26. Emil
EMIL
Ilook at Kiera, expecting to see annoyance or frustration. Instead, she's smirking at me.
"You did say my brothers could visit whenever they wanted," she says, her voice sweet but with an edge of satisfaction. "Remember? That was one of my ground rules."
Fuck. She's right. I did agree to that.
"So I did," I say, keeping my voice neutral.
We get out of the pool, water streaming off our bodies.
I hand Kiera a towel and watch as she wraps it around herself.
Even now, soaking wet and slightly disheveled, she's beautiful.
The way the towel clings to her curves makes me want to forget about her brothers entirely and take her back to my bedroom.
But the look on her face tells me that's not happening. She's actually excited about this visit.
We dress quickly. Kiera pulls on the clothes she wore earlier, and I throw on a pair of dark pants and a black shirt. My hair is still damp, but I don't give a fuck. Let her brothers see exactly what we were doing.
"They're in the library," Luca says when we emerge from the pool room. His expression is carefully blank, but I can see the amusement in his eyes.
"Of course they are," I mutter.
We walk through the estate, Kiera practically bouncing with energy beside me.
I sigh inwardly. After the pleasant day and night we've had, I'm reluctant to deal with what will undoubtedly be an irritating visit with her brothers.
But she looks genuinely excited, her blue eyes bright and her steps quick.
So I'll grant her this. For now.
The library is one of my favorite rooms in the estate with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, leather furniture, and a massive fireplace. It's where I come to think, plan, or just escape the constant demands of running an empire.
And now it's full of Walker brothers.
I open the door and immediately assess the situation. Kevin stands near the window, arms crossed. Jack is by a bookshelf, his cop's eyes taking in every detail of the room. Devin and Kaleb sit on the leather couch, but both stand when we enter.
All four of them look at Kiera. Then they look at me. Then back at Kiera.
I watch their expressions change in real time. Kevin's face goes from concern to horror. Jack's jaw clenches so hard I'm surprised his teeth don't crack. Devin looks like someone just punched him in the gut. Kaleb's eyes widen with disbelief.
They know. They can see it written all over her. The slightly swollen lips and flush still on her cheeks, the way her hair is damp and tousled. The way she stands just a little closer to me than she did before.
They know I just fucked their baby sister.
"Kiera," Kevin starts, his voice strained.
"Don't," she says, holding up one hand. "Don't even start."
"We're just concerned," Kaleb tries, his tone gentler than Kevin's.
I move to the fireplace and lean against the mantel, crossing my arms. This is going to be interesting. And amusing. Watching Kiera handle her four older brothers, watching these big men shrink under her verbal assault, is better entertainment than anything I could have planned.
"We're not interrogating you," Devin adds. "We just want to make sure you're okay."
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine," Kevin says. "You look like you just…"
"Just what?" Kiera's eyes flash dangerously. "Say it, Kevin. Go ahead."
Kevin's mouth opens and closes. He looks at me, then back at his sister, clearly struggling with what to say.
"That's what I thought." Kiera crosses her arms, mirroring my posture. "My personal life is none of your business. I'm a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions."
"But he's a criminal," Jack says, his voice hard. "He's dangerous, Kiera. He hurts people for a living."
"I'm aware of what Emil does."
"Are you?" Jack takes a step toward her. "Are you really? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're playing house with a man who could get you killed."
"Jack," Kaleb says quietly, a warning in his tone as he shoots me a concerned glance.
But Jack ignores him. "Someone already tried to kill you, Kiera. And you think the solution is to marry the man who probably put a target on your back in the first place?"
I should intervene. I should say something. But I'm too fascinated by watching Kiera defend herself, defend us.
"Emil didn't put a target on my back," she says, her voice cold. "He's the reason I'm alive."
"Or he's the reason you're in danger at all," Kevin argues.
"You don't know that."
"And you do?" Kevin's voice rises. "You've known this man for what, a couple of weeks? And you're already sleeping with him, living in his house, planning to marry him?"
"Yes," Kiera says simply. "I am. And if you don't approve, you can suck it up or hit the road. Your choice."
The room goes silent. Her brothers stare at her like they don't recognize her. And maybe they don't. This version of Kiera, fierce and unapologetic, is different from the scared woman who grabbed me at the club.
I like this version. A lot.
I settle into the chair near the fireplace, unable to stop the smirk tugging at my lips. I'm happy her sharp tongue is focused on them instead of me for once. Let them feel the sting of her words.
But as I watch them, something strange happens. Something I don't expect.
I feel a pull in my chest. An unfamiliar ache.
These people, they're a family. A real family. They argue and fight and drive each other crazy, but underneath all of that is love. Honest, real love. The kind that makes them show up unannounced because they're worried. The kind that makes them willing to fight a Pakhan to protect their sister.
