Page 31 of Scarlet Promise (Yegorov Bratva #4)

Chapter Twenty-Five

ILYA

Alina and Albert arrive first thing the following morning. She hands a bag of food to an unsmiling Svetlana.

“I thought Albert can have your food later for dinner when we’re back at my brother’s so he doesn’t miss Ilya or you too much,” Alina says as Albert races down the hall to the kitchen. “And I know you’ll be big-hearted enough to accept the offer of some meals for him from Magda.”

“Well…” Svetlana launches into Russian, telling Alina she’ll be happy to help the poor woman out, and of course, Albert can have her meals but will have Svetlana’s creations for dinner.

They disappear into the kitchen, and I hide my smile, marveling at Alina’s special brand of diplomacy as I head back to my office.

I’m up to my eyeballs in work, absorbed in looking at my laptop when slender arms slide around my middle, and Alina rests her head on my back.

I turn and hold her, taking her lips in a long, meandering caress that stirs my dick. Everything about her riles me in the best possible ways.

“That was clever of you,” I murmur.

“They both love Albert, and he loves their food,” she says, giving me a squeeze before pulling free. “I do think it helps him to have something from here when he’s there, and vice versa.”

Somehow, I control my snort of derision. It isn’t at she said. That’s smart. But the fact that we’re married and have to bow to Demyan’s commands strikes me at some moments with the utter unfairness.

Yes, it’s Demyan. Yes, I understand. Yes, I want the smoothest possible path for Alina. But I can’t deny it doesn’t stick in my side.

“Is your brother okay with you being here?” I ask.

She frowns. “Demyan’s got to learn. And I’ll go back tonight, even though I shouldn’t have to. But I want to use your lovely brain with this whole dog shelter thing. I’m thinking of calling it more of a sanctuary, and opening it to cats, too.”

I spread my arms. “Whatever you need, I’m here, and I’m yours.”

She giggles as she slides her computer from her bag. “I know. And I’m taking advantage.” She taps her temple. “Smart.”

“Fuck yeah, you are.”

Before she can say anything else, Elisei knocks on the open door of the study and comes in.

The thing that snags my attention is he’s stressed.

“What is it?”

“Forgive the intrusion. Svetlana let?—”

“Out with it,” I say to him. “Is something wrong?”

My heart clenches as I open my desk drawer to retrieve my gun. If there’s a threat coming that’s against me while Alina’s here, I’m going to be ready.

“I have a contact who works for Antonio. This is the first time he’s been able to get word to me. Antonio’s angry, Ilya.”

“Angry how?” I load my gun.

Elisei glances at Alina. “He’s vowing to retaliate against you for killing his men during the attempted ambush.”

“I have extra troops, the support of Santo?—”

“There’s more.” Again, he glances at Alina, who goes still. “My contact says Antonio’s claiming he has support from the Yegorov Bratva.”

“What?” Alina shakes her head. “No. I won’t allow it.”

The panic in her voice throbs in the air.

But she’s a Yegorov.

She’s strong.

“I won’t allow it,” she says again and turns to me. “You, me, and Demyan are going to sit down and sort this out. Now.”

Her words shake me out of my shock.

Because for all of the shit happening between me and Demyan, this revelation is beyond anything I ever imagined.

I know my friendship with Demyan is in a very bad place, maybe one that’s beyond repair, but this? To actively try and bring me down?

We can’t come back from that. Ever.

To betray me in a way that would put his own sister in danger is reprehensible.

“Ilya?” Alina says. “We go now.”

I nod. “Let’s go.”

We’ll sort this out, once and for all. Or try to. I owe it to Alina to try. Not to Demyan, but to Alina. I can see the effect this idiotic feud is having on her, and since she’s my priority, I’ll do anything I can to fix it.

Anything at all.

Demyan stands in silence, his arms folded.

He just stares at me, those ice-blue eyes unreadable. “I’m not working with Antonio. I can fight my own battles, but I’m also not about to stop your enemies from coming at you.”

My blood pounds. This…I don’t expect. Not toward Alina.

