Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Konstantin studies him before holding both hands up in surrender, looking to me, and nodding. “I’ll tell you whatever you ask.”
Chux doesn’t move for another heartbeat. Then, finally, he lowers his own weapon and steps back.
I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Konstantin exhales sharply, rolling his jaw before pinning me with a look. He composes himself. “What the hell do you want to know, Ally? Let’s get this done.”
My voice shakes, but I keep my chin lifted. “The truth.”
He smirks, but it’s bitter, like I have no idea what I’m asking for.
“That,” he says, “is going to cost you more than you’re ready to pay.”
I swallow hard, glancing at Chux. He doesn’t look at me, doesn’t move—he just watches Konstantin like a man who knows the war isn’t over yet.
And maybe it isn’t.
Maybe it’s just beginning.
My heart is still hammering against my ribs as the tension lingers in the room like a storm that hasn’t quite passed. The metallic scent of gun oil and cigarette smoke clings to the air, mixing with the undeniable weight of violence. I can still hear the echo of safeties clicking, the sharp intake of breath from the men who nearly pulled their triggers.
And Chux?
He’s completely unfazed.
He just pulled a gun on my grandfather, stared down a room full of men ready to kill him, and laughed.
Like it was nothing.
Like he was nothing.
And that terrifies me.
I don’t even realize I’m shaking until I glance down at my hands. My fingers tremble slightly, my pulse still a rapid thrum beneath my skin. I swallow hard, trying to steady my breathing, trying to process what the hell just happened.
I knew Chux was dangerous. I knew he had this edge to him, this reckless confidence that made him walk into fire without hesitation. But seeing it like this? Watching him hold a gun to Konstantin’s head and dare an entire room of men to take him out?
It’s different.
It’s real.
And it’s terrifying.
I take a small step back, instinctively creating space between us. Chux notices. His sharp eyes flick to mine, and something shifts in his expression—something almost unreadable.
“Alaina.” His voice is softer now, like he knows exactly what’s going through my head. He reaches out giving my hand a squeeze. “Get your answers, sweetheart.”
I shake my head, unable to form words. My gaze darts between Chux and my grandfather, who’s rubbing the underside of his chin where Chux had pressed the gun. He looks irritated, not shaken. Like this is just another night in his world.
Another night in their world.
I’m drowning in it.
“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” Konstantin’s voice drags my attention back to him. His eyes are sharp, his smirk cold. “The truth?”
I force my breath to steady. “I didn’t want this.” My voice shakes despite my effort to sound strong. “I didn’t want threats and guns being pulled—”
“This is how things are handled here,” Chux cuts in, his tone steady. “This is what it means to be in this world, Alaina. There’s no asking nicely. There’s no waiting around for answers. There’s power. And there’s force. There is fear and there is fury.”
I blink, the weight of his words pressing down on me.
I knew my grandfather wasn’t a good man. I wasn’t blind to the things he was involved in—I’d ignored the warning signs for years, tucked away my suspicions, told myself that whatever he did behind closed doors had nothing to do with me.
But it does.
It always has.
And Chux… he’s not just a part of it. He thrives in it. Gets off on it. The reckless smirk, the way he laughed in the face of death—he belongs here.
And I don’t.
My stomach twists. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I whisper.
Chux watches me, his expression unreadable. But Konstantin? He chuckles under his breath, shaking his head like he expected this.
“Then you should’ve walked away when you had the chance.”
My head snaps toward him, anger bubbling beneath the fear. “You dragged me into this.”
His expression hardens. “No, sweetheart. I tried to keep you out. But you had to come digging, had to chase answers you weren’t ready to hear.” His gaze flickers to Chux. “And you had to catch his eye.”
Chux doesn’t move, doesn’t react to the jab. He just keeps his attention locked on me.
And that’s almost worse.
Because the man I trusted, the man who made me feel safe despite all the chaos, just showed me exactly what he’s capable of.
And I don’t know how to feel about it.
I take another step back, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. My hands are still shaking. My body is screaming at me to run
But I don’t.
Because no matter how much fear is clawing at me, no matter how much I want to pretend this isn’t my reality…
I still need answers.