Page 50 of Konstantin (Marinov Bratva #1)

CHAPTER FORTY

KONSTANTIN

When I arrive home, my first thought is to check on Tessa. I don’t care about the meetings or the business I’ve just left behind. All that matters is her safety and well-being.

I head straight for the living room, pulling out my phone to check in with Maksim and Dmitri, knowing she was out back when I called earlier.

“Maksim,” I say once he picks up. “How is she?”

“She’s fine. She finished her run, then spoke to a friend on the phone. Now she’s reading a book outside, just relaxing.”

“Good. Let her enjoy herself. Don’t tell her I’m home yet.”

“Horosho.” Okay.

As I remove my shoes in the foyer, one of my maids approaches with a package in hand.

“Sir, this arrived for you.” She hands it over before she leaves without saying anything further.

Staring at the large yellow envelope, I wonder if it’s those contracts I’ve been waiting for.

Taking it into the study with me, I head for the bar and pour myself a cognac, needing it after the stress of today’s meeting.

The moment I settle down, I rip open the flap, pulling out the contents crammed inside.

But as I flip through the first few pages, it becomes clear this has nothing to do with business and everything to do with my wife.

My world shifts, the crystal-cut glass nearly slipping from my fingers as my eyes race across the words, the photos attached.

This can’t be happening.

My blood runs cold.

Who sent this? Svolichy!

As I flick through everything, my mind races, struggling to make sense of it all. The room shrinks, the air thickening as my grip tightens on the papers, crumpling the edges. Grabbing my phone, I dial my cousin again.

“Bring her to me. Now!”

I hang up before he can reply, my eyes still fixed on the documents. Fury surges through me, coursing like a poison through my veins.

Tessa will answer for this. And if she thinks she can hide behind her secrets, she’s about to learn how far I’ll go to make sure that doesn’t happen.

EMILIA

I sit on the bench outside, my legs sore from the run, the sun warm against my skin. I try to lose myself in the pages of the book in my lap, but my mind keeps drifting, unable to focus.

Maksim’s and Dmitri’s shadows stretch across the stone path, and I look up to see their stern expressions.

“Konstantin needs you back home,” Maksim says, a sharp edge in his tone that sends unease crawling through me.

I close the book slowly, tucking it under my arm. “Is everything okay?”

Dmitri shrugs. “He just said to bring you in.”

A knot tightens in my gut.

Something’s wrong.

I force myself to walk calmly beside them, convincing myself that now is the right time to tell Konstantin everything, which is exactly what I had planned to do before he left.

Minutes later, we enter through the back door, and when I find Konstantin pacing in the foyer, a yellow envelope gripped tight in one hand, I stop short.

The second our eyes meet, my stomach drops.

He steps forward, taking my hand and pressing a kiss to my knuckles. His jaw is clenched, his touch gentle—too gentle. It’s as though he’s struggling to hold himself together, fighting not to snap.

“Let’s go take a drive.”

My pulse jumps. “Is everything okay?”

He doesn’t answer, guiding me to his red coupe and helping me in. He slides into the driver’s seat, the engine roaring to life as we drive in suffocating silence.

I glance at him, watching the sharp line of his jaw, the tension in his grip on the wheel. He won’t even look at me.

“Where are we going?”

“Shh.” He glances at me briefly, his mouth twitching in a way that only heightens my fear.

“Konstantin, you’re scaring me.”

Still, he says nothing, only lowers his hand to my thigh, squeezing until every muscle feels like it’s being torn apart. As we pull onto the dirt road leading to the farmhouse, a wave of dread washes over me .

Did he find out who I really am? Is this it?

Fuck, this wasn’t supposed to happen. I wanted to tell him. I should’ve told him sooner. But he could’ve killed me either way.

He parks the car, stepping out first and walking around to open my door. When he takes my hand, I shudder, his grip firm and almost deadly. Or maybe that’s just how it feels because I’m quite certain I’m about to die.

I brace myself, hoping he makes it quick, though I’ve heard rumors he can calmly skin a man alive with a smile on his face.

I’m so screwed.

And here I thought being married to the head of the Russian Mob was going to be a walk in the park…

A bitter laugh’s trapped in my throat. I always knew, deep down, that once he found out the truth, he’d stop caring. He’d stop wanting me. He’d see betrayal, and he’d want me gone.

It’s too bad, though. I was actually falling for him. Falling so hard that it physically hurts right now.

He leads me up the porch steps, the boards creaking under our feet like a warning. When we enter, he gestures to the leather sofa.

“Sit. Now.”

