Had I really been prepared to give up my claim to the Bratva?
Yes, I had been.
And for what?
A woman.
A woman with dark hair and hazel-gold eyes and a smile that was so pure that it made me aware of just how tainted my own soul was.
She was not for me.
She was never been meant for me.
A wife? A child? A family.
These are things that belonged to other men. Normal men.
But I am no normal man.
I am Artem Kovalyov.
I am Don of the Kovalyov Bratva.
That is my only purpose in life.
Until death absolves me of my responsibility.
* * *
I head out of the cabin. There’s a black Jeep parked right outside the porch. I’d nabbed it about a month ago, a few miles outside of Devil’s Peak.
I have grown unreasonably attached to the vehicle, but that won’t stop me from changing it in a few weeks.
I’m not going to let sentiment rule me any longer. I have made too many weak decisions to repeat them.
So as soon as I feel myself longing for something, fitting in with something… it gets tossed.
I climb into the Jeep. The dog watches me from the porch, chin on his paws. He already looks too fucking comfortable.
If he’s still here when I get back, I’ll fire a few warning shots to scare him off for good.
I’m interested in company. Not even the four-legged variety.
I drive fast down the trail to the village. I take the turns recklessly, but I’m confident I can drive this path blindfolded now. It’s so damn familiar to me.
My time here is ending soon.
I needed these few months to recover. I was too wrecked from Budimir’s attack to do anything else.
But now, after months of intense training, my body is at its peak physical shape. My mind is in a stronger place, too.
I’m focused. I’m determined. And I’m thirsty for blood again.
I park in a tight space outside the bookstore that Esme used to frequent. I catch a glimpse of myself in my rearview mirror and I pause for a moment.
My beard is now my dominant feature, swