“Ah, yes,” I mutter. “After Viktor died, some families deflected, didn’t they?”
“And they paid for it with blood!” Viktor sounds pissed. We made an example of them such that no one will ever cross us again. When the Abramovs refused to pay the Sokolov Bratva the protection money we hiked up, we gave them a chance to change their minds.”
“The old man’s been found dead,” I say, offering bait. “They say he had his throat slit in bed.”
“Who do you think did that?” Alexey laughs. “It was us.”
“He was a fool, that old man,” Tikhon says, his voice hardening. “He thought his age would protect him. But I made an example so strong that all those who defected are now returning to our ranks.”
Behind me, I hear the faintest rustle from the curtain. Arina is listening. My chest tightens, but I push on.
“And the nephew? The one who tried to run?”
Tikhon laughs. “Left pieces of him all the way from Brooklyn to Queens. No one runs from us anymore.”
I nod and act impressed. “And now you’re searching for your sister, I hear.”
His face darkens. “You know anything about that?”
“If I do?” I inquire.
“We’re going to cut off any hand that touched her,” Viktor growls. “Gouge their fucking eyes out for even looking in her direction. Tell me where she is.Now.Or I’ll kill you right here, you understand?”
Just then, I hear a small gasp from behind the curtain. So does Tikhon, because his head snaps up.
“What was that?” he demands.
Before I can answer, the curtain parts and Arina steps out. She’s trembling, her face is pale, and her eyes are wide with terror. Suddenly, I realize what she’s heard. The extent of her brothers’ violence—and I now wish I could turn back time.
“Arina?” Tikhon gasps, his eyes widening.
“Arina, thank God you’re alive! We’ve been lookingeverywherefor you,” Alexei tries to rush toward her, but she puts out her hands to keep him at bay, andcowersfrom them.
I notice the hurt on their faces.
She’s looking at them like she sees monsters, like she doesn’t recognize them, and for some reason, it breaks my heart. “Tikhon? What... what are you talking about? What did you do to those people?”
“Arina, look, about what you heard,” Tikhon tries to step forward, but she backs away even more. I take one step to the side, threatening to stop them in their tracks.
“Don’t come near me.” Her voice trembles from where she stands beside me. “I heard you. I heard what you saidabout... the Bratva and territories andkilling people—” She breaks off, tears filling her eyes.
“Arina, you don’t understand,” Alexey tries again. “This isn’t what it sounds like.”
“Shut up!” she cuts him off. “This isn’t what it sounds like? You didn’t torture people? Murder families? Was that all a lie?”
Tikhon’s expression hardens as he turns to me. “You set this up. You brought her here to hear this.”
I don’t deny it. “She deserved to know the truth about her family.”
“You son of a bitch,” Andrei snarls, taking a step toward me. I straighten, ready for the fight.
“Stop!” Arina shouts, drawing the attention of nearby diners. “Just stop, all of you.”
Tikhon’s voice drops to a dangerous whisper. “Where have you been, Arina? What has he done to you?”
“He married me,” she says, her voice hollow. “Ilariy is my husband now.”
The shock on their faces would be satisfying if I weren’t too busy watching the devastation on Arina’s.
