Heart of My Monster (Monster Trilogy #3) by Rina Kent

The person who’s staring down at us with her holier-than-thou expression is none other than Yulia.

She looks as elegant as ever in a dark red dress and black designer heels. Her golden hair is pulled into a French twist, and her arms are crossed over her chest.

“What…” I trail off, lost for words. What should I ask in a situation like this?

“I’m disappointed in you, Sasha.” Uncle’s voice carries in the air and slaps me across the face. “I really wanted to give you another chance, but you went ahead and chose to stay with the man who killed your family.”

My lips tremble. “I…don’t believe he did it, and I haven’t seen any evidence that convinces me otherwise.”

Babushka approaches, swings her cane, and hits me with it across my middle. That sense of terror I experienced while we were chased returns with a vengeance.

My baby.

“Insolent! Your father must be rolling in his grave for having a daughter like you.”

“My father wouldn’t have been as heartless as you.” I glare at her and then at Uncle. “What is Yulia doing here?”

“I’m an ally,” the woman herself replies, her nose nearly reaching for the sky. “Since we share the same enemy, it only makes sense that we join forces.”

“If you think Kirill will fall for your tricks—”

“He’s already on his way,” Uncle cuts me off. “Seems that we had his weakness all along. You.”

My spine jerks upright, and the possible subsequent events come to mind.

They kidnapped us to make Kirill come alone, and when he does, they’ll kill him.

I have hope that he knows it’s a trap and won’t come. Or at least, he’ll bring backup.

Surely he’ll realize that he’d be walking straight to his death.

…Right?

“Once that devil is dead,” Yulia says. “Kosta will be the new Pakhan.”

“And Anton will be released and return to his rightful place as the leader of the family,” Babushka says. Her voice is fainter, and upon closer inspection, she looks so much older, as if the winds of time have been blowing in her face.

My mind keeps going back to the fact that they plan to kill Kirill, and if they do that…

No.

I refuse to think of that possibility. No one will be able to take Kirill’s life.

No one.

I meet my grandmother’s malicious gaze with my own. “Ever thought that Anton isn’t interested in leading the family’s shady business? Maybe he’s thinking of another life outside of duty and needless drama and wars.”

“Nonsense. Anton knows his role, and he will take it proudly, unlike a certain traitor in our midst.”

“Traitor? I’m the traitor now?” I ask incredulously. “For the past six years, I lived as a man just to be a puppet for the family that never appreciated me or made me feel like I belonged. I sacrificed myself and my identity to protect you, but you still never made me feel like I was a member of this damn family. You know who did? Kirill! He unconditionally made me his family just because I asked, and if you think I’ll let you kill him based on no proof, then you’re delusional.”

“You’re the only delusional one here,” my uncle says. “You can’t stop us anymore, Sasha. That’s why you’re tied to that chair.”

“We’ll make sure you see him getting killed right in front of your eyes,” Yulia adds.

“He’s your son!”

“I never considered that devil my son. He’s just an eyesore reminder of his fucking father. Once I get rid of him, I’ll finally stop seeing Roman in his damn face.”

“Stop saying that! He has nothing to do with what his father did, and neither does Karina.”

“I’ll get rid of them both one at a time.”

It hits me then, and I slide my attention to Uncle Albert. “When you said you had a source who told you about who executed the massacre and who said Kirill was the mastermind, did you by any chance mean Yulia?”

He nods. “We’ve been exchanging information for a few years.”

“You can’t be serious. You just heard her. All she ever wanted was to get rid of Roman and Kirill. She poisoned her husband for years so his health would deteriorate, and he eventually died. She’s lying so that she’ll be able to throw Kirill under the bus.”

“She heard Roman and Kirill talk about the plan right before he enlisted in the army.”

“She’s lying!” I can’t believe I almost fell for the idea that he could be the one behind the plot of my family’s annihilation.

I should’ve held on to the truth I knew deep in my heart—the fact that Kirill isn’t the type who targets unarmed civilians or children.

And yet I fell for their plans so stupidly, I want to kick myself.

I have not a shadow of a doubt that all of this is part of Yulia’s elaborate plan to snatch power for Konstantin. All these years, she was struggling to even have her family’s support, but she never gave up and never looked like a loser.

Probably because she knew that her alliance with Babushka and Uncle would eventually give her the desired results.

“You’re delusional.” Yulia approaches me and leans forward so that her face is level with mine. “You think he’s all that, but he’s nothing more than a monster. I was right behind the door when Roman asked him what he should do with a certain family that was obstructing his way. Kirill gave him a full report on how to effectively get rid of each and every one of them. You should be thankful, really. I’m delivering you the revenge you couldn’t get yourself.”