Chapter 31
CIRO
Kira, the smug prick, sat beside Wolf. The brothers hardly resembled each other.
Wolf was a beast of a man, tall and brawny, and gave off don’t-fuck-with-me vibes.
While Kira was what I called a wannabe crime lord, and a little man at that.
The only physical attributes they had in common were hair and eye color, and an unreadable expression.
I drummed my fingers on the table, flicking my unamused gaze at my brothers and father. I didn’t need this shit right now. I’d just learned I had a baby and her safety was my top priority.
“Your situation with the Bratva is not my concern. You must leave… today.” I hadn’t thought twice about my decision regarding Kira’s predicament. He was nobody to me and I wanted to keep it that way.
“Today?” Wolf’s eyebrows shot up.
“Where will I go?” Kira asked in a panicked voice. “You know I’m rebuilding. I don’t have the money or manpower to protect myself.”
“It is not my problem.” I folded my hands on the meeting table and leaned forward, pinning Kira in place.
“You know… If it was me, I would never risk your life or your family’s by betraying a more powerful man than myself.
I would never bring that kind of danger to your door.
Nor would I expect anyone to dig me out of the grave I dug.
Why should I allow you to put mine at risk? ”
Rage flashed in Kira’s eyes.
My brothers and I stared emotionless at the little man.
They may not agree with me, but we always stood united.
But in this case, Roman and Luca felt as I did.
After the hell our sister had gone through when her fucking husband sold her, we wouldn’t put her or any other woman in the line of fire, especially not with the Bratva Pakhan.
We were not well acquainted with the organization that was after Kira, and I didn’t wish to burn any lucrative bridges over a man I didn’t trust much less liked.
Incidentally, I might have felt differently helping Wolf’s brother if it had been after I’d dealt with my own personal situation. But Kira sought my family’s help at the wrong time, but again, not my problem. He could hate me all he wanted; my decision was final.
“We can protect everyone,” Wolf said in defense of his brother. “I’ll call Storm. He’ll send a crew up here. We can even reach out to some of our allies for back up.”
“You’ll be a father soon.” I shook my head, gravely disappointed at his attempt to sway my decision. “Think about the blowback for harboring a man who stole from them. Think about your child’s wellbeing. Your brother certainly didn’t.” God knew I was considering Pippa and Isla at this moment.
“You bastard!” Kira shouted.
“Quiet,” Wolf growled at his brother. He clutched his massive hands together as if considering my words before issuing his reply. I was confident my brother-in-law would do what was right for our family. Finally, Wolf turned toward his brother. “He’s right.”
“Brother, you can’t be serious.” Kira acted stunned and afraid. “I’m your brother.”
“You knew better, but did you care about the consequences? No. You just did as you pleased,” Wolf told him.
“I did but thought my brother and his family would help me.” Kira smiled at his brother, but Wolf showed no compassion.
Kira was a selfish asshole. I nearly rolled my eyes like a teenage girl.
“You put yourself before my wife.” Wolf looked like he could choke the life out of his brother. “If anything happened to Rosa and my child, I’d burn Russia to the ground.”
“And I’d be by your side,” I promised with a sharp nod.
“You ruthless son of a bitch!” Kira spat my way. “Family takes care of family.”
“I agree and you, sir, are not my family.” I stood from my seat, pulled my gun from the holster, and pointed it at his face. “I want you off my property within the hour. If you aren’t, I will put a bullet between your eyes.”
“Fuck,” Wolf barked. “No need for that. I’ll escort him off the premises myself.”
“Good.” I set my piece on the table in front of me, happy not to spill blood on our fine furniture and oriental rug. But I had a feeling I might get another shot at Wolf’s loser brother.
“Your arrogance disgusts me,” Kira shouted at me. Clearly, he wanted to die, but the slight wave of Padre’s hand told me to let the prick have his tantrum. “You’re more selfish than me.”
“Enough,” Wolf growled at his brother.
“I do not believe I’m more selfish, but if I am, I can afford to be.” I looked sidelong at Roman, wholly done with this meeting. “Let’s go.”
I needed a drink and a change of scenery before I spoke to Isla this evening.
Roman eyed me from across the table as I drank my scotch. We’d gone to the finest steakhouse in all of Canada, one I owned, but I wasn’t in the mood for eating, only drinking.
I was confident he had thoughts on how I handled Kira and probably questions about Isla. After all, Roman was the meddler in the family. He probably saw it as part of his position as second oldest.
