Chapter 32 #3
"You seem healthy," Niko says suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glance over at my younger brother. He’s pulled himself together, and there’s something dangerous in his eyes. I’d always heard he was the easygoing one—charming, a flirt—but right now, I see the family legacy in his gaze.
"I didn't say the heart defect was inoperable, just that the great head of the Borisov family didn't want this weakness in his bloodline."
I watch the realization spread across their faces, and that’s enough for now.
"Who paid for your operation?"
"Maria Borisov."
I hope that’s the end of this interrogation because all it does is remind me I was never wanted—not even by my own family.
Right then, my phone buzzes. It’s one of my men, checking in regarding Roman’s business.
"Why did you need Luna?" my twin asks, as expected. But Julia and I have things to settle with Ivan’s death, and he’s got his own mess to handle.
"Luna will tell you about it, but I guess it’s about time you left," I say, my tone flat, hoping he catches the subtle hint.
"We’re not done talking, brother ."
If I could roll my eyes at his voice, I would.
"Agreed, but one of your weapons warehouses just exploded and I think you should see what that's about."
Something shifts in his eyes, like a puzzle piece finally snapping into place.
"You're the one who sent me the anonymous tip about the truck driver," he says, sounding surprised.
When I texted him two weeks ago, it was to push him to look into things on his end because too many warehouses were blowing up. The Irish want a piece of this arms business, but something doesn’t add up, and so far, I haven’t had the time to dig deeper.
He wants more answers, but for now, we agree to meet at his office tomorrow, hoping things might finally settle down.
When everyone’s gone, I turn to Julia and feel the exhaustion settle on my shoulders.
Akim sent word: Ivan died of natural causes.
Something fundamental inside me feels empty, like it evaporated.
Revenge was my whole reason for being, and now it’s done.
There’s still work ahead, probably the start of a new war, but this time, we have the power. The choices are finally ours.
"I’m going to start getting everything ready so we can head back to Moscow tomorrow afternoon," Julia tells me, but before she leaves, she stops and faces me. Her eyes are as warm as the first day I met her. When her hands touch my skin, I close my eyes.
"Are you okay?" she asks.
It should be an easy question to answer, but I don’t know if I am.
I knew I’d never get the satisfaction of seeing Ivan’s face at the end.
I knew I’d have to keep my distance, to make sure my alibi held.
But now that it’s over, I don’t know how to feel.
Julia seems to get it, all the weight from meeting my brothers and everything else piling up.
For someone who spent years keeping emotions locked away, this avalanche in my chest is too much.
"Hey, I’m here," she whispers, pressing her forehead to mine. "Just breathe."
I take a slow breath, feeling my heartbeat even out. I don’t know what life will look like from now on, but I do know the world is rid of one more snake and it’s time to go after the rest of his nest.
?
The next day, we’re on our way to Roman’s office. Even though our window of time is short, I know this talk is overdue. I have no idea what kind of relationship we’ll have going forward because you don’t just erase years of distance, years of building your own separate lives.
Stepping off the elevator, I spot a guy in a purple suit and a yellow tie. I raise an eyebrow as he gives me a once-over.
"Officially, you’re my favorite brother. Love the leather jacket, and you definitely got the ‘stole your bike and your girl’ look going," he says.
Julia bursts out laughing, and I can’t help but smile, too, even though I try to brace myself for whatever tension waits in that office.
The door swings open and Luna, Roman, and Niko turn to greet us. My eyes immediately find Luna, making sure she’s all right. She’s not my problem, but the truth is, she’s the main reason Ivan Rastovski just died of a "sudden heart attack."
"Are you okay?" I hear myself ask, catching the tension in my twin’s stance.
“If she hadn't been kidnapped by you yesterday, she probably would be," he snaps, and I almost laugh.
"She’d be dead if Julia and I hadn’t been there," I say quietly.
He knows I’m right. The Irish would have taken her, and at best she’d have ended up trafficked, at worst, dead.
I can see how raw his nerves are, and honestly, I can’t blame him. The thought of Julia ever being in that kind of danger makes something burn behind my eyes, a fury I couldn’t hide if I tried.
"Roman, I know you have questions, so let's answer them. We all have other crises to resolve," Julia speaks up, her voice calm, no-nonsense. She’s right.
