He didn’t know Luka wasn’t in that accident… My God! He believed he was dead. That meant…

He didn’t know Raze was Luka.

He didn’t know I’d been sleeping with Raze because he was Luka.

Alik quickly schooled his features. “Luka died, Kisa.”

“But you killed Rodion? Put the blame on Luka?” I sniffed and wiped at the tears on my cheek. “You stabbed yourself to ensure everyone believed Luka had flipped and killed Rodion.” I met his gaze and said, “All because you wanted me to yourself?”

Alik’s stern expression melted and he looked at me again with that disturbingly possessive adoration, his gun-free hand lifting from my pussy to push back my hair.

“You’re mine, baby. You know that. And Luka was getting in my way. He was always there, touching you… touching what I knew was mine.”

I held my breath and squeezed my eyes shut. I felt Alik’s warm breath splay across my skin, and the barrel of his gun ran down my neck to lie over my breasts.

“Rodion needed to die, Kisa. He would never have been a Pakhan. He wasn’t strong enough. I am. And I knew I’d have you by my side. It has made the Bratva feared more than any other mob on the East Coast.”

I dropped my arm to my side, removing my hand from his face. My brother, Luka… Alik had zero remorse. He was proud of what he’d done.

“You are insane,” I whispered, my throat feeling too tight to breathe in much-needed air. “I just never let myself see it before.”

Alik smiled but backed away, aiming his gun in front of him, shifting its target from my head to my heart and back again.

“Insane, baby?” Alik said coldly and stepped forward, my body filling with dread. “You haven’t seen anything. Because, Myshka, until now, you’ve always been my little mouse. My fucking light, the beat to my heart. The only thing I could love as much as killing.”

Alik stepped closer still and ran his hand up my arm, then brutally gripped my bicep, squeezing until I screamed out in pain. Alik’s face was right before mine, his expression blank.

“That was until you fucking betrayed me and fucked that asshole.”

My eyes widened and he nodded. “You thought people weren’t going to realize you were missing? The Byki reported your empty room last night, so I followed you tonight, Myshka. Followed you right to that fuck Raze… and then to Brighton Beach of all places.” His jaw clenched. “I fucking hate that place.”

Alik’s hold tightened still and tears ran down my cheeks. His face then showed every single nuance of pain and rage he felt and his mouth moved right to my ear.

“I watched you fuck him. I watched you kiss him. I watched you fucking hold him, watched you stroke his hair!”

“Alik—” I cried, but just as I did, Alik stepped back and the back of his hand smacked across my face.

Losing my footing under the force and shock, I slumped to the floor, Alik pacing in front of me, hitting at his head with the heels of his hands. “Why? WHY?” he screamed and whipped to face me, his head tilted to the side.

“Kisa, baby, my Myshka, why did you make me do this?” Alik’s voice was gentle, apologetic, completely opposite to a moment ago. I rolled my head to face him, my cheek throbbing from the hit.

Alik bent down and stroked across my forehead with the same firm hand he hit me with. “I watched you fucking him, Kisa. You fucked another guy, and now I gotta make you pay. That pussy of yours belongs to me.”

I shook my head, tears spilling down my face. “No, Alik, please… You don’t understand.”

Sighing, Alik looked away, and when he turned back, I began to speak, but Alik gripped my hair and dragged me to my feet.

“Alik!” I cried, but he didn’t stop, just yanked me forward until I stood at the bottom of the large bed.

“Alik, please,” I begged. “I love him! I … I love him.”

Alik froze and pulled me forward by my hair. “Say what? You want to tell me that again?”

“I… I…” Alik fisted my hair tighter, to the point I thought it was going to rip from my head.

“Tell me again!” he ordered, and I sobbed.

But then a wash of numbness filled me and, looking Alik straight in the eyes, I declared, “I love him. He’s my soul mate. I want him… I want him…”

Alik paled and reared back as if I’d physically hurt him. I could actually see the pain in his face. “Alik—”

Another strike knocked me onto the bed. I didn’t scream this time, just landed on the mattress and felt the blood from my bust lip trickle down my chin.