Fractured Ties by Bethany-Kris Page 0,45
his bore hard into Maya—pensive and yet dismissive at the same time. Cold, indifferent, and distant. Like he had seen something just like her before, and she was nothing fucking new or interesting to him. “For that? A woman, Kolya? All of this for her? There are a dozen just like her!”
Silence answered Vadim back at first.
Tense.
Long.
And sharp.
So sharp, that Maya swore the silence dragged along her skin, and burrowed in deep enough under her skin to reach her fucking nerves. In all her years being abused and used by her father and brother, she had never felt quite as uncomfortable as she did in this moment, staring down Vadim Boykov.
And yet, she refused to look away.
Not when he glared.
Not when his gaze narrowed.
Not even when he inched closer.
She could practically hear him screaming at her inside his head for her to back down, to look away, or do something other than challenge him like she was, simply by looking at him. She suspected Vadim was the kind of man who only needed to look at someone to get his point across, and yet, she refused.
She would not back down.
Would not look away.
He didn’t know her—he didn’t know her person or her life. And he did not get to decide she was useless, trash, or unworthy simply by looking at her, and nothing else. She would give no man that satisfaction. They could say it and act as if they felt that way, but she would not sit there and let someone dismiss her.
She couldn’t.
“For this woman,” Vadim repeated, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur.
“Yes,” Kolya replied at the same level. “For this woman.”
Vadim barked out a laugh. “Stupid boy.”
Maya flinched at that one.
Kolya didn’t even move.
“You’re stupid, no?” Vadim shook his head and pointed a wagging finger at Kolya. “You think this makes a difference? It doesn’t. The Albanians are going to come for this and want answers. And I plan to—”
“Make the Boykovs look weak and easily manipulated by handing her over after they nearly killed your son?” Konstantin asked quietly.
For the most part, he’d watched the exchange between his brother and father in silence and without stepping in up until that point. He’d remained statue-like leaning against the wall—an expressionless form without an opinion or care.
Until now.
“Because that’s what giving the woman to the Albanians will do when they come with demands and threats.” Konstantin shrugged and pushed off the wall before grabbing his discarded jacket from the back of the doctor’s chair against the small desk. “If you give her over after they attacked me—knowing who I was—you will do nothing more than make us a target, Vadim. And not to just the Albanians, no. You will make us a target to any organization who thinks a simple attack, threats, and demands will make us bend to their wants. So, go ahead … give her over. Let’s see where that gets us, hmm?”
More silence answered Konstantin back.
He didn’t seem bothered by it.
Finally, the man who had remained silent the whole time even though he’d come in with Vadim spoke up. “He makes a good point, Vadim. You should consider it.”
“I know that, Grisha.”
“I’m just—”
Vadim swung on Kolya again. “You’ve put us in a terrible position.”
Kolya cleared his throat. “I don’t see how.”
Vadim glanced at Maya. “Of course you don’t.”
“Also, I was … mistaken when you called. My apologies,” Konstantin said, taking his father’s attention away from her for the moment. She was grateful and starting to think he was doing that purposely. “The Albanian who attacked us the first time isn’t dead—he survived with a little help and was delivered to the Compound.”
Vadim’s gaze turned into slits. “Is that so?”
Konstantin shrugged. “Seems so.”
“Mistaken, you say.”
“It happens occasionally.”
Vadim let out a slow, heavy stream of air. “Send the Albanians a message using their man, then. Make it clear the attack on you was unacceptable, and we won’t bend to anything they want after tonight.”
Vadim didn’t give anyone the chance to respond before he headed for the door and disappeared. His voice trailed behind him when he growled out, “At least Vasily will be gone from the city by morning. That’s one less problem for me.”
Grisha was quick to follow behind the boss, but not before giving the two brothers a pointed look. He didn’t even bother to give Maya any of his attention.
Not that she minded.
The door slammed behind him.
Only then did Kolya soften his stance.
Only then did his shoulders drop.
Only then did he relax.
He didn’t