Page 142 of The Bratva Sinner

“I walked into your warehouse to make you an offer.”

He tilts his head. “I’m listening.”

I take a slow breath. I’ve been rehearsing this in the car. I need him to believe it. I need him to want it enough to make the trade.

“You want to win,” I say. “Killing her is personal. It’s not a business decision. No one will miss a single woman.”

“Asshole,” Lila mutters.

Arlind smirks. “Got a mouth on her.”

“She does, and we both know she’s more trouble than you want to deal with.”

"She’ll learn her place," he says nonchalantly.

“I can make you a better offer. You want to be the man who brought down a Sokolov.” I pause. “Take me.”

Lila makes a sharp, bitten-off sound that she tries to swallow.

“Let her walk out of here.” I train my eyes on Arlind. “And you get me. Maksim Sokolov, in your hands, dead or alive. You choose.” I keep my voice calm. “Think about what that’s worth. Think about what it says. You took out a Sokolov prince. That’s not a territorial dispute anymore; that’s a legacy. Every man in the bratva world will know your name. Miami will fear you.”

Arlind is quiet. He’s trying to decide if I’m serious.

“Don’t,” Lila whispers. “Maksim, don’t do this.”

I can’t look at her. If I look at her, I’ll lose the control I’m barely holding onto.

I see him considering the offer.

“You know what happens if you kill me,” I say to Arlind. “My brothers come for you. Not just Sergei; Nikolai. Both of them. Every man loyal to the Sokolov name. You’re smart enough to know that a direct assault would cost you more than you’d gain.” I take a step forward. “But if you have me, you have something to negotiate with. You have leverage you’ve never had.”

“Or I kill you and deal with the consequences.”

“You could,” I agree, “but I’m offering you a cleaner option. Let her go, and I’ll call Sergei right now, from this room, and tell him to stand down. I’ll tell him it’s resolved. That we reached an agreement.” I pull out my phone and hold it up. “You’ll have a window. Time to move, reorganize, and get out from under whatever retaliation you’re expecting. That’s worth more than a body.”

“We both know your brothers will still come for you,” he says.

“My brothers respect me. We have an understanding.”

My plan is thin. Sergei will take revenge regardless of what I tell him to do, but it gives me time to get her out of the country.

Arlind laughs.

“Do you take me for a fool, Sokolov? I know how you operate.”

“You’re fucked either way,” I tell him. “Me calling my brother buys you time. Maybe I can convince him to let you live. You started this. I’m your only chance.”

I finally look at her. She’s so beautiful.

Her jaw is clenched so hard that I see the muscle jumping. She shakes her head. I see her eyes flash with rage.

“Don’t,” she says again.

I hold her gaze for one second. I need her to trust me one more time.

“Leave,” I say to her. “Right now. Walk out.”

“I’m not leaving you.”