Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,76

open and she hobbles on her crutch, following me.

We stop in the middle of Sergei’s grandiose study which was originally his brother’s, the late Pakhan, Nikolai. He hasn’t changed a thing about it, as if he’s keeping Nikolai’s memory alive through the grim decor and the countless book editions in Russian.

Sergei is sitting in the lounge area with Igor across from him. I called him over, too, because he needs to see this for himself.

After I broke off the engagement with his daughter, Igor demanded my punishment from the Pakhan, but since I’m Sergei’s ‘golden boy,’ as Kirill likes to call me, he gave me a chance to explain myself.

I prefer action over words.

Igor’s features contort with obvious displeasure as he studies Lia in her wedding dress and the bands around each of our fingers.

She remains in place, but her features pale when she recognizes him.

“I thought you didn’t know her?” Igor doesn’t hide his accusatory tone as he speaks in accented English.

Lia’s fingers stiffen in mine.

“I didn’t,” I lie. “We had a one-night stand.”

I can sense Lia peeking at me, but thankfully, she keeps her words to herself. Any misstep in front of these men and everything will be over. It doesn’t matter that I put a baby in her or married her. Any show of disrespect, and they will take that baby and kill Lia.

“How dare you?” Igor slams his glass of vodka on the coffee table.

“Kristina said it was fine if I had any mistresses at the time,” I say. “You can confirm that with her if you like.”

“So what, Volkov?” Sergei’s critical gaze slides to Lia, measuring her up like she’s a maid he doesn’t approve of. “You chose to marry your one-night stand instead of Igor’s daughter. Is this your explanation?”

I can tell when Sergei gets angry. He turns eerily calm, like right now. That’s the difference between him and Nikolai. The late Pakhan would go on a killing rampage, but his younger brother will kill you with silence.

His point is logical. Sergei is taking offense on behalf of Igor, whom he hasn’t only known for the past forty years, but is also the closest of friends with in the brotherhood.

“No,” I speak in my signature composed, even tone. “I married her because she’s expecting my heir.”

Both of their gazes flit to her stomach, as if they can see a child there and question him about his origins. The attention causes Lia to squirm, so I retrieve the envelope from my jacket and hand it to Sergei. The sooner we’re done with this, the faster I can get her out of here.

The Pakhan places his drink on the table and studies the sonogram and the doctor’s report, then sighs. “Is this truly yours?”

“Why would I even give her the time of day if it wasn’t?” Lia flinches as if I’ve slapped her across the face.

I struggle to keep my cool. I don’t want her to think she’s nothing to me, but if she believes it, so will they.

And I fucking need to get her off their radar. It won’t be easy, considering the position I hold in the brotherhood, but if they think she’s only here because of the child, they won’t have any expectations of her and I can keep her safe from this life. Even if it’s only partially.

“I didn’t want to disrespect Kristina by forcing her to raise a child that isn’t hers, Igor,” I tell him. “She deserves better than that.”

He takes a swig of his drink, refusing to answer me, but both he and Sergei know my views on raising a bastard child. I lived it and would never, under no fucking circumstances, put my son or daughter through that fate.

“At least Kristina is Russian.” Sergei doesn’t hide the disregard from his voice. “This one looks American.”

“Don’t worry, Pakhan. My child will be brought up the Russian way.”

“That goes without saying.” He studies her crutch. “What’s wrong with her?”

“I broke my leg,” she says with a clear voice.

I tighten my hold on her hand so she’ll stop talking. She really doesn’t want to attract their attention—at all.

Sergei raises a brow. “So you do have a voice. We went out of our way to speak English for you, and you’re only now delighting us with your words.”

“Adrian said it’s better not to speak, but I dislike being talked about as if I’m not in the room.”

Fuck me.

The strength that’s always lurking inside her bursts out, and even though her fingers are