can use my skills on your side. Take down any enemies you have. You know this. You know it’s a smart move.”

It is a smart move, and that’s what makes this challenging.

But I can’t ask Dimitri or Katya to pay that price. I don’t have a sister, but if I had to hand over Luna to make peace, I wouldn’t do it. I would rather die.

Which is why I’m offering to die now.

“Just kill me,” I tell Anton. “Just end this now and make peace that way.”

“This is Dimitri’s decision. He has to say the words. Maxim or Katya. Just tell me which one, Dimitri.”

For someone so talkative, Dimitri has barely said a word in the past few minutes.

Anton’s wound is bleeding, I notice. But it’s not gushing blood. He’s showing no signs of fatigue. We could be here a while yet.

“Make the choice,” Anton tells him.

“But it’s not my choice to make,” he finally says. “Katya deserves a say. She deserves to be here.”

“You know what she would choose,” I say. “She would choose peace, and she would choose Anton, which is why you haven’t said anything. Because you know it’s true, and you don’t want to give her over to Anton. So, just choose me, Dimitri. Let him kill me.”

“Fuck.” He runs his hand down his face. “Maxim, what you’re asking me to choose …”

“When I first met you, you had no remorse.”

“I’m a changed man now. I’m married. I care about you and Nik. I can’t just stand back and watch you die.”

“You don’t have to feel guilty. I’m telling you right now, you don’t have to feel guilty. Just let him kill me. Make peace. End this war for good.”

Dimitri’s brow furrows as he thinks about it. Anton sighs, tapping his foot. Finally, Dimitri nods. “Ok. I’ve decided.”

“Remember,” Anton says. “Once you make it, no changing your mind.”

“I know,” he grits out. “You fucking bastard. I hate you, you know.”

“You don’t have to love your allies. It’s not about emotion. It’s about smart business practices. Give me a name.”

Dimitri sighs and bows his head. “Katya.”

I inhale sharply, staring at Dimitri in shock. “What?”

He doesn’t even look at me as he raises his head. His eyes are locked with Anton’s. “I’ll give you Katya in marriage.”

“Why this decision?” he asks.

“Because if you kill Maxim, too many people are going to get hurt. Too much pain leads to more war. Maxim’s men will come after you. You’ll just come after them, and when war is happening, that puts my wife in danger, and I will not allow Evie to get hurt ever again.

“But,” he continues, “if you marry Katya, no one else has to get hurt. This war can be over. However, if you hurt my sister even once, I won’t hesitate to end this alliance.”

Anton inclines his head. “I understand. And as a show of good faith, I’m going to lower my gun right now. Don’t kill me.” And to his credit, Anton sets his gun on the ground.

After a beat, Dimitri lowers his weapon, and then it’s time for me to do the same.

“I’ll call my men and tell them to leave you and your women alone.”

“Nikolai as well,” I remind him.

Anton’s grin is dangerous. “Of course.”

Dimitri blows out a rough breath. “How are we going to convince Nik of this alliance? He’s not going to go along with it.”

“Then you better make him,” Anton threatens. “Or this alliance is over.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I say. “I don’t piss him off as much as you do.”

“I can’t believe we just made a deal with a fucking madman. I can’t believe I just gave my sister up. Fuck. She’s going to hate me forever.”

“I’ll gladly be the one to tell her,” Anton offers.

“Fuck no. Just stay out of this until I talk to her. I’ll get her to come around. And once you’re married, there better be peace.”

“Then we better get married soon before anything goes wrong.”

I shake my head. None of this feels right, but it had to be done.

It’s then I remember Jasper is still here, tied up to a kitchen chair. “Well, it’s time,” I tell him, walking over.

“Time for me to die?”

“I can’t let you live while you keep going after Luna.”

“Why not? You let him”—he nods at Anton— “live.”

“That’s different. He has more power. He’s more of a threat. Making peace with him is for the greater good. But you …” I grab his shoulder and dig my nails in, making him wince. “There’s no reason not to kill you. You’re a thorn in my fucking side. And I know you, Jasper. You won’t stop until you have Luna, and I cannot put her in any more danger. I promised I’d keep her safe.”

“I get it.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You do?”

“I do, Maxim. But I want you to look me in the eyes as you kill me. I want you to know what you’ve done.”

“Oh, trust me,” I growl. “I won’t feel guilty about killing you. Not after what you did to my girl.”

Jasper sneers up at me. “Then do it.”

I release him, step back, and raise my gun.

