Consumed by Deception (Deception Trilogy #3) by Rina Kent

“Tell him, Vladimir,” Sergei says after watching the exchange silently.

The man in front of me scrunches his nose at being ordered to do the very thing he has no desire to do. “They were emailed to me.”

“By whom?”

“It was an encrypted address. I couldn’t track it down.”

Whoever got those recordings hacked into Richard’s files right after I left and before I ordered my hackers there for a thorough cleanup. But if he had those recordings on me all along, why wait until now to use them? They could’ve threatened me with them or sent them to Vladimir earlier.

Unless their only aim is to get rid of me. But why now, of all times?

“The fact remains, you killed Richard, who could’ve become an asset to us.” Igor glares at me. “Why?”

“I assume you listened to the recordings and already know why I did it.”

“Say it, Adrian.” Sergei’s voice rises with every word. “Enlighten us with the fucking reason why you endangered the brotherhood’s future in this city.”

“He touched my wife and had to die.”

“You know what also died with him?” Vladimir snarls in my face. “Our chances for having a mayor under our control. So tell me, Adrian, is he only dead because he touched your wife or because you’re playing house with the Italians? Because, now, their candidate is mayor and guess fucking what? Lazlo is telling him to refuse our shipments.”

“Watch your fucking mouth, Vladimir. Do not speak of my wife or my honor again.” I stare at Sergei. “I told you my reason, Pakhan. If you think I’m able to betray the brotherhood after everything I’ve done for it, then do what you must.”

“You hid it from me when you could’ve told me.”

“No, I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because you would have demanded I eliminate the reason why I made such a decision and derailed me from my logical thinking.”

“I’m demanding it now. Divorce the woman who’s muddying your thinking and I will overlook this incident.”

“Pakhan,” Vladimir and Igor say at the same time.

Having lived my entire life in the brotherhood and witnessed Nikolai’s and Sergei’s brutality, I know this isn’t a chance the Pakhan would offer anyone.

I should accept it while bowing my head and being grateful.

However, I stand tall. “No.”

Sergei rises and Vladimir steps out of the way, allowing the older man to meet my gaze with his harsher one. “Are you refusing a direct fucking order, Volkov?”

“Yes.”

“Either you do as you’re told or you’ll face dire consequences.”

“I’ll face the consequences.”

“You’d rather die than fucking divorce that woman?

“I know you won’t stop if I divorce her. As soon as I do, you’ll have the full liberty to kill her.”

“What do you care? You only married her for Jeremy.”

“I will not divorce her, Pakhan. If you want punishment, take it from me.”

“You know what the punishment of betrayal is, Volkov.”

“Fully. I watched my mother being executed by my father, per your brother’s orders.”

“And you’re telling me that you’re ready to meet that fate for a nameless nobody?!” he yells, his face reddening.

“Yes.”

“I’m disappointed in you, Volkov. You’re supposed to be better than this.” He dismisses me with a hand. “Take him out of my fucking sight until I decide how to kill him.”

Igor stares at me with his usual neutrality. “If you had married my Kristina, none of this would’ve happened to you, and if it had, I would’ve pleaded your case. However, you chose a nobody and you’ll end as a nobody. Georgy must be rolling in his grave.”

Fuck my father and fuck Igor.

Despite everything, marrying Lia was the best decision I’ve made in my life.

Two guards grab me by my arms. I don’t struggle as they lead me out of the office.

Probably to my last stop.

The only thought that keeps me calm is that Lia and Jeremy are safe.





23





Lia





I don’t know how I find myself back at the house.

Though I have an idea.

Yan and Boris must’ve dragged me back in while I kicked and screamed and cried.

My energy wanes as I sit down on the sofa, my limbs shaking. The heat tingles against my frozen extremities, but it can’t reach inside and melt the ice that’s been forming frosty layers around my heart since the moment Adrian’s car vanished in the snow.

A warm cup touches my hand and I glance up to find Yan staring at me. “It’s hot tea.”

“I don’t want hot tea.” A wave of fresh tears blur my vision. “I want to go to Adrian.”

“That’s impossible, Lia. You’ll be killed as well.”

“I don’t care. I’d rather die than live without him.”

“How about Jeremy then? How will he survive without the both of you?”

A sob catches in my throat at the reminder of our son, at how Adrian said I should raise him well for the both of us.

No.

He’ll do it with me. He has to. There’s no way he’ll leave me all alone after everything we’ve been through.