Page 136 of Sinful Hearts

The idiot has my number.

He could’ve given me a heads-up.

I move closer, ready to get in his face, but Antonio blocks the move and asks, “Why would Aleksy put his sister in harm’s way?”

Rurick scoffs. “We all know my grandson isn’t the sharpest blade in the drawer.”

My stare stays glued to Lev. “Why didn’t you warn me?”

He turns to Rurick, a silent plea for him to answer the question for him.

Rurick doesn’t back him up.

Just waits for him to speak for himself.

Lev pales some. “I didn’t know about it until it was over.”

I drum my fingers along the table’s edge, still struggling to hold in my anger. “What do you want, Rurick? Why’d you chase us down?” I lock my gaze on him. “Are you here to apologize for ordering Aleksy to tell Liliya to kill me?”

Rurick shakes his head violently. “I told Aleksy to let that go, and I wasn’t the one who called the hit. I told him we needed to start this on a clean slate.” He picks up the mug, holding it tight in his chubby hand. “I’ve mourned my son’s death. As for Dima, I’m happy the little fucker died. He had killed my son, so I don’t mourn his death. Grandson or not.”

Rurick gives no fuck about grandchildren. Noted.

“My goal with the marriage contract, for giving you my Liliya, was to build peace and a strong business partnership,” Rurick says. “I didn’t want any more violence.”

Antonio leans forward, eyeing Rurick coldly. “Yet you’re asking us to kill your own grandson.”

“One death could save many lives,” Rurick replies with no hesitation or shame. “So, yes.”

Antonio scoffs. “Kill him your-damn-self then.”

“We don’t kill our own,” Rurick counters.

I chuckle under my breath. “Sorry to break it to you, but we don’t do the Bratva’s fucking bidding.” Spit leaves my mouth with the wordBratva.

Rurick raises a bushy brow. “Even after he tried to murder you and your wife?”

“Half the people I’ve met want to kill me,” I counter.

I sure as hell plan to hurt Aleksy for ordering Liliya to kill me, but I need to figure out a plan. Everything I do is calculated.

Killing Aleksy is a slippery slope.

I need to see where Liliya stands before I pull the trigger.

Rurick ignores my comment, shifting his gaze back to Antonio. “Let’s make a deal.”

Antonio crosses his arms. “What kind of deal?”

“I’ll give you a larger cut of our business profits?—”

I interrupt him. “Do you mean the one currently burning to the ground?”

Rurick frowns. “What?”

I smirk, raising my mug. “Your bowling alley’s burning as we speak.” I make aboomgesture with my hand.

Rurick looks at Lev for confirmation.