Page 163 of Konstantin

Then it hits me.

“Oh my God. Are you the one who sent Konstantin that photo of me?”

He snickers, the sound harsh and mocking, a reminder of how far he’s fallen. “Maybe.”

“I can’t believe…after everything I did to try to save you! How could you fucking do this to me? You’re my brother!”

“Yes, I am, and I fought for everything I had. And I’m not aboutto let you take it from me.” He laughs dryly, shaking his head. “You never saw the full picture, you know that? You and Riley weresosure of everything, but you had no idea.”

“What didn’t I know?”

He blows out a breath, like he’s already grown tired of this conversation, and I swear it hurts. I don’t know who this is. Because this isn’t the Nate I knew.

“Tim was never a part of this.”

“What?”

“That’s right, sis. Because I was! Me!” His eyes gleam with dark satisfaction, and it’s like I’m looking at a stranger. “We just made it look like it was him. But he had it coming. He was gonna rat on us, so I had to take him out.”

A cold shiver crawls up my arms.

“You actually did it? You—” I swallow the bile rising in my throat. “You killed him while I fought like hell to free you?”

My breath comes in sharp bursts, fury tearing through me.

“I know, and I am sorry about that, but it’s not like I made you.” His chuckle makes my blood run cold.

“So how the hell did you end up in prison if you had Gerardo’s help?”

He hesitates, his eyes narrowing. “Well…” He scratches the back of his head. “They decided I was a problem too when I started collecting evidence on their dirty work. Only as collateral, in case they tried to screw me over.” His gaze sharpens, his tone colder. “But I underestimated how far they’d go. Now if I want to stay out of prison, I only have one choice.”

My gut twists, the power of his words choking me.

“What’s that?” I barely manage to ask, the betrayal stinging deep within.

His eyes lock on to mine, cold and ruthless. “I have to kill you both.”

An inhale sticks to my throat. I can’t even process what he’s saying, the air in my lungs freezing over. How can he even think those words, let alone say them?

“Kill me, but let her go,” Konstantin mutters, gripping my hand tightly. He leans in, whispering urgently, “Give me the gun.”

I shake my head, my clasp tightening on the weapon. Even if he wanted to, he can’t shoot straight. But I can.

“I didn’t want to,” Nate adds, like that makes it any better. “I tried to tell Gerardo there had to be another way. But he said this was it. I had to prove my loyalty.”

Every inch of me is ready to collapse. There’s no one left to trust. No one but Konstantin.

“You kept making things worse without even knowing,” Nate continues. “Once Gerardo found out you remembered about that cop he killed, he needed you gone.”

I just didn’t think you’d be the one to do it.

The thought hits with an ache so deep, I can’t even comprehend it.

“Gerardo was Mom’s biggest supplier back then,” he goes on. “I get that you were young and didn’t know, but yeah, that cop was our neighbor. He knew him because they worked together. He didn’t want Gerardo giving her any more drugs and he was gonna rat, so Gerardo took care of him.”

“Wait a minute…”

Something doesn’t sit right with me.