by Lylah James
My lips turned up, matching Alessio’s smirk. Hell yeah, we were about to give Solonik one hell of a game. He forgot who the Ring Master was. I almost…almost felt bad for the poor bastard.
He was about to learn what it meant to test the Ivanshovs’ fury. He did a big mistake by threatening my brother. And my Queen.
And that would be his last mistake. Because the ball was in our court now.
“I should be asking how you are doing. But I have a feeling that I already know the answer,” Alessio spoke, breaking the tensed silence.
Shaking my head, I took the half empty bottle and quickly guzzled it down. My throat burned, but it was a good burn. It woke me up and reminded me what I was here for. What I had to do.
“I am feeling a little on edge. Solonik is not backing down. He thinks I’m on his side for now, but what happens when he has even a slight silver lining of doubt?”
Alessio stared at me with hard eyes, analyzing my words like he always did. “You just have to play the card right. You said so yourself. He trusts you. As long as you can keep his trust, you can pull the strings in whatever direction you want and he will follow.”
“It’s not that fucking easy, Alessio,” I snapped, feeling frustrated with myself. “Do you realize how fucking hard it has been? A whole year acting like I hate my family? Deep loathing of them? I have to act disgusted every time your names are mention. Laughing with him while he calls Ayla a whore and a fucking bitch. Listening to him talk about how he’s going fuck her and make you watch?”
Alessio’s back straightened at my words, his fingers curling at his sides. He stared past me into the distance, his jaw gritted and his eyes so fucking angry that it would make anyone piss their pants.
“What did you say?” he asked, his voice pointed and coming out in a low growl.
“Exactly what I said, Alessio. You heard it. Don’t make me repeat myself,” I replied, looking at the floor, suddenly feeling ashamed. “It fucking hurts. And I’m ashamed of myself. Even though I know I’m doing it because I have to. I have to make it look believable, but it still fucking kills me when I have to laugh with him and accept his words without taking my gun out and shooting his limp dick.”
“He called Ayla a whore?” he asked again. I knew what he was doing. Alessio was using the words to fuel his anger, and the look in his eyes at the moment…it was deranged. Almost a wild look filled with promises of making someone bleed red.
He was a mad man. And Solonik made the worst mistake by going after Alessio’s Queen.
Moral of the day?
Don’t go after the Queen. The King will follow.
This was some Harley and Joker type of shit.
Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself to make it worse. “Worse than that.”
“Tell me. I need to know every single fucking detail.”
This was a bad idea. You should have kept your mouth shut, asshole.
“Alessio—”
“Tell me!” he bellowed, effectively cutting me off.
I did as I was commanded, spilling out every word. A year filled with hatred. I lived it. I breathed it. I became it so I could play with the Devil.
Alessio had no idea what type of shithole I was living in while he enjoyed the day with his Angel. Like a big fucked-up happily ever after.
He had no fucking idea. But he was about to know.
“He said all of that?” Alessio repeated when I fell silent. I nodded mutely, because for once I didn’t know what to say.
His breathing was harsher as he tried to control himself, the anger evident in his posture. His rigid shoulders told me he was about to lose it.
But now was not the time. We still had a long way to go before we reached where we wanted to be. With Solonik ten feet underground while I pissed on his grave and screamed fina-fucking-lly.
Reaching to his side, he threw the glass across the room. It slammed against the wall, breaking into pieces. “I’m going to fucking kill him and make him wish he was never born,” he snapped, punching the wall behind him.
Alessio’s face contorted in an all-consuming fury, his eyes flashing with killing intent, his nostrils flaring as his fists clenched and then unclenched at his sides. He looked very much like the ruthless made man he was. The one everyone feared and cowered underneath.
“Alessio.”
My eyes widened. I swiveled around to see Ayla peeking into the room from behind the door.
“Alessio,” she said again, her voice so soft like velvet. It caressed me in a soothing manner.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Alessio’s angry demeanor was instantly gone, the monster inside of him shackled yet again. Only from the voice of Ayla.
“Can I come in?” she asked quietly, still hiding behind the door.
Alessio smiled sweetly, making my head spin at how he could change so fucking fast. Placing his palm out, he beckoned for her to come forward.
“You never have to ask, Angel. Come in,” he replied, his voice soft yet still a little rough.
Ayla walked forward, practically skipping into Alessio’s arms. They hugged, her tiny body burrowed into his as he held her tightly in his arms. He placed a kiss on top her head, his hard eyes meeting mine briefly.
It told me everything I needed to know. The anger was still there, just hidden.
Alessio was a dangerous man when he was angry. A raging bull, a monster underneath ready to be unleashed. His judgments clouded by his fury. He was someone not to be crossed. Ever.
But there was only one person he would never take it out on.
If there was someone who has never felt the brutality of his anger, that would be his Angel. His woman. His wife.
Just like they say…a King only bows down to his Queen.
Witnessing such a moment, the sudden pang in my heart almost made me flinch. I fucking hated it. Watching them together. Watching them be so in love.
In their small world, nothing mattered. No one else could break what they had.