My legs feel weak, but I obey, settling on the edge, my heart pounding in my chest. He paces in front of me, his fingers twitching around the envelope.

“What’s going on, Konstantin? What’s this about?”

He laughs, a dry, ominous sound. “Do you know how many times I’ve imagined killing you?”

His eyes latch on to mine, his words cutting deep. His stare holds me captive, the intensity of it almost unbearable.

“But every time I saw your face, I forgot why I wanted to do it in the first place.”

I’m frozen, every muscle tight, and it takes a moment to grasp the full meaning of his words .

“Do you know how difficult it’s been falling for a woman I know is betraying me?”

Oh my God…

Dizziness swirls in my head, and I clutch the sofa, needing this to end, knowing he’ll drag it out. He’ll make it hurt.

He shakes his head, a sinister half-grin creeping in. “Just answer me one thing. Why?”

A bitter taste hits my mouth. “Why what?”

“Why did you save my life that day in Chicago? Was that part of your plan?” He steps closer, his knuckles grazing my cheek.

His touch, once a comfort, now feels like a cage, and I’m desperate to escape it.

“I haven’t figured out what you were doing here exactly, Tessa. Or should I call you…Emilia Hayes?”

The blood rushes from my face, as if he’s drained it all from me. My mouth opens, but no words come out.

What’s there to say? He knows who I really am.

I was a fucking idiot for thinking I could deceive someone like him.

But if he knew and didn’t kill me, why now? What’s changed?

“How…how long have you known?” Each word feels like lead, heavy and painful.

He takes a shallow breath, his hand slipping away, and I immediately feel the cold in his absence.

“I knew who you were before you even begged me for that job the second time.” His voice is strained, as if each word is a battle.

“From the moment I saw you, you intrigued me. I needed to know everything about you. And when I finally uncovered the truth, I couldn’t help but wonder what you were planning.

What it was that made you want to get close to me.

At first, I was going to end you...” His jaw tightens, his bicep flexing as his hand forms a fist. “But when I saw you again…I couldn’t.

I had to have you. You poisoned everything I ever thought I kn ew about myself until all I wanted… was you.”

His confession shreds everything inside me—guilt, sorrow, and the bitter truth. I hate that I hurt him, but I know I had no choice. Nate needed me.

He moves in quickly, gripping my jaw and tilting my face up to his. “You betrayed me, my love. And now I have to decide what to do with you.”

“Konstantin, I-I had no choice. You’d have done the same if you were me.”

“We all have a choice, lubov moya.” He tosses a stack of papers on my lap.

I look down, my stomach dropping as I see files and photos.

Oh my God…

Pictures from my FBI graduation. Me with Nate, laughing in his uniform. A full dossier on my life. My name, my face, my badge.

“Who sent this?” I glare up to find him watching me intently.

“Anonymous.”

“Gerardo…” I whisper.

His head jerks, eyes narrowing. “Who?”

“Never mind.”

But I know it was him. Who else could it be? Maybe he sees me as a loose end, worried I’ll remember he killed that cop years ago. Maybe he got tired of waiting to see if I would.

In one swift motion, Konstantin’s fingers tighten around my throat, cutting off my breath.

“Don’t do that.” His thumb grazes the underside of my jaw. “You’d better tell me everything before my devotion for you turns into something much, much worse.”

I swallow thickly, closing my eyes.

He’s right. At this point, I have no choice. I have to tell him everything and face the consequences.

He releases his grip, settling across from me with a calm that only irritates me. “Talk.”

Glancing up at the ceiling for a moment, I start at the beginning.

“My brother, Nate. He’s the cop in that photo.

” I lift it for a moment, releasing a sigh.

“He was accused of killing his partner, Tim. My boss, Gerardo, made me believe one of your brothers, or even you, was the one who killed him, and I had no reason not to believe him, especially when we found a connection between your organization and Tim.”

Konstantin’s chest rises sharply, but he stays silent.

“You have to understand, Gerardo practically raised us. So when he said it was most likely you, I believed it too. That’s why I came here, looking for proof to clear Nate’s name. I was even ready to trade his freedom for yours.”

He chuckles, sending a chill through me. “And how exactly were you planning to do that?”

Leaning back, I cross my legs and raise an eyebrow. “I was going to pin a cold case on you. Steal some of your DNA and plant it.”

“Wow.” He claps slow. “Bravo. You really are a lioness, aren’t you? No wonder you impressed me from the start.”

I fidget in my seat, unable to really gauge how mad he truly is.

“Please, continue. I’m deeply intrigued now.”

“After I…” I hesitate, unsure if he’ll believe the rest.