“Are either of you going to fill me in on what is wrong? Does this have to do with the photos?”
Chapter 23
Aleksandr
Brotherly Bonds
Suddenly, Ivan’s mindful restraint snapped like a brittle twig. Without the presence of our parents, he finally let loose. His face flushed with anger, and his eyes flashed with a fierce intensity as he exploded, unable to contain his fury any longer. He sneered in my direction.
“Didn’t tell Nik yet? Yeah, well, the Reaper here wants to stage an attack on Kinsley. To test her. And by a fucking perv, no less. And what photos?”
“You can use whomever you like, so long as it’s believable. And it’s not like we won’t be there. She won’t be under any real threat.” I rubbed my temples.
Every muscle in my body tensed as I fought to keep my emotions from following his off the cliff. It was better to stay in control, but damn, the exhaustion of everything made it that much harder to stay composed.
I reached into my pocket, my fingers brushing against my phone. After pulling it out, I took a deep breath and opened the folder with the images. The screen flashed and blurred as I scrolled through them, each one a haunting glimpse into Kinsley’s childhood. The invasiveness of them made me literally sick.
I picked the one of her on the mattress and a few others and quickly sent them off. “But maybe this will be enough of a fucking motivator for you.”
Nik’s gaze bored into mine. “I get your desire to test her and all, but that would mean letting her go back to work, dance, her life. If your plan is to do it authentically, anyway. Are you ready to do that?” he asked.
“Yeah, how about that, Reaper? Are you ready to let her hang out with Brian some more?” Ivan’s eyes flared with resentment.
He hadn’t bothered with his phone yet. A part of me didn’t want to push him to view them, to keep him innocent and in the dark about the possibility that Kinsley had been groomed as a child. That was one conclusion I’d come to after combing through the photos.
“Fuck you, Blade.” Each second, my irritation with him grew, and I couldn’t hold it back any longer.
“I say we let her accompany us to the office, club, and gym on our prospective days. It’ll give us the opportunity if we choose to test her at some point,” Nik said after a few minutes.
“We should talk to Marcel about this as well, though, and get his approval. Charles, take us to the club. The two of you need a drink,” he added after looking at both of us.
“More like I need to kick his ass,” Ivan said.
“You’re just pissed because you know I’m right,” I retorted.
There were only a few things in this world that truly upset my brother. Scum who hurt women and children, and when someone brought up Vanya. I halted that train of thought, not ready to go down memory lane.
It was easier to compartmentalize that part of our lives. Memories of her and the love we carried hurt too much, but it was deeper for Ivan. The bond they’d shared and their love had run deep.
The tension mounted, both of us fighting internally to keep our simmering anger under control. We pulled up to the club, and our heated stares only intensified. In his gaze, the silent challenge was thrown, and the moment the car came to a stop, the dam broke.
I stepped out of the vehicle first, and he shoved me on his way out. Jackets and shirts were discarded in a flurry of motions. Charles went to move between us, but Nik grabbed his arm.
“They need this,” he murmured.
And we did. The cool night air did nothing to temper the heat between us. Ivan’s eyes flashed with fury and pain. Our fists flew. The first punch landed with a sickening thud, sending a jolt of pain through my knuckles. Raw emotions drove us as we circled one another. And with each swing and blow, the pent-up frustration was let loose.
Our bodies collided, muscles straining as we grappled. Grunts and heavy breathing filled the night air. Sweat dripped down my face. His fist connected with my mouth, and a sharp burst of pain, followed by the metallic taste of blood, flooded my senses.
Motherfucker.
I lashed out with renewed intensity. We collided again, our fists a blur of motion. Each punch more desperate than the last. Ivan’s strength was undeniable,and I struggled to keep up. Another strategic hit, this one to my ribs, knocked the wind out of me.
I fought through the pain, refusing to back down. Suddenly, he lost his footing; the momentum had us both crashing to the ground. Like when we were kids, we rolled across the gravel, grappling for control. The rough asphalt bit into my skin. The damn lug got the upper hand, pinning me down with his weight.
His face was inches from mine, his breath hot and labored. “I’m stronger than you are. You know this. I know this,” he taunted, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “Give up and I’ll show you mercy. Isn’t that what you used to say to me back in the day? Looks like the tables have turned. And news flash, our girl hits harder than you do.”
I lay there, panting and bruised. The fight left me drained but somehow clearer than I’d been since the first photograph of Kinsley came through. I knew the anger and frustration I was dealing with wasn’t his fault.