Moscow is chaos. Ilya called this morning, and there’s paperwork piling up, deals to close, a funeral to arrange. Time isn’t on our side.
"How long have you known about us?" Niko’s question draws my eyes to him.
"Since I was fifteen."
They both look stunned, and I can already see Niko’s next question forming.
"Why did you never reach out?"
Fear. Fear of giving a monster leverage over me. Fear of being rejected because it’s obvious how close you are, how you’ve always had each other’s backs. I never had anybody.
The anger simmers, at the universe, at them. Sure, they both suffered, but at least they suffered together. I went through hell alone until I met Julia.
"I didn’t need you," I say, the lie sour on my tongue serving as a shield against the ache squeezing my chest. Because admitting I’m jealous of what they have is a wound I’m not ready to show.
Because I always wanted to belong here, even if belonging would have been another brand of hell with Alexei.
Roman just mutters, "’Until now," his voice tight with frustration.
Part of me wants him to be upset. Part of me wants them to hurt—just a little, just enough.
"Bingo."
Julia’s beside me, watching like I’ve lost my mind. I usually keep my bitterness to myself, but today I can’t stop it from slipping out. The way they all communicate with a glance, it gets to me.
"Maksim!" she scolds, her patience thinning.
"Can't we be adults and talk normally?" Before I can answer, she keeps going.
"You want to know everything? I'll tell you everything.
Max was adopted at age six from an orphanage near Moscow.
His new adoptive father was human garbage, a predator who abused Max for years. "
Their eyes fill with pity, and it makes me want to disappear. I don’t want that look. My story isn’t one you tell kids at bedtime. It’s jagged, ugly, the kind that breaks a person and remakes them harder. I look down because it’s still mine.
"But Ivan Rastovski didn't just want a new toy.
He wanted an heir. A successor to take over all the family horrors and carry them forward.
At fifteen, Max had his first mission in Atlanta.
That's when he accidentally saw a picture of you and your family in the newspaper.
It was obvious enough what had happened. "
I remember that day. Passing the newsstand, catching a glimpse of my own face, only it wasn’t me. Somewhere out there was a version of me who hadn’t been beaten, starved. Who didn’t flinch at the smell of whiskey and cigars. Who didn’t learn to fear the dark.
Later, I learned Roman’s life wasn’t easy either, being Alexei’s oldest son. But he had something I never did—comfort, a shoulder to lean on. He had Niko.
I had Vera…until I put a bullet in her head. Akim tried to be there, but our friendship was forged in battle, not comfort. We were soldiers watching each other’s backs, not brothers pouring out our hearts.
"Alexei Borisov didn't want a defective child, and Ivan had too much influence for me, at fifteen, to do anything.
That's why I never made contact. When you took the reins, I started implementing my plan," I admit, because the truth is, Roman couldn’t have helped me back then. His own power wasn’t secure, and enemies were circling like vultures. I would have only dragged him down.
“What this monster did exceeds any limit of humanity.
I went through it. Julia went through it.
But if I get my hands on everything he has, I can finally end this chapter.
That's why I needed Luna. I can't legally inherit his empire if there is suspicion surrounding his death. The bastard fortified his will well."
I realize I’m almost spitting the last words out. The whole conversation drags up every moment he made me wish I’d never gotten up off the floor.
"Do you need help with anything?" Luna’s voice pulls me back. There’s no pity in her eyes, only quiet understanding, and for someone who’s survived monsters too, I find myself respecting her more.
"Ivan died last night. We need to go back to Russia to attend the funeral, but after we'll return here." Julia meets my eyes, searching for confirmation.
This is our clean break. Russia will be just another line in our past.
I give her a slight nod. We both need a place where the ground isn’t soaked with blood and memories.
"Why involve Tim?" Roman asks.
I don’t even get a chance to answer. Julia steps in again. "The guy drugged young women in clubs to take advantage of them. We needed someone to facilitate a meeting with Luna. The plan was to have Tim bring Luna to a meeting point and resolve everything then."
I know what we would have done with Tim after—a fate involving either a grenade or Julia’s submachine gun down his throat.
There are all kinds of monsters in our world, but the ones who prey on the weak, who need their victims helpless first, have earned a special spot in our arsenal of nightmares.
"How the hell do you know all these things?" Niko blurts, frustration warring with something like awe.