Well, I didn’t need another parent.
I sure as hell didn’t want to talk about Isla either.
Guilt churned my stomach inside out. When I’d gone to bed last night, everything hit all at once. The feelings of betrayal simmering inside me had exploded. I warred with anger and regret half the fucking night.
I’d gone downstairs to the personal gym and took out my wrath on the punching bag. My goddamn knuckles were swollen after beating them against the leather for over an hour.
After my meltdown, I showered and went back to bed. It took me a couple of hours before I’d fallen asleep, as thoughts of Pippa occupied every bit of space in my brain.
I hated myself for pushing Isla away last year. But now, I hated her for not telling me about the baby. It seemed once I was away from them, all the emotions I’d buried deep in my soul had surfaced and were waging war.
All day I’d been smoldering, so I avoided anything and everything regarding Isla. The meeting with Wolf and his brother didn’t help matters. As much as I would have loved to pound my fist into Kira’s ugly face, I refrained and used my gun to scare him. Wolf would’ve tried to stop me anyway.
Kira was a pathetic, self-serving loser? My family could read the Russian like a book. It was Wolf who’d given him the benefit of the doubt, but I sensed he was struggling to accept the truth.
It sucked not trusting someone so close to you. Isla’s beautiful face flashed behind my eyes. Would I be able to trust her? I didn’t know. She didn’t trust me either, so I guess we were even.
“He’s such an idiot. I’m starting to doubt he’s good enough for Rosa.” I emptied my glass and raised it for the server to bring me another.
“Are you talking about Wolf?” Roman screwed up his face.
“Who else would I be talking about? He should not defend his brother. He hardly knows him.”
“But he’s trying to get to know him better. And he treats our sister very well. She’s lucky to have him.”
“Jesus, brother. Have you grown a pussy?” I searched for the fucking server.
“Piss off,” he snapped. “I know what you’re doing.”
“Trying to get another drink. Or do I need to get it myself?” I lowered my glass onto the table, but what I really wanted to do was smash it on the floor.
“What is going on with you?” Roman asked.
“Incompetent people irritate me.”
“I don’t buy it. What else is going on?”
“Nothing.” I reached for his glass but he swatted my hand away.
“It’s Isla. I know it is.”
Rage boiled in my gut. I was unhinged and needed to calm down. No chance in hell would I talk to Isla in my current state of don’t-give-a-fuck-about-anything.
Although, I doubted that would happen with Roman staring at me like I’d kicked his puppy. Why couldn’t he just quietly sit with me instead of questioning me?
I supposed that was the reason I had avoided Isla. I didn’t want a million questions; ones I didn’t have answers for. She was probably overthinking everything and planning our future together.
“Rosa talked to Isla.” Roman’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I met his gaze, unable to speak. My heart jolted in anticipation of what he’d say next. He’d better be careful, though. I was hanging on by a flimsy thread, ready to explode at the slightest pang.
“You didn’t tell Isla she was going to call,” Roman said in an accusing tone.
“No.”
“That’s a shitty thing to do. Rosa could tell she was caught off guard and uncomfortable.”
“Probably because she’s ashamed of hiding Pippa from everyone.” I gritted my teeth.
“So that’s how it’s going to be? You’re going to be a dick to her.”
“I have every right to be furious with her. She kept Pippa from me.” I leaned forward to be discreet. “She’s in the wrong. I’m trying to find a way to forgive her.”
“Forgive her? That’s rich. You really are an asshole.” Roman sat back in his chair, putting some distance between us.
My jaw twitched as I bit down on my back molars. This was why I didn’t want to talk about Isla. “You don’t understand.”
“Oh, I do understand. You both made choices leading you to right here and now. Honestly, you’ll be lucky if she even takes you back.”
“Fuck off,” I told him in a low voice, trying not to make a scene. “Isla’s always been mine and always will be.”
“You’re a fool, Ciro. Allow me to enlighten you, big brother. Isla has Pippa to protect. She won’t be with you if she thinks you’ll abandon them like her father did to her.”
“She’s already been with me,” I sneered at him pridefully. “I was back in her bed within twenty-four hours.”
His eyebrows shot up.
“Not that it’s any of your business.” I reclined in my chair. The urge to put my fist in Roman’s mouth was intense. “And for the record, I would never abandon my child.” My daughter will have everything she could ever want, and so much more.
Roman sneered, likely wanting to hit me, too. “And how is your child doing today? Have you bothered to find out?”