Chapter Twelve
The room is silent. If a mouse were to pick this moment to roam insidethe walls, we’d hear it. Neither of my brothers makes a move to explain what is happening to Mama Volkov. She knows what we do. How could she not? She was married to my father for five years. But we generally don’t like to unload family business on her. It’s not her job to worry. That’s for my brothers and me.
However, I can tell by the steel determination in her hazel eyes that she won’t let this go. She intends to unravel the truth.
I take a deep breath and open my mouth. “Vivienne is a McBride, the family from Vegas. She stole five million from us. She’s staying here until it’s returned.”
Mama Volkov whips her head towards Vivienne. “Is that true, Vivienne?”
Vivienne’s voice is firm when she answers. “No. I have no use for their money. I’ve got my own.”
She flips her long hair back over her shoulder as if to make a point. The move exposes her creamy skin. I grip the table as a tsunami of desire hits me. The wood beneath my knuckles creaks, drawing Kaz’s eye. He smirks at me like he knows exactly what’s going through my head. I’m sure he does, considering the way he looks at Vivienne.
“Well, I don’t see why she’s here at all.”
“She stole it,” Dmitri barks.
He’s the angriest about the money. I’m unsure if it’s because that road leads to Vivienne or if he’s upset that he hasn’t solved this problem yet.
“She already said she didn’t,” Yvonne continues.
“And you believe her? She’s lying. She and her brother are up to something; I just know it.”
Vivienne rolls her eyes and takes a bite of her food. She looks comfortable sitting at the table with us. She looks like she’s home. What am I saying? She’s not home. She lives in Vegas, for fuck’s sake. Jesus, I think whatever mania Kaz is coming down with might be affecting me, too. That’s the only logical explanation. I haven’t spoken to the girl yet and already think of her as mine. That’s dangerous. Really fucking dangerous. I haven’t had a serious girlfriend since my bitch of an ex-wife. I’ve learned that I’m not built for love. That doesn’t mean I can’t show her a good time right after she gives me my money back. It’s lust. That’s it. Nothing more. Nothing less.
“Maybe you’re just paranoid,” Kaz replies. “What evidence do you have that she stole it?”
Dmitri jumps out of his seat. His enraged face is stony. “You want evidence?”
Kaz nods.
“How about the fact that she’s the last person to see Thomas Taylor right before our money went missing? You think that’s a fucking coincidence, Kaz?”
Kaz shakes his head. “That proves nothing, brother.”
“How stupid are you?”
“Enough,” I interrupt before they get into one of their fights.
Dmitri makes a good point. In our world, coincidences just don’t exist. But Kaz is also right; despite knowing Vivienne was the last to see Thomas Taylor, that doesn’t necessarily mean she stole our money.
I meet Vivienne’s eyes. There’s mirth in them as she watches my little brothers’ stare each other down. A piece of her enjoys the chaos she causes.
“Vivienne, what night did you last see Thomas?”
She purses her lips as if she has to think hard, but even I can see it’s nothing but a ruse. “January 11th, give or take a few days.”
“We lost contact with him that same night,” Dmitri points out as if it proves him right.
I raise my hand to silence him. “Tell me what happened that night, Vivienne.”
She cocks her head to the side and raises an eyebrow. “And why would I do that?”
“Because you want to go home, and we want our money back.”
“I don’t have your money, Volkov.”
“Tell me what happened, then. Prove that you didn’t take our money.”
Vivienne sighs. “Look, you’re right, I want to go home. I’ve got shit to do back home. But I didn’t take your money. The only thing I did was kill Thomas for threatening my family.”
Kaz straightens. “He threatened you?”
“He threatened to expose my sister if I didn’t suck his dick. I did what I had to do,” she replies, shrugging her shoulders.
Mama Volkov chuckles. She holds her hand to high-five Vivienne like they’re old friends. I’ve known Yvonne for a long time. She was Dmitri’s mother’s replacement and has been around since I was ten. I’ve never seen her high-five a soul.
“Did you trash his house?” Dmitri asks. “It was wrecked by the time we got there.”
She shakes her head.
“What was he threatening to expose your sister for?”
Vivienne hesitates, unsure if she should trust us with this secret. I lean forward, putting my elbows on the table, and stare her down. If there’s any hope of ending this soon, we need honesty.
“Simone murdered his wife,” she finally answers.
I take a deep breath. I’ve met her sister. Simone runs a very popular casino in Vegas. Sometimes, we rent out the conference room because it’s private and cheaper than me setting up an office there. Simone is cordial enough. I even took her on a date last year. Granted, that was more to piss off Balor Murphy, who is Declan’s right-hand man. He needed a nudge. Simone doesn’t seem the type to be a killer, but then again, what do killers really look like?
“This is like a cheesy soap opera,” Dmitri says. “It’s bullshit.”
“It’s the truth,” says Vivienne. “I killed Thomas, but I’ve got nothing to do with your money. Can I go home now?”
“No.”
“No?”
Mama Volkov takes a sip of her orange juice. I can tell she’s holding her tongue.
“No, you can’t go until the money is found or until we find proof that you didn’t do it.”
Vivienne scoffs. “So, you don’t believe me?”
