Sergei gave him a scathing look. “What does it matter?”
“It matters,” Ivan told him through clenched teeth.
A gleam entered Sergei’s eyes, and he let out a bitter laugh. “Always so angry, Vanya,” he taunted. “That’s your problem, you know. Too emotional. After Alexei left?” He clucked his tongue again. “A disaster. You think Sascha is the liability in the family, but it’s you.Youlet Alexei leave.Youlet Sascha run wild. No control of yourself, no control of them.”
Never mind that Sergei had been the one to return from Colorado without Alexei, scared off by him and his vampire. But Ivan supposed enough time had passed that Sergei hadconveniently forgotten that fact. Maybe he’d convinced himself monsters didn’t exist after all.
And maybe Sergei was right about some things, because Ivanwasangry. So angry it burned, itching under his skin and pulsing in his chest. “You didn’t think to tell me any of that before stepping straight to betrayal?” he asked, fighting to keep his voice from cracking with rage. “You were supposed toguideme.”
“There was no need. You’re unfit, Vanya. You always have been.” Sergei narrowed his eyes, and there was finally a flash of real hatred there, some hint of his true feelings. “Given long enough, your father would have passed the family onto me. The Carusos were happy to right his mistake.”
“You really think that?” Ivan laughed, disbelief momentarily taking over his rage. “Now who’s the one letting his emotions get the best of him?” He leaned in, the scent of copper from Sergei’s split lip filling his nostrils. “My father may have hated me, but I was still his blood. And that narcissistic bastard cared more about that than anything as ephemeral as your fucking loyalty. If he was here, he’d shoot you himself.”
Ivan’s gaze roamed over Sergei’s too-familiar face. “How many times did you beat me, do you think, under my father’s orders?” Ivan paused, but the old mobster didn’t take the bait. “I always considered it water under the bridge,” he continued. “You were only following orders, hm? But whose orders are you following now? Because they sure asfuckaren’t mine.”
Sergei stayed silent.
Ivan shook his head. “I should be grateful you beat the sentimental side right out of me. Otherwise, I might even regret killing you. But I’m not shooting you tonight, anyway.” He stepped back from the chair. “We’re making changes, Sergei. Big changes.” He flashed his teeth. “The kind that make the menrestless. So bear this a little longer, hm?” He headed toward the door leading into the house, ready to be out of this room and away from…all of it.
“Water,” Sergei said quickly, a bit of panic in his tone.
Ivan waved his hand without looking back at him. “In the morning, if I’m feeling generous. In the meantime, Kai here has someemotionsabout the knife that got stuck in Sascha’s arm, thanks to your betrayal. So I’m thinking I’ll let him repay the favor.” He tossed a glance to the demon. “Does that sound like something you’re interested in, or are those daggers ceremonial?”
Kai’s grin was the broadest Ivan had ever seen on him. “I’m very interested.”
Ivan paused at the door, turning back to Sergei. “That’s the thing about the Carusos. You thought they were the bigger power in town, but they were only little fish in a very big pond. My brothers and I have some new allies. You remember how Alexei changed, the last time you saw him?” There was a flash of fear in Sergei’s eyes, there and gone. He did remember, no matter what denial he’d put in place since then. “The eyes, you kept saying.” Ivan cocked his head. “I wonder which part of Kai will stick with you the most. Other than his knife, that is.”
Ivan didn’t have to look at Kai to know he’d changed forms. The high keen of fear from Sergei was sign enough.
“Try to avoid any major arteries,” Ivan said as he walked through the door. “I don’t want him bleeding out just yet. And put the tape back on his mouth, will you? Sascha wouldn’t want to hear the screaming.”
16
Nix
Nix lay on his back on the guest room bed, his feet propped up against the wall toward the ceiling, his tail slapping against the mattress.
It was possible he was pouting. But he was a little put out, if he was being honest, that Ivan had wanted Kai for backup and not Nix. Sure, Kai was massive, and a warrior demon, and his battle prowess was the whole reason they’d come to Maine in the first place. But still…
Nix frowned, staring up at the cracked plaster. He’d lost his own point somewhere along the way.
Ah yes. The point was that he didn’t want Ivan pushing him aside when it came to business once they were bonded. Nix would essentially be Ivan’s mob wife, and weren’t mob wives supposed to be at their mobsters’ sides?
Actually, come to think of it, no. From what little Nix knew, the wives were left behind, weren’t they? With the house and the brats.
Well, that was fine. Nix had misspoken—he wouldn’t be somemob wife anyway. He’d be a mobmate, and that was a whole different kettle of fish. He’d be at Ivan’s side through all of it.
And Kai would stay in Maine, where his big blue butt belonged.
The bedroom door opened, and Nix’s tail paused midsmack. He sat up immediately, scooting to the end of the bed and wrinkling his nose. Those were not good vibes his future mate was putting off. Not at all.
Ivan looked terrible. There was a harsher set to his jaw even than usual, and it looked like he’d been running his fingers through his hair. And the emotions wafting off him? Bitter resentment and rage, tangled up nicely with despair, shame, and guilt.
Nix tsked at him. “Really, Vanya. I should be the only one making you this undone.”
Ivan scoffed. “After we kill Sergei, I’m sure you will be.” His tone was cold enough when discussing the prospect of killing his right-hand man, but the veritable tornado of emotions roiling within him said otherwise.
“And when will that be?” Nix asked pointedly, eager to be brought back into the fold. In all the hubbub with the newcomers and their unexpected gift, Ivan had forgotten to tell his darling Nix the details.