“His enemies?” she asks, strangled. “Ilya?—”

“Be quiet, Alina,” Demyan says, and I put a reassuring hand on her arm.

“It’s okay. Don’t upset yourself,” I say to her.

That earns derision from Demyan, but I ignore it. He can think what he wants, but my only intention is to keep Alina calm.

He looks at her with a sneer. “I’m not helping stop it. I’m not getting involved. Whether you see it or not, Angel, Ilya is a liability. And I’m not about to ruin my life’s work in digging him out of whatever hole he’s managed to get himself into.”

Alina begins to tremble. “That isn’t fair.”

“Isn’t it? Ask him if he’s been anything but a fool in this.” Demyan’s gaze cuts to me.

I meet his stare. “I’ll admit I’ve made mistakes, but I’m trying my best.”

I could tell him I’ve had all kinds of obstacles and things stacked against me from the start.

Demyan would tell me they were all excuses, and he’d be right. If I’d been smarter, savvier, I’d have seen it all coming.

But I’m not lying.

I am trying my best.

“That’s not good enough, is it? Not in this business.” Demyan shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do to help. I think you should leave, Ilya.”

I nod, turning to Alina. He’s right. We’re done here.

But she just glares at her brother.

“You asshole,” she shouts. “Ilya’s the father of your future niece or nephew. Is this attitude and tone and sentiment really the example you want to set?”

“And who am I setting it for? Some bastard you’re growing?”

I stiffen at his dismissal of our legal marriage, but then I grab her before she hits her brother. Fuck, I want to punch him, too, but I think he’s trying to goad me, to show her what I am, at least what he now thinks I am.

“You’re setting the example for your own children? Do you want Sasha to grow up heartless because his father is? Because his father values only his own pride?”

Demyan flinches. Then he gives her a cold stare. “If you’re going to sit there and question my ability to parent, you can leave too.”

Alina opens her mouth, but I step between them and kiss her, effectively stopping whatever she was about to fire back.

“Ilya—”

“It’s okay,” I murmur. “I’ll handle this. Don’t destroy your family.”

I kiss her again, ignoring Demyan’s growl, which gives me hope. For the two of them. He doesn’t want to destroy their relationship, either.

“I’ll call you later, malyshka ,” I say.

And then I leave.

War is on the horizon. There’s no doubt about that. I feel it in my bones, now more than ever.

I’m prepared for it as Elisei, Denis, and I head out to see Santo.

After listening to me, Santo crosses his grand drawing room to the window, then he turns. “I think in light of everything, it’s time to act.”

“Agreed,” Denis says.

I nod. “Agreed.”

“We need to bring down Simonov, Antonio, and Demyan,” Santo says.

Coldness slithers through me at the last name, although I see why he said it. Demyan’s now linked to this.

But even if I hate Demyan, I love his sister.

“And then what?” I ask. “Carving up property, holdings, and organizations isn’t that easy.”

“Worried about your pretty wife?” Santo asks.

“Obviously, but I’m worried about escalation beyond what’s needed. Taking out those who made moves illegally, sure, but beyond that, we need to be on the same page.”

No one disagrees with me.

“We need to take out enough of their people so we dominate,” Santo says. “Or, legalities aside, this won’t end.”

“We leave Demyan out of it,” I demand.

Santo scoffs. “You need to work out where your loyalties lie, my friend. Demyan Yegorov doesn’t give a shit about you or me. And you know it.”

But Alina’s in my head.

She’d be destroyed if something happened to her brother. And even with everything between me and Demyan, I don’t want him hurt.

Or involved. “No. Demyan’s off limits.”

“For your woman.”

“Not only that,” I say. “Demyan is stronger than you think, and he has the kind of allies and partnerships that will back him. We leave him as an offering. We let those who stick with him know we are willing to forge paths with them.”

He slowly smiles. “You think that will hurt him the most and protect Alina? Very well. I agree.”

None of what I said is a lie.

But I’m not telling Santo the complete truth.

I don’t want to hurt Alina, and I think this approach will give us more in the long run.

At the bottom of it all, though, is one thing, one hope.

That one day, Demyan and I can move on from this.