And I was just an outsider, taking a peek and wishing I had the same thing. Wishing I had her.
Ayla Ivanshov.
My brother’s wife.
The thought almost made me retch. Feeling disgusted at myself yet again, I turned away from them, looking into the distance.
She whispered something to him, too soft for me to hear. I wished it was me she was whispering to.
I wished it was me she was holding and showering her love upon.
Shut up! My brain screamed at the same time my heart squeezed painfully at the sound of her quiet laughter. While the Devil on my shoulder hollered with laughter.
Why was I torturing myself? Why couldn’t I just forget her? Every single time, just a glance in her direction, and my fucked-up heart would break again and again.
It knew I couldn’t have her, yet the yearning was still there. I still wanted her. So fucking badly that sometimes I wished I could…steal her away.
“So did you guys kiss and make up?” she teased loudly. “Please tell me you did. I can’t handle all the tension and brewing testosterone coming off you both.”
This right there was proof that she hanging around Maddie too much.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Even with my heart feeling heavy, I still laughed. Ayla had this charm around her. She made everyone feel welcome, comfortable. Her sweet smile would just draw you in, no matter how much you fought it.
Turning around, I faced them again. She was smiling cutely at me, her green eyes practically twinkling in the light with her excitement.
I shrugged before winking. “We made up. But we didn’t kiss yet. We’re going to need some privacy for that, baby girl. You do know that kissing leads to other things…like me being balls deep in—”
“If you finish that sentence, I am shooting you in the dick this time,” Alessio warned, but I could tell he was trying to hold his laughter in.
I sauntered forward, wiggling my eyebrows at Alessio. “But I thought you loved it.”
This time, I laughed, almost wheezing before I could speak again. “Ha. Like you act like a gentleman. We can hear all the boom boom clack every night from across the estate. Not very gentlemanly, I would say.”
“You little fucker—”
“Okay stop! Both of you!”
And silence.
Alessio paused mid-sentence, and even I straightened up.
Ayla smiled sweetly at us. “Alessio, play nice. I am so happy to have you back home, Viktor. But I think I’m happier to see you both bicker back and forth. I missed it.”
“I didn’t miss him,” Alessio muttered under his breath.
“Oh, please. You did. I think I heard you cry once.” Ayla raised an eyebrow.
Oops, she just took his man card away. Savage little Angel.
She was probably joking, but this shit was funny. For a brief moment, I forgot about wanting my brother’s wife. I just basked in the feeling of being home again.
I was finally able to laugh freely. And in return, I could see her smile. Right there, in front of me. That was enough.
“Breakfast. We need breakfast,” Alessio sputtered, his eyes wide in horror at Ayla’s words.
“And that was exactly why I came up. We went a little off track.” She giggled.
I hated it when women giggled for no reason. But when Ayla did it, it was the cutest fucking thing ever.
“I’m hungry. This little one—” She caressed her swollen stomach. “—is hungry too.”
Speaking of the little one.
“How far along are you?” I asked, walking forward. Without waiting for me to ask, she took my hand and placed it over her baby bump.
“Five months.” She smiled when the baby moved. A small kick and I couldn’t help but smile too.
“A boy or another girl?”
Ayla looked up at Alessio as his hands went around her hips, holding her more firmly. “No, we want it to be a surprise this time,” Alessio said.
“But I think Baby is a boy,” Ayla quickly said.
“Baby could be a girl,” he retorted.
“What do you want?” I asked, sincerely curious, because Alessio was about to be fucked.
“It doesn’t matter. As long Ayla and the baby are both healthy,” he quickly replied, caressing her stomach. I took my hand away, giving the parents their moment.
“So, it doesn’t matter if it’s another girl—” I drawled, watching for his reaction.
Alessio paused, only now realizing what this meant. When my words registered through his brain, his eyes widened in horror.
“Shit. No. We can’t have another girl. Ayla, I can’t handle another girl. We need a boy. It has to be a boy,” he panicked.
Bending forward so that my face was close to Ayla’s stomach, I muttered. “Did you hear that? You have to come out as a boy. If not, you’re going back in and changing your gender. Trust me, this family can’t handle another girl.”
If it’s another girl, we might as well switch careers and work at Disneyland, dressing as Prince fucking Charming. How wonderful—not.
Ayla swatted my head playfully. “You and the others are the goofiest uncles ever.”
“You mean we are the best uncles,” I replied with a wink before standing up to my full height. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
Ayla nodded before quickly hugging me. “Welcome home, Viktor.”
“Thanks.” Holding her for just a moment longer, I reveled in the feel of having her in my arms before pulling away.
“I can eat three whole plates!” she exclaimed. “But I also can’t. My stomach won’t fit everything.” Ayla pouted as we walked out of the office.
“If you eat anymore, you’re going to burst,” I joked, swatting her rear.
Alessio growled dangerously, his eyes flashing in warning. But Ayla…she paused.
She looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
What the fuck?
When Alessio noticed, he quickly started shaking his head, his gaze meeting mine in panic. “No. No. No. No. No. No. He didn’t mean it, Angel.”
He looked like he was about to murder me, and I was completely fucking lost.
