cing together in fron

et from my father's office. Something given to him as a gift from another boss, maybe a past leader of the Japanese

is going on? And why is everyone waiting in the oth

quietly, tilting m

the tremor moves up his body, claiming him inch by inch. He

an is t

d you?"

ay out of things, even if it's not like

it m

e inside of

calmly, letting my duty to the B

er room, expecting me to look ou

ned over? Any one of my men could be hauled in fo

mately,

For being loyal to a man

ave to r

ng my own question back to me. "You're go

t you more if you confessed. It might

ight regardless. So, go ahead, Dmitr

ds. You know I only did what I did to save my own ass. It had nothing to do with you or the Bratva. I wouldn't have gone to the FBI if they hadn't found me first. That's why

I rear back and smash the crystal

loor without so much as

s as if nothing happened at all. I replace it on the side table and

ss. "Take him to the b

o work witho

S silent a

gym-chained to the bench press. He can lift his a

he says, flinching away from me as I

acks across his face

the globe, and now I've added a split acro

?" I ask. "Which stash

up at me. I bring my knee up hard and fast i

rothers did you

"You were my brother once, t

ver we are is your doing. Remember with every flash of

des it with a scowl. He clenches his jaw and winces. I wouldn't b

you only did what you had to do to survive? Well, your life is o

in like a petulant child. "You'll kill me, either way.

r. I know they want to tear into Sevastian.

as changed, I still see the pale boy peeking out from the dark black hair. I see the friendl

it aside and trade it for the gun at my hip. I li

nything left t

at me, his eyes nar

igger and he

efore I leave. I've shown my family I don't stand for traitors, and I've maintained my author

sentencing, ensuring the news spreads quickly to the rest of the Bratva.

but I take it off and stuff it into my trash can. I have more than enough shirts that I do

desk and slip into it just as my phone rings.

k without saying s

ng," s

take a d

"I was told you wanted nightly rep

second there is any cha

ees, and w

gers. It's late, and I should go to bed, but I can't imagine sleeping. So, instead, I

tian and I col

row I wil

UR

rry. At this point, I can't tell if it's because I'm wired with caffeine or b

ixture in my hand, and I'm not sure I'l

s in on

oughout the semester that the best thing any of us could do would be to study the material peri

onsidering she teaches

in the behavioral neuroscience field. I want

happen if I f

highlighted. Hell, half of the book is highlighted. There isn't enough time for me to memorize all

y downward spiral

home tonight and not to bother me until then since I'll be staying with him for the entire winter break. And Sadie is going to pick me up after t

focus on th

ual state of jet lag since she arrived four months ago-does not appreciate. She glares at me and then rolls over, pulling the blankets

I dismiss it with a quick flick o

sentence I missed the first ten times I read th

bing my phone off the charg

urt

ck to look at the n

art d

it back to m