I've never had that.
I grew up in a foster home, raised by Luca's parents after my own were killed in a Bratva power struggle. Luca is the closest thing I have to family, the only person I trust completely. But this? This messy, complicated, beautiful thing the Walkers have?
I've never experienced it.
Watching them now, seeing the way they look at Kiera with concern and frustration and love all mixed together, pulls at something inside me. Some unknown desire I didn't even know existed. The desire to have this type of relationship. To belong to something bigger than myself and my empire.
To have a real family. Not just one born of blood and fear-induced respect. The thought is so foreign, so unexpected, that I almost don't recognize it for what it is.
"Look," Kaleb says, his voice the voice of reason. "We're not trying to control you, Kiera. We just want to make sure you're safe and happy."
"I am safe," Kiera says, her tone softening slightly. "Emil has guards everywhere. No one can get to me here."
"And are you happy?" Devin asks quietly.
Kiera hesitates. I watch her carefully, waiting for her answer. Wondering what she'll say.
"I'm getting there," she finally says.
It's not the declaration of love her brothers probably want to hear. But it's honest. And it's more than I expected.
The brothers seem to relax slightly. Kevin uncrosses his arms. Jack's jaw unclenches. Devin and Kaleb exchange a look that might be relief.
And then Kiera drops the bomb.
"Besides," she says casually, "Emil and I are getting married in a month. So you might as well get used to it."
Chaos erupts.
All four brothers start talking at once, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of disbelief, anger, and concern. Kevin looks like he might have a stroke. Jack's hand moves instinctively toward where his gun would be if he were on duty. Devin and Kaleb both stand, their bodies tense.
I'm happy to sit and watch. This is better than any show I've ever seen. I glance at Luca, who's standing by the door, and see him struggling not to laugh. His shoulders are shaking slightly, and he has to turn away to compose himself.
I have to turn my head too, hiding the huge grin tugging at my lips. If her brothers see me smiling right now, they'll probably lose their minds completely.
"A month?" Kevin's voice cuts through the noise. "You're getting married in a month?"
"Yes."
"That's insane," Jack says. "You barely know him."
"I know enough."
"No, you don't." Jack rounds on me, his cop's instincts taking over. "What are your intentions with our sister?"
The question hangs in the air. All four brothers turn to look at me, waiting for my answer. Kiera looks at me too, her expression unreadable.
I could lie. I could tell them I'm madly in love with their sister, that I've never felt this way about anyone, and that I'll cherish and protect her for the rest of my life. They might not believe it, but it would be what they want to hear.
But I decide on the truth instead.
"My intentions," I say slowly, "are to marry your sister, keep her safe, and give her everything she could possibly want. In exchange, she'll be my wife. She'll stand beside me, represent my family, and eventually give me heirs."
The silence that follows is deafening.
"Heirs?" Kevin's voice is barely above a whisper. "You're talking about her like she's a business transaction."
"In many ways, she is."
That doesn't go over well.
Jack lunges forward, but Luca is there in an instant, stepping between us. Devin and Kaleb move too, but Luca's hand goes to his weapon, and they freeze.
"I wouldn't," Luca says quietly.
"You son of a bitch," Jack snarls at me. "She's not a transaction. She's a person. Our sister."
"I'm aware of what she is."
"Are you?" Kevin's face is red with anger. "Because it sounds like you're using her."
"I'm being honest with you," I say, my voice calm. "I could lie and tell you I love her. I could make up some romantic story about how we met and fell for each other. But that's not what this is. Not yet, anyway."
"Not yet?" Kaleb looks at Kiera. "Do you hear this? He's admitting he doesn't love you."
"I heard him," Kiera says quietly.
"And you're still going to marry him?"
"Yes."
"Why?" Devin's voice cracks slightly. "Why would you do this to yourself?"
"Because it's my choice," Kiera says. "And because despite what Emil just said, I think there's more to this than a business arrangement."
I look at her, surprised. She meets my gaze, and there's something in her eyes I can't quite read. Hope, maybe. Or faith.
The brothers look devastated. I can see it in their faces, the way their shoulders slump and how they look at their sister like they're losing her. And I feel something I rarely feel.
Guilt.
These men love her. They're trying to protect her. And I'm taking her away from them, pulling her into a world of violence and danger that could get her killed.
I should feel satisfied. Victorious. I'm getting what I want.
But watching their faces, seeing their genuine concern and love for Kiera, I feel something else entirely.
Before I really know what I'm doing, the words are out of my mouth.
"Be at the estate at noon tomorrow," I say.
They all turn to look at me.
"What?" Jack asks.
"Noon tomorrow. All four of you." I stand, moving away from the fireplace. "We'll settle this in the old tradition. A fight for Kiera's honor."