Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Victor
Ionly get a second to pause, a slight falter in my steps, to register that my brother is standing outside the door and has listened in on that whole conversation, before he spins on his heel and stomps up the hall in front of me.
Growling, I storm after him.
As I pass the landing, a set of claw-like, red nails dig into my arm to halt me. My teeth bare as I face Isla. Only I find that her teeth are bared too, while she gouges crescent circles in my skin. "You lost Victor. It's over. She doesn't want to marry you. Listen to your brother for fuck's sake."
I tear my arm from hers and she flexes the fingers that were just gouging holes in my forearm. "You don't need territory. You don't need more power. Forget the fucking war. Let the DeMarco girl go and go home."
The competing burn of frozen ice and scorching fire slices through me, variants of rage warring within me for control. My traitorous fucking brother has spilled his guts to this girl again. I swear to God I don't even know where his loyalties lie anymore.
I push past Isla and storm to my bedroom. I've had enough of this.
I've had enough of playing the nice guy.
It's never been who I am.
I throw my bedroom door open and leave it to smack against the frame. When I get inside I find Alexei already sitting on the bed, folded forward with his tattooed hands resting between his legs.
I've always envied my brother for his ability to show his inked skin so brazenly. I have plenty of tattoos too, but mine are all hidden under suits and business shirts in the name of appearance. I certainly can't afford to have ink crawling up my neck the way he does.
His eyes lift to mine and he gives me a look that tells me he knows exactly what I'm thinking. "Don't do it, Victor," he begs. "Let's just go home."
"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" I shout, kicking at the carpet. "You as well?" I pull at my hair, whispering under my breath, "what are they putting in the fucking water here?"
"She's not worth this, Vic. Let's just go home."
She's most definitely worth it. A fact I'm sure my brother knows too, given the way he looks at her. At this point, even if I got Sage where I wanted her, I'd have to convince my brother to back off. And now, I'm not sure I could.
"They're disrespecting us." I grind my teeth. "This is a massive show of disrespect!" I'm shouting now. "The DeMarcos have always held one over our head! Like they're gifting us the fucking universe just by allowing us to exist!"
Alexei's eyes snap up to glare at me. "Why the fuck do you want this so badly, Victor? What the fuck has Sage Fucking DeMarco got to offer you?"
"Power! People! Everything!"
"We already have all of that." Alexei stands, tightening his muscles like he's preparing to fight. Preparing to fucking fight me on behalf of this fucking girl!
I growl, throwing all the items off my dresser and only feeling a mild pinch of satisfaction as they shatter aimlessly on the floor.
"Stop it. Now, brother," Alexei begs. "I see what you're doing. Stop it now before it gets out of hand. Even more than it has."
He touches my shoulder but I shrug him off, putting distance between us. My brother puts up a fight, though, gripping my shoulders and pulling me in until our foreheads are touching.
The uncharacteristic move is enough to give me pause.
"Please," he begs. "Please. Don't do this."
I let in a sharp breath. I have never in my fucking life seen my brother beg for anything before. Even when our father held a gun to his head when he was sixteen, he didn't beg for his own life.
I watch him carefully as he pulls away, my chest heaving.
I run a hand down my face. "Fine. Fine, have it your way, Alexei," I say. "I'm listening."
"Good," he nods, swallowing hard.
"Then we need to get out of here. No point in staying," I say.
He nods solemnly, but his eyes go hard like he hadn't considered that. I go to the closet and pack my things into duffel bags to illustrate my point. Even as he stands at the closet door, he only watches me, making no move to stop me.
"You're going now?"
"Like I said, no point in staying."
"Okay," Alexei nods.
"You coming?" I clench my jaw, pausing the packing to watch him over my shoulder.
"Yeah," he says, his eyes becoming glassy and distant. "Yeah." A beat passes. "We'll need time to wrap up, so, I'll, uh, I'll stay tonight and pack up with Isla and everyone else tomorrow. We'll come home, Vic."
I turn away so he doesn't see the rage manifesting on my face. He doesn't want to leave her.
"Good," I say, holding my tone. "See you tomorrow."
My brother recognizes the dismissal, thankfully, because he doesn't seem to recognize my commands these days.
He presses the door closed behind him and I bare my teeth.
With my fucking idiot brother out of the way, I'm set to have things my way. Finally.
I settle into the armchair by my bed and I wait.
I wait hours. The whole day. Further into the evening.
When night falls, I stand, jumping up with a start.
Under the cover of night, when I know almost everyone will have retired for the evening, I round up our men. Gathering our guns and charging my way across the premises.
I've got eight guys in tow with me by the time I kick open Anton DeMarco's office door and aim my gun at his head.
Within seconds, my men have surrounded the room.
Anton doesn't look at all surprised to see me. He puts down his pen, eyes pinging around the room to survey the damage.
"Really, Victor?" He shakes his head. "That was fucking quick."
"I get what I want, Anton," I growl.
He stands, turning off his desk lamp and shrugging off his suit jacket before approaching me.
"So, it's come to this?" he asks, facing me head on.
I smile cruelly. "It's come to this."
And then I cock the gun.