Page 204 of Malicious Claim

Okay, that was super unexpected. Was it the baby or what? Makros' reaction didn't make sense to me. But I did as I was told. In fact, I had to do as I was told because I feared the slightestdisobedience could instigate his anger for me if he had been suppressing it.

Within the hour, Dragon had Nicolai shackled in the basement interrogation room, his body already bruised from the initial extraction. He sat slumped in the chair, blood on his lip but defiance still burning in his eyes. I stood behind Makros, arms wrapped around myself.

Dragon circled him slowly, speaking coldly. "You're going to tell us everything. How long have you been working with Vincenzo? What's the endgame?"

Nicolai chuckled, spitting blood at Dragon's feet. "You think I'm going to tell you shit?"

Makros stepped forward, grabbing Nicolai's chin, forcing him to look at him. "I understand why you did it. I've lost too many men and I swear I will spare your life and give you a second chance if you can put your hatred for me aside. Now, answer me. Was Vincenzo responsible for the Volkov brothers' death?"

Nicolai raised an eyebrow. "That's the question keeping you up at night, huh?"

He looked past Makros, gaze landing on me.

"You exposed me," he said, coolly, "but didn't tell them about your involvement, did you?"

My brows furrowed. "My involvement?"

Makros pressed his jaw harder. "What are you talking about?"

Nicolai's lips twisted into a smile. "You want to know who killed the Volkovs? It wasn't Vincenzo. It was her mother. Eva Botega. E.B. means something to you, right?"

The bomb detonated without a countdown. Just like that I had been set up. I didn't even know my mother was alive. But would it matter?

Makros turned, eyes locking onto mine. "Is that true?"

My voice trembled even when I didn't want it to. "Makros, I swear to God—I don't know what he's talking about. I haven't seen my mother since I was five."

Nicolai laughed. "Liar. Like a mother, like a daughter. Her mother took over the Crawford family. Leila's here for the same thing. To destroy the Cretes and claim it for herself... with Vincenzo at her side."

"Makros—"

"Don't," he said, cutting her off.

My heart cracked at the ice in his voice.

But then Makros turned back to Nicolai. "I've seen men like you before. Rats. Desperate and drowning, trying to grab hold of anyone they can pull under."

He reached for the gun strapped behind his back and handed it over to me.

"You're not dragging my wife down with you," Makros said. "Thanks for confirming what I needed to know."

Nicolai's face shifted from smug to wide-eyed as I took the gun from Makros.

"Wait," Nicolai said quickly. "Leila, listen to me. You shoot them, and I'll take you to your mother. She's alive. You want answers? I have them. Don't throw it all away."

I hesitated, finger hovering near the trigger.

Then I lowered the gun briefly and said, "I have no mother."

I raised it again.

Three shots echoed through the chamber, one to the head, one to the chest, one to the stomach. Nicolai slumped lifeless in the chair, blood pooling beneath him.

Chapter Seventy-Eight

The New Order

The day after Nicolai's execution, things at the Crete estate were slowly going back to normal.