Page 155 of Dance of Defiance

“I’m sure,” I mutter dryly. “Since it fucks with your plans of world domin?—”

“I meant I’m sorry it’s over because you’remy brother,” he murmurs.

My hand drops from his collar. “It’s fine,” I shrug. “I’m over it.”

Vaughn’s mouth curls a little more as he eyes me. “Judging from that outburst?” He smirks. “Somehow, I doubt it.”

27

ROMAN

“I should rallythe men and stomp the fucking Syndicate out for good.”

My father turns away to pour a drink at the bar cart. I glance at Stepan at the same time he glances at me, shaking his head almost imperceptibly as if to say “just keep quiet.”

Usually a wise choice when it comes to my father during one of his rants.

Obviously, shit has hit the fan in the last few weeks in the wake of Dasha's disappearance.

…Thanks toVal.

On the one hand, what he did was supremely fucked up and beyond reckless. But on the other?

He did it forme.

The upside is that I’m no longer marrying a woman I have zero interest in, who similarly has zero interest inme.

The downside?

“It will be total fucking war!!”

Yeah, that.

My father whirls, slugging back his drink before he jabs a finger at Stepan. “If I wanted to attack tomorrow, what would be our best option for an easy target?”

Stepan frowns, sighing. “Pakhan, none of my intel channels suggest Vaughn Bancroft had anything to do with Ms. Lukashova’s disappearance.”

Papa scowls at him. “Fuckyour intel channels.” He beats on his own chest. “I’ve been in this game my entire fucking life, and my gut tells me Vaughn is behind this. And even if he isn’t?” He smiles darkly. “Chaos breeds uncertainty. Uncertainty makes men sloppy. Now is theperfecttime to strike.”

Stepan’s brow furrows. “Boss, all respect, but as your number two, I cannot advise?—”

“Fuck your advisements, Stepan,” Papa grunts. “Grow some balls!”

I clear my throat. “I think Stepan's right, Papa. The Obsidian Syndicate ispowerfulin ways I don’t think we truly appreciate. European allies, Russian allies…” I frown. “A war with them would be suicide.”

My father glares at me silently, saying nothing. Slowly, he finishes his drink and sets the glass down on the corner of his desk before he walks over to me.

“Papa—”

I grunt when the back of his hand suddenly crashes into the corner of my mouth, sending fireworks through my vision as my head slaps sideways.

“What thefuckdid you do, eh?!” he roars at me when I turn back to look at him, my teeth bared. “Why did she run?! Caught you fucking around?!”

He jams a finger into my chest.

“I told you, don’t getcaught, you dumb little shit! And if you do, you remind your woman who shebelongsto! You remind her of herplace!”

“Fuck—”