Page 72 of Konstantin

I push back, trying to read his expression, but all I see is rage.

“No, but there was this one guy. He was a real asshole. Lasted months with my mother when the others were gone in days or weeks. He’d come into my room when I was sleeping….” I choke on the rest of it. Hate that I’m giving him this part of me.

“Did he…” He can’t finish the sentence.

“No, but he definitely tried.”

He grinds his teeth, his entire body stiff and ready to break something.

“My brother gave him a beating the last time he attempted to touch me, and that’s when I left for good.”

“And you don’t remember his name?”

I shake my head.

His lips curl into something cold and predatory.

“Whatever you’re thinking…” I press my hand to his chest. “Don’t. You’re never gonna find him.”

Not that I’d mind if you actually killed Lloyd…

“Of course I will.” His eyes burn into mine. “No one gets to hurt you and live, Tessa. That’s a promise.”

A chill shoots down my body.

God help me, some twisted part of me likes it. Not just the possessiveness, but the ferocity. The certainty. The way he says my name like it’s already tattooed on his soul.

If only this was real. If only he wasn’t the reason my brother is rotting in prison.

Maybe in some universe, we could have been something.

I force the thought down.

Don’t be stupid, Emilia. He’s the enemy. The man you’re here to take down. He doesn’t even know who you are.

Still, the words echo in my head.

No one gets to hurt you and live.

God, why does that sound so damn sexy?

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

KONSTANTIN

The doorto my office closes the next day with a quiet click, sealing me in with the only men I trust. I settle into my leather chair, eyes locked on my brothers.

Aleksei leans against the edge of my desk, arms crossed, eyes cold and unflinching as always. Kirill sprawls in one of the leather chairs like he owns the place, a wicked grin tugging at his mouth as he flicks his knife open and closed with rhythmic precision, while Anton stands by the window, hands clasped behind his back, blank-eyed, watching the city like he’s calculating which building to blow up first.

“I want an update,” I tell them. “What have we learned since the attack?”

Aleksei is the first to speak. “The two she killed were high ranking. Word is, DeLucas want her blood for it.”

“How do they even know about her?” My fist curls.

I will destroy them all for even thinking they could kill her.

“Maybe they had you followed,” Kirill offers.