“Why would we?” Dmitri asks. “You’ve got every reason to lie.”
“Then, why bother asking to hear my side if you were never going to believe me?”
“I believe you,” Kaz says.
“Me too,” Mama Volkov chimes in.
Dmitri looks frustrated, as if he can’t believe them. I don’t understand why Vivienne’s presence makes him so angry. Or why he’s so convinced she stole from us. He looks at me, awaiting my final judgment.
“I’m not convinced Vivienne stole from us,” I admit. Dmitri goes to open his mouth, but I continue before he can. “However, I’m not convinced she didn’t steal from us either. We’ll keep her here until I’ve got something concrete that proves her innocence or otherwise.”
Vivienne gives me a look. One that would cut a lesser man off at the knees. She looks at me as if I’m lower than the dirt beneath her feet. I don’t like it. But I understand it.
“Fine,” Vivienne answers, rising to her feet. “I’ll go back to my cage now,” she spits.
“You haven’t eaten yet,” Kaz says, concern written on his face.
“I’m not hungry.”
Without another word, Vivienne storms out of the dining room. Her French toast barely touched.
“You sure you know what you’re doing?” Mama Volkov asks.
“I’m sure,” I answer.
“If you say so,” Yvonne picks her plate up and exits the room the same way Vivienne did.
Leaving me and my brothers alone around the table. Dmitri sits back down, cutting into his food with a satisfied look.
“I need you two to know something,” Kaz says. I look up at him; his gray eyes are serious and hard. “Vivienne is mine. I don’t care what she’s done. She’s mine.”
I suck in a breath. A scalding heat burns through my chest, ripping at my insides. I assumed that what Kaz felt was nothing more than lust. But the possessive gleam in his eye tells me I’m wrong. He wants Vivienne not just for a night—but forever. Doesn’t he realize men like us aren’t made for that?
“Did you learn nothing from my marriage to Katerina?” I ask.
“She’s nothing like that bitch and you know it, Mikhail.”
“I don’t know anything about her,” I reply. “She’s been here one day, Kaz. One. You can’t possibly think you love her.”
“I don’t think. I know.”
I shake my head. There’s no way. This is the real world. Not a goddamn fairy tale.
“You don’t, Kaz. You only think you do because you’re thinking with your dick.”
“Fuck you,” He spits. “You’re only pissed because I saw her first.”
His words hit me in the gut. He’s not wrong… I do wish I had seen her first, but only because I want to fuck her. Not love her. I’m not made for love. Neither is my brother, but I guess he needs to learn that on his own.
Kaz’s face lights up with a triumphant smirk. “I’m right, aren’t I? You want her too.”
I don’t bother to grace him with a response. Even if he’s right, there’s no way I’m admitting to my little brother that I want the girl he’s got his sights set on.
“Let me remind you two that she’s a thief, an enemy. Neither of you get to stick your dicks in her. Drop it,” Dmitri growls.
I turn my head slowly, meeting Dmitri’s glare. His eyes are riddled with jealousy. That’s when I realize he wants her too. He just doesn’t want to want her. That’s why he’s so adamant about her not staying here. It’s driving him mad. How did she do this? How did she snare all three of us in her web with a single look?
“She’s a killer,” Dmitri continues. “I looked her up. She’s responsible for hundreds of murders in the last ten years. All men. Vivienne is a black widow. If you fall into bed with her, you may never make it out.”
Kaz laughs. “That’s exactly why I want her, brother. She’s made for me.”
For us.
The thought slams into me like a runaway train. It would never work. Ever. My brothers and I are too possessive. Too jealous to share anything. We couldn’t even share toys as children. How the hell are we supposed to share a woman? It would be impossible.
“Look,” I sigh. “It doesn’t matter who wants her or doesn’t want her. None of us can have her.” I give Kaz a pointed look. “Understand?”
“No.”
Frustration colors my veins. My little brother is usually my best soldier. The only yes-man I need, but this makes twice now that he’s told me no, and each time was because of that woman. Maybe Dmitri is right. Maybe Vivienne doesn’t belong here. I dismiss that thought the moment it comes up. Because even though I can’t have Vivienne McBride, I can’t bear the thought of her in a musty warehouse tied up to a chair while Dmitri extracts information from her.
“Kaz,” Dmitri starts.
“I’m not going to give her up,” Kaz interrupts. “I’d rather leave the fucking family before doing that.”
My jaw drops. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me,” Kaz says, standing from his chair. “I’m not giving her up. I’m not promising I won’t pursue her. That girl is mine. She’s been mine since I saw her slit Oleg’s throat open. The sooner you two accept that, the easier this will be.”
Kaz walks out of the room. Going to Vivienne, I’m sure.
“What the hell are we going to do with him?” Dmitri asks me.
For once, I don’t have the answer. My whole life, I’ve had my brothers. They’ve been my rock in the darkest of storms. My only constants in this world of chaos and uncertainty. The three of us have always had each other. Our foundation, our bond, was forged in the burning embers of our painful past. But now I can’t help but feel like our foundation is cracking. With Dmitri’s anger and Kaz’s defiance, I feel like I’m losing the two most important people to me, and I don’t know how to stop it.