Page 154 of Dance of Defiance

Andhe fucking knew it.

My eyes narrow on my brother.

“You want me to use Roman to get to his father.”

He shrugs. “Well, if we're being blunt?—”

“You’re shit out of luck,” I snarl. “He and I are done.”

“Whata pity,” he says dryly.

“Wow. I can feel the sincerity all the way over here.”

Vaughn exhales and sits back in his chair. For a few seconds, we just stare at each other, him impassive, me furious.

Finally, he speaks. “I know you think I’m a monster,” he murmurs.

I want that to be true, but it isn’t, not really.

“Idon’tthink that,” I growl. “I love you. You’re my fucking brother. But…fuck, Vaughn,” I hiss, shaking my head. “You make it hard sometimes.”

“You can love me and still think I’m a monster.”

I smirk. “Monstermight be too strong a word.”

His eyes lock with mine. “It might be more apt than you think.”

We sit there in silence for another minute, just looking at each other.

Finally, my brother takes a slow breath. “I was molded by the Syndicate. It…” He shakes his head. “It just clicked with me, all of it. I wasbornto lead this empire, Val.”

“He says, stroking his evil villain mustache, sitting on his dark throne,” I mutter.

Vaughn smirks and looks away. “I’m trying, Val. I want you in my life. I want to be inyourlife. But the Syndicate…”

“Comes first?” I joke.

My brother doesn’t even crack a smile. “Well—yes,” he says, shrugging. “I do wish there was a way for you not to take that so personally.”

“I’ll try,” I say tightly.

He dips his chin, then steeples his fingers on the desk. “Do youreallynot know where Dasha Lukashova is?”

“Not a clue, and glad for it,” I mutter.

He nods and looks away. “Iwillget what I want when it comes to Cosimo Sangrini, Val, no matter who else might be trying to curry his favor. You can either help me with that, or I can use what I know?—”

He grunts as I lunge across the desk and grab him by the collar.

“I’m going to say this as simply as I fucking can,” I snarl. “One, this ismyfucking life. Two, it’s over with Roman. And three, and you’d better be fucking listening to this one…” My eyes narrow. “If you ever, and I mean fuckingever, try and exploit anything about that motherfucker, his life, or his preferences inanyway, shape or form…”

Black fire burns in my eyes as I look right at my brother.

“I’ll burn your fucking empire to the ground. Is that clear?”

Vaughn doesn’t respond right away. We just stay frozen, glaring at each other. Then slowly, his lips curl slightly at the corners.

“Crystal,” he murmurs. His brows slowly knit, all traces of his cutthroat demeanor of a second ago vanishing. “For the record, Val?” he says quietly. “I’m sorry it’s over.”