“I think I know an in with the Irish.”

“I already have a spy.”

“No. This one is more in a leading position.”

“Yes?”

I nod.

“And you have to act like you lost your memories for that?”

I pick my words carefully to not mention Kyle’s name. Vlad can’t know about that yet. “Yes, because the one I got this information from thinks I heard him. If he believes I lost my memories, his guard will be down and he’ll feel like he got away with it.”

He narrows his eyes. “Who is he?”

“I’ll tell you when it’s time.”

“Or you can tell me now.”

“That’s not the point, Vlad.”

“And what is?”

“That I need him to think I have amnesia.”

“But he will keep his eyes on you, and when he figures out you’re lying, he’ll come back for you.”

“By then, I will have finished my mission.”

“You’ll still be gambling.”

“If a gamble is what it takes, then I’m all in.”

He grunts. “That’s dangerous.”

“Danger is only an obstacle. I vowed to give back to the brotherhood as much as I took, and I’ll not allow anyone to take that away. I just need you to have my back, Vlad. You and my guards are the only people who know my condition.”

He gives a grumbling yes before he asks, “How did you convince the doctor to lie on your behalf? Did you bribe him?”

“Sort of. His wife works for V Corp, and I promised him shares.” I smile. “And Ruslan threatened to knock his teeth out if he as much as gets out word about it.”

That’s so Ruslan. If I didn’t have him, Katia, and Vlad in these circumstances, I don’t know how I would react.

Vlad watches me peculiarly for a second too long, as if he’s trying to solve one of his puzzles. He has a lot of those—huge puzzles he spends weeks solving. It’s a weird quirk of his, but it speaks of his personality. While Vlad’s appearance and general attitude peg him as a muscle man like Damien, he’s not. Vlad would never barge in like a crazy bull. He calculates first, and then when he attacks, he can be as violent as Damien, if not more.

“What?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything.

“I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

“About why Kyle isn’t part of this.”

My chest squeezes at the mention of his name, but all it finds is emptiness. I don’t want to hear his name, because that will force me to remember what he said on the phone. The cruel, final words that destroyed the bridge we were slowly building as if it’d been made from sand.

Rai is nothing. I’ll just leave her behind.

He smashed everything we could’ve ever had together.

I might have considered forgiving him, but that’s also shattered into little unredeemable pieces. He didn’t only betray me, he also betrayed everything I stand for.

My family.

My duty.

My honor.

He crushed me and left me no choice but to crush him in return.

“He doesn’t need to know,” I tell Vlad in a voice void of emotions. “He’s not part of the Bratva.”

“But he’s your husband.”

“That doesn’t automatically give him the right to know everything about my life.”

Vlad narrows his eyes as if he feels I’m bluffing him. “Back then, when he said the bond between husband and wife is more important than anything else, you didn’t seem to disagree.”

He did say that. The hypocrite.

“That doesn’t matter. Let’s just keep it from him.”

“Why?”

“Because. Why are you so insistent on bringing him in?”

“Why don’t you tell me why you want him out? Unless…”

“What?”

“Are you suspecting him? Because if you are, I’ll torture that fucker to death.”

Shit. Shit. This is exactly why Vlad shouldn’t know.

I keep my expression the same, because he’s watching me so closely he’d feel the change.

“No. Of course not. I just don’t trust that he’s completely into the brotherhood.”

“You trusted him enough to fall pregnant with him.”

“I'm not pregnant, Vlad.” He should at least know that truth.

“You’re not?”

“It was a false positive and I didn’t want to disappoint Sergei.”

“Huh.”

“Is that a relieved tone or a disappointed reaction?”

“Neither. Just piecing things together. So? What’s next in your grand plan?”

I inhale deeply and release it through my teeth. This is it. My turn to play.

“Come closer, Vlad. Here’s how it’s going to go.”

5

Rai

Later that day, I tell the doctor I want to go home. Or more like, I inform him, since I didn’t stay around to treat any sicknesses, anyway.

I’m about to change my clothes when Kyle steps inside, remaining at the door.

In these past few days, I tried everything to separate myself from him. Not only did I strategically plot my amnesia so he’s in the part of my life I don’t remember, I also pushed him away every chance I could.

Honestly, I should get acting awards for the ways I feigned panic attacks. But that first day? The one in which I cried? Yeah, those tears weren’t entirely acting. The betrayal was so tangible and raw and I had to express it somehow.

I glare at him, but soon cut off eye contact because I’m not supposed to be glaring at someone I don’t remember.

Kyle is perceptive to a fault, and what makes it more dangerous is that it’s not obvious on the outside. He gives off a nonchalant vibe when he actually observes everything in his environment. Part of it is because he’s a killer, and the other part is because he’s naturally distrustful.

If I let my guard down even for a second, he’ll pounce on me. And because of that, I need to be careful while pushing him away.

“The doctor said you’re free to go home. If you’re not feeling well, you can stay longer.”

“I’m fine.” I motion at my dress on the bed that I was planning to wear before he came in. “Can you get out? I need to change my clothes.”