Jasper lunges at me, tackling me to the ground. Somehow, he got out of his binds. Must have been when Dimitri and I were distracted with Anton.

He slams his fist into my face. Punch, punch, punch.

I get a hit into his cheek and send him jerking back.

“I got this,” Dimitri says.

“No. This fight is between Jasper and me.” I lunge back at him and manage to get on top and rein down punches onto his face.

Jasper tries fighting back, but soon, he goes limp. I stand up. Blood pools out of his mouth as he gurgles and blinks up at me through the blood in his eyes.

“You just always had to best me, didn’t you, Maxim?”

“If you weren’t such an asshole, Jasper, I never would have needed to.” Then I stare into the eyes of one of my oldest friends turned enemy and shoot him in the head.

The gunshot is loud in the quiet of the lighthouse.

Jasper slumps to the ground and will never get back up again. With a sigh of relief, I drop my gun and bend over, placing my hands on my thighs.

I did it. I kept my promise. Luna is safe.

“Keep an eye on him,” I say, nodding at Anton as I run out of the lighthouse.

And there she is. Standing in the sunlight, looking beautiful and, most importantly, safe.

“Maxim!” she shouts, running for me. “I heard a gunshot. I thought …”

“I’m ok.” I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly to my chest. “I’m ok. You’re ok.”

“I’m ok.”

I breathe in her scent—warm flowers. She feels so fucking good in my arms.

“I love you,” I say into her hair. “God, I love you.”

“You know, when you say that— God —I don’t think of Ed as often. He’s starting to go away.”

“Good. I don’t want you being worried about him ever again.”

“As long as you have me and I have you, I never will be. You’re safe. I thought for sure you were going to die.”

“I didn’t. I couldn’t leave you just yet.” I cup her face in my hands and kiss her with everything inside me. All the pain I felt at the idea of her getting hurt by Jasper’s hands. All the pleasure I feel knowing she’s safe in my arms.

“What happened?” she asks, pulling back.

“Jasper is dead.”

“Did he give you that?” She touches the wound on my face, making me wince.

“Yeah, he did. But I got him in the end. He can never hurt you again, Luna. I promise you.”

“I always knew you’d keep me safe. You’ve never let me down. And Anton?”

“We made a deal with him.” I bow and drop my head. “Dimitri is going to give him Katya in marriage.”

She gasps. “But … to that man? How could he do that?”

“It was necessary to keep the peace.”

“So, Katya has to pay the price? I spoke with her. I know she doesn’t want to get married.”

“She won’t have a choice. Arranged marriages are common in the Bratva.”

“That doesn’t make it right. You always said I had a choice in my life. Why doesn’t Katya get the same?”

“Because sometimes, there are casualties of war. And unfortunately, it’s Katya. But, Luna, this is to keep more bloodshed from happening. I don’t like it, trust me. I offered to die. But Dimitri chose Katya. If Anton killed me, Sal and the rest of my remaining men would want to go after Anton for my death. The bloodshed would never end. You could’ve gotten hurt. Evie or Ava could get hurt. Katya won’t get hurt. Anton said he wouldn’t physically hurt her.”

“And you believe him?”

“I have no other choice. It’s either this or more death. But please, don’t tell Katya. Let Dimitri do it. He needs to be the one to tell her.”

“Ok. I won’t tell her. And I trust you to make the right decision. But I just feel horrible that Katya doesn’t get a say in this.”

“That’s a part of the Bratva I never wanted you to experience. I always want you to have choices in life.”

“Thank you.” She grabs my face and kisses me deeply. “I love you so much, it almost hurts.”

“I know exactly how you feel.”

“Done making out yet?” Dimitri asks, coming out of the lighthouse, Anton at his side. They’re not killing each other, so there’s hope this alliance will work out.

Anton rubs his hands together. “I can’t wait to get started.”

I just hope this doesn’t come back to bite all of us in the ass.

There’s one last thing Dimitri and I have to do.

Convince Nikolai to work with Anton.

“We have to be a united front,” I tell Dimitri as we stand outside Nikolai’s door. Anton is not with us. It’s better to tell Nik without Anton here.

“I can do that. Trust me.”

I never thought I’d be able to trust Dimitri Ivanov in a million years, but times have changed.

I knock on the door. Nikolai’s butler answers and lets us in.

“He’s in his study.”

We find Nikolai bent over his desk when we walk in.

“Good news?” he asks, looking up. “Did you find Luna?”

“I did. She’s safe. Thank you for all your help.”