Ayla sniffled before palming her pregnant belly.
“Did you just call me fat?”
Huh?
And then she busted into tears, loud sobbing, like someone just died.
I backpedaled quickly, my arms thrown out in front of me in caution. “What?”
I am going to kill you, Alessio mouthed as he tried to soothe her.
“He called me fat, Alessio,” Ayla wailed.
“No. No. No. He didn’t. Viktor, say something!”
“I didn’t call you fat. I just said you are going to burst—” I paused when she sobbed louder.
“You called me fat again!”
Alessio sighed, rubbing his forehead tiredly. “Here we go again,” he muttered under his breath.
Wait…what? I didn’t call her fat. Did I?
Chapter 8
Viktor
Alessio glared daggers at me across the table. He was probably thinking of multiple ways to mutilate my body.
And I was thinking of multiple ways to not only escape his wrath but also Ayla’s cries.
She had long stopped crying, after several minutes of Alessio trying to calm her down. But her quiet sniffles were breaking my heart a little bit. There was lots of confusion clouding my fucked-up mind.
After taking our seats, I saw the other guys coming forward. Phoenix slapped me behind the head, almost causing me to hit the table.
“Welcome home, fucker.”
“That’s a nice welcome, asshole,” I muttered, rubbing my head.
He shrugged before taking a seat beside me. “That’s the only welcome you’re getting. Don’t expect me to kiss and make up. I don’t swing that way.”
I looked at Nikolay, watching him take his seat on the opposite side. “It’s nice to have you home,” he said in acknowledgment.
“Well, it’s nice to be home.”
Maddie and Lena came forward, joining us at the table. Poor Mama Lena. She looked pale and confused. It was time to give her break.
“Don’t worry, Lena. I’m okay. We’re okay. It was business,” I explained quietly. Her eyes widened, and she nodded mutely.
That was all the information she needed. It was business.
In other ways, it was our business, and she didn’t need to worry herself about it. Those words explained everything.
“You boys will give me a heart attack one day. Give this poor old lady a break, will you?” she replied gruffly, glaring at us.
“Sorry,” Phoenix mumbled around his spoon before continuing to stuff food in his mouth.
My stomach rumbled at the thought of food. Staring at my plate, I sighed in relief. “I missed your cooking, Lena.”
She nodded before sending me a small smile. Lena couldn’t stay mad at us for long. It was impossible.
Damn, was I glad to be home.
At the thought, everything came crashing down and then stilled. How fucking stupid was I?
This wouldn’t last long. I had to go back to Solonik. I had to leave my family again and crawl back into the hellhole I was trying desperately to escape from.
Well, this was the true definition of fuck my life.
Feeling frustrated, I concentrated on the plate until Maddie’s voice broke through the silence. “Ayla, why aren’t you eating?”
My head snapped up to see Ayla staring at her plate, but instead of eating, she was only pushing her food around. My heart tightened a little at the sorrowful look on her face.
“I don’t feel very hungry,” she answered softly before sending Maddie a tight smile. It didn’t convince anyone. And sure as hell not Alessio.
Alessio was seated between Ayla and me, so I was forced to lean across him. “I didn’t me
an to say that, baby girl. You misunderstood my words. I didn’t call you fat. You are the most beautiful girl,” I whispered, hoping this time she wouldn’t cry.
Ayla nodded but didn’t meet my eyes. Alessio pushed me back into my chair with a low growl. His frown told me he was majorly pissed that I had hurt Ayla with my careless words.
Everyone continued eating, but from the corner of my eyes, I saw Alessio leaning forward and whispering something in Ayla’s ears.
Then she blushed.
Even the tip of her nose turned red—whether in embarrassment or something else, I didn’t know.
But when Alessio’s hand disappeared underneath the table and Ayla’s breathing changed, I got the idea.
My hands fisted on the table, the feeling of jealousy suffocating me again.
She bit on her lips, looking so sexy and innocent at the same time. The way her cheeks colored beautifully, the slight shakiness of her hand as she brought her glass to her lips, I got the idea so fucking well.
Every time I gazed into her face, I tortured myself with the impossible. I let myself believe in a fantasy where it was me. Not Alessio. But me loving Ayla.
It was me touching her.
Not my brother.
Until even the fantasy felt like it was strangling the air out of me.
Fantasy would always be a fantasy. It could never be reality.
And that was my fucking problem.
I couldn’t have the reality I wanted, so I tortured myself by dreaming about it. Every fucking day. Every moment I saw them together, happily married.
“Viktor…Viktor…”
My name brought me out of my reverie, and I turned toward the voice. Maddie smiled cheerfully before speaking again. “Evaline is coming back.”
At my sister’s name, the tightness in my chest disappeared a little. “Does she know?” I asked, looking at Alessio.
He shook his head. “Since the day I came home and announced your death, she left and never came back again. Nikolay has been keeping an eye on her, though. To make sure she’s okay.”
Nikolay nodded in quick acknowledgment before he focused on his plate again. I reminded myself to thank him later. If it was Nikolay keeping an eye on my sister, then I knew she was in the best hands.