Page 25 of Wreaking Havoc
Sascha took out his phone and hit Ivan’s name.
His brother picked up on the second ring. “A phone call? Unprompted? Are you done pouting, then?”
“Jeez. Good morning to you too.”
“I’m afraid I’m rather busy today.”
Sascha glared out at the ocean. God, typical Ivan. Acting like a loon when Sascha didn’t pick up every single one of his calls, then immediately pushing him away the second he actually reached out. “I’ll get to the point, then. Which family is it that’s after me?”
There was a pause on the other end. “Why so curious?”
“Don’t I have a right to know?”
“You’ve never cared before.”
Sascha couldn’t help the shrill edge to his voice. “Well, I’ve never beenstabbedbefore.”
There was another pause, and Sascha was almost certain Ivan was going to keep his silence. But then he spoke. “The Carusos.”
Sascha actually knew that one. “The Italians?” he asked with surprise.
“I cut off one of their shipments. A large one. They lost quite a bit of money.” Sascha could almost hear his smile. “They’re calling me a tyrant.”
“Okay, the Carusos. And?”
“And what?”
“What are you doing about it?”
“At the moment?” There was the sound of rustling paper in the background. Was Ivan even paying attention to Sascha at all? “Nothing.”
“Well, why the hell not?” Sascha asked through gritted teeth, vaguely aware of Kai removing the coffee he’d been sloshing about from his hand.
“I already told you.” The first hints of true impatience entered Ivan’s voice. “One underhanded assassination attempt is hardly a declaration of war. I’m not willing to start one.”
“I thought I heard you telling Sergei they were small potatoes.” See? Sascha listened. Sometimes. Mostly because the name had sounded a little like the name of one of his favorite restaurants, and he’d been hoping someone was ordering lunch.
“They have connections.”
“And those connections are more important than me being knifed?”
“You healed up nicely, didn’t you?”
Sascha hung up.
If he hadn’t, he would have said something truly regrettable, and then he wouldn’t have to worry about the Carusos, because Ivan would kill him instead. Alexei had always claimed Sascha had immunity to Ivan’s wrath, that Ivan coddled him, but half of that was just Sascha knowing when to keep his mouth shut.
His phone rang. He turned it off.
“I miss Alexei,” he found himself muttering. Alexei would at least have been properly upset that Sascha had been knifed.
The cold ocean breeze was cut off as Kai’s body warmth enveloped him once more, his chest pressing against Sascha’s shoulder. “Who’s Alexei?”
Sascha found himself leaning into that warmth. “My other brother,” he said with a sigh. “Mybetterbrother.”
Fuck, that was a mean thing to say.Good. He hoped Ivan felt the sting of it, somehow, over in his ivory business tower.
He tilted his head to look up at Kai, the start of a wry grin on his lips. One that fell as soon as he caught sight of the demon’s face. He looked furious.