“Hey, it was all you and Dimitri. No word on Anton around here. But I’ll keep looking.”

Dimitri and I share a look. He motions me forward, and I sigh, taking a step toward Nik’s desk.

“There’s something we need to tell you.”

“Oh?” His scar is prominent across his nose and cheekbone. Anton gave him that scar when he betrayed him years ago. This won’t be easy.

“Anton was there. At the lighthouse.”

“He was?” Nikolai’s light mood instantly evaporates, replaced by darkness. “You’re alive, so does that mean …” There’s a hope in his eyes that fills me with dread.

“Anton isn’t dead.”

“Then, if he’s not dead, and you’re not dead, what happened?”

“Anton wants peace.”

Nik scoffs. “I doubt that. If he wanted peace, he wouldn’t have blown up all of our gun shipments. He wouldn’t have blown up your clubhouse or Dimitri’s club.”

“I know. But he wants peace now, and Nikolai, it’s a good deal. If he’s on our side, we can use him against any other enemies. No one would be able to take us down. We’d be too powerful. You know this. You’re a smart man. You can’t deny that working with Anton would benefit us and this city. And it would help protect your wife.”

He sits back in his seat, considering my words. “I don’t disagree with you. Working with Anton would make things easier, but he’ll never be an ally. There’s nothing we can offer him that will satisfy him.”

“Dimitri agreed to give him Katya’s hand in marriage.”

His eyebrows shoot right to his hairline as he looks at Dimitri. “Is this true?”

“Yes,” he says. “It’s true.”

“How could you give your sister to him ?”

“Because I want Evie to be safe, Nik. Just like you want Ava to be safe. Arranged marriages are the norm within the Bratva. Katya always knew I’d find a marriage match for her. This is the best way to keep the peace. Anton would be bound to me through marriage. He would become family. He can’t break that.”

“You don’t know Anton,” Nik grumbles. “I thought we were like brothers, and yet, he gave me this.” He points to his scar. “You can never trust him. He’ll hurt Katya.”

“No,” I say. “I don’t think he will. If this is our chance for peace, we need to take it. But we need you to agree with this plan. If you keep going after Anton, he’ll just keep trying to hurt us and the women we love. You know this. We need you on our side, Nikolai. We need you to agree to this plan. Let’s put this bloodshed behind us. Let’s make peace and become so fucking powerful that no one ever questions us again. Ava will be safe. You know that means more to you than anything else in this world.”

Nikolai sighs deeply, steepling his fingers together. “I do want Ava safe. But I swore I’d kill that fucker for what he did to me.”

“And you can,” Dimitri says. “If he messes up. The first chance he tries to betray us, you can kill him. But let’s give this a shot.”

“I know you and Ava. I know how much she wants you to be a better man. So, choose to be a better man, Nik. Choose peace.”

“I don’t know how,” he admits.

“For Ava, then.” He looks at me sharply, but I don’t back down. “You know I’m right. Save Ava. Make peace. End this war.”

Nikolai thinks on it a little bit longer before all the fight leaves him. He leans back in his chair. “Well, Katya isn’t my sister. It’s not my life on the line. Dimitri, are you sure about this?”

“Hell no. But what other choice do I have? If we keep going to war, Katya might end up dead. This way, she can play a part in the peace. She can marry Anton and save all of us.”

“That’s a tall order you’re asking of her. Katya, your flaky sister, who would rather party than get married.”

Dimitri smiles faintly. “Trust me. I know. Katya won’t be happy about this, but she’ll do it. For peace. For our family. I know she’ll make this sacrifice.”

“Have you told her yet?”

“No. Maxim and I wanted to talk to you first. We need you on board for this. Otherwise, there’s no point in marrying Katya to Anton.”

Nikolai stares at me and Dimitri for a long moment before nodding. “Fine. If you think this deal with Anton is smart, I’ll go through with it. But he better not fucking try anything with me. If he does, I’m killing him and ending this tentative alliance right there and then.”

“Understood,” I say.

He shakes his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Dimitri.”

“Honestly? I never do. Don’t tell Ava about this. Not until I’ve spoken to Katya.”

“I don’t like lying to my wife.”

“It’s not lying. It’s just temporarily withholding information. Besides, I have to marry my spirited sister to a madman who just tried to kill us all. We all have to do things we don’t like.”

Not me , I think. Out of everyone in this room, I got off scot-free.

I try not to let that bother me as I leave Nikolai’s home and return to Luna.