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

It hurts to the point that I’m considering other options to resolve the current situation. If I go with what Sergei wants and divorce her, I can hide her in a place he can’t find. I’ll be able to visit her often…

No.

He would make it his mission to finish her life. Besides, I’d go out of my fucking mind if she wasn’t in my sight at all times. I’d always think something has happened to her and that she’s hurt, or worse, fucking dead.

But isn’t that better than not knowing how she’s doing at all? I could come up with ways to defy Sergei, to flee if I have to. Go to another corner of the world where it’s only Lia, Jeremy, and me.

The brotherhood is all I’ve known since I was a boy. The only home I had, even after my parents’ deaths. When my father was shot dead in one of Nikolai’s assassination attempts, I was already desensitized at that point and didn’t think twice about him. Because I still had a place I belonged to—the Bratva.

But I’m ready to throw it all away if it means keeping Lia safe and with me.

Releasing a deep breath, I stagger to my feet. I’m about to knock on the door and demand to speak to Sergei when it opens.

Vladimir and Kirill appear on the threshold. The bulky man stares down at me with a snarl in his lips while Kirill is smirking.

That should be a good sign.

Vladimir has never really liked me, mainly because he believes I’m treated better than the rest of the brothers and because he thinks I want to hurt his beloved Rai, the previous Pakhan’s granddaughter, whom he made an oath to protect.

Kirill, however, has often been on my side, even when he manipulated his way into finding out my secrets so he could use them to force my hand.

“Come out,” Vladimir says. “The Pakhan wants to see you.”

I go outside and squint at the morning sun glaring from the long windows.

“Why, Adrian.” Kirill wraps an arm around my shoulder. “I leave you for a moment and you get yourself beaten up by our brute, Vladimir?”

The latter grunts. “He deserved it.”

“No one deserves your punches,” Kirill says with absolute nonchalance, then whispers, “You have surprises.”

“What are you talking about?”

Kirill raises a brow. “You mean to tell me you didn’t plot the entire situation?”

“What situation?”

Kirill frowns. “I know you planned it, so don’t even pretend you’re not aware of it.”

Before I can ask what the fuck he’s insinuating, Vladimir opens the dining room door. If Sergei is bringing me here, he must’ve organized an internal meeting for the brotherhood.

Sure enough, everyone is present. Igor, Mikhail, Damien, Rai, and Kyle. Their senior guards are all here and so is Kolya. He stands near my chair that’s been left empty on Sergei’s right.

Vladimir and Kirill take their usual seats. Unsure whether or not I’m allowed to sit on the Pakhan’s table anymore, I remain standing.

“You look like shit, Adrian,” Damien says while chewing on a pastry. “That’s a first.”

Rai places her cup of coffee down and speaks in a reproachable tone. “You shouldn’t have hit him, Vlad.”

“I’d do it again. He fucking betrayed us.”

“Now.” Kirill smiles. “Betrayal is a strong word, Vladimir. He only had a lapse of judgment, a very rare one at that, which should be taken into consideration.”

“He still put another organization’s best interest before the brotherhood’s.” Igor glares at me. He never forgave me for choosing Lia over his daughter and he probably never will.

“Not intentionally, though.” Mikhail frowns, his confusion clear. “Right, Volkov?”

Damien scoffs. “Do any of you actually believe that Adrian would do anything without a prior plan? He plots everything and has control freak issues. Even I can figure out that much.”

“I believe it.” Kyle takes Rai’s hand in his and kisses her knuckles. He’s lean, too pretty for his own good, and British. “If someone touched my wife, I would slaughter them with my bare hands, even if they were the damn president.”

At least he understands.

Vladimir glares at Kyle, then at me. “That doesn’t give him the right to endanger the brotherhood’s affairs.”

“And be secretive about it,” Igor says.

“We can just choose a punishment and get it over with,” Mikhail suggests.

Damien raises his hand. “Pakhan, me! I want to punch Adrian’s face a few times.”

Kirill throws a napkin at him. “Shut the fuck up, Orlov.”

“What? Vladimir did it, why can’t I?”

“Don’t you have anything to say?” Rai stares at me. “You should explain.”

“I already did to the Pakhan. I have no further explanations to offer.”

“You should,” Kirill grinds out. “Make it count.”

“I killed Richard because he assaulted my wife and would’ve raped her if she didn’t defend herself. I would do it all over again if I got the chance. If you consider that betrayal, you can go ahead and punish me for it. I have nothing left to say on the matter.”

Sergei stares at me. “I should kill you.”

“Do it, Pakhan,” Vladimir says.