Page 11 of Darkest Sin

He’s offering me a choice but I think deep down, he’s going to take me no matter what I say.

And for some reason, that excites me more than it should.

Mikhail

I spend the funeral observing.

Denis is going out of his way to talk to as many people as he can but I notice that he hasn’t approached me. He must know that Lev and I were friends.

I met Denis once years ago when I was in my twenties, first starting off in this Mafia world. He thought I was some upstart fucker who wasn’t worth his time. Given how he keeps avoiding me, I’m thinking that he still thinks that.

When Denis goes to the bathroom, I wait outside the door. I’m going to ambush the motherfucker.

He opens the door after a few minutes and practically jumps when he sees me. “Mikhail.” He says my name like a swear word. “I was wondering when you were going to come talk to me.”

“Funny. I was wondering the same.”

He steps out of the bathroom and stares me down. “What do you want?”

“You’re going to marry Natalya to Antoni?”

“Word spreads fast around here.”

“It really does.”

He crosses his arms. “Why do you ask?”

“Because if you were smart, you’d marry her to me.”

“Really?” He scoffs. “And why the fuck would I do that? You were never my friend.”

“That’s because I was friends with Lev, who you hated. And I’m fairly positive you had a hand in killing. You’re going to need all the help you can get. Make a power alliance with me. Give me Natalya. And we’ll be loyal to each other.”

“You’ll be loyal to a man you don’t like?”

“As long as I get Natalya, I’ll work with whoever.”

He raises his eyebrows. “You really want her? Why?”

“She’s a beautiful woman. A beautiful dancer. She’s innocent. I want her.”

“Well, hate to break it to you, Mikhail, but you’re not going to get her. I’ll marry her to Antoni. He’s the one I want on my side. I know for a fact that he’ll be loyal to me.”

“All right then. I figured that would be your answer.”

“And?”

I shrug. “And what?”

“And you’re just going to be ok with that?”

“I can’t make you change your mind, Denis. Though, it’s funny to me how you think you’ll marry Natalya to Antoni.” I pat him on the back and walk away.

It doesn’t take long for Denis to follow me. “What the fuck do you mean by that? You’re not thinking of taking the girl without my permission. You’re asking for a war if you do that.”

I stare him down, feeling satisfied as he looks up at me. I’m taller than him and he hates that fact. “I’m all right with going to war. I have a lot of power, Denis. Don’t underestimate me.”

“You’re just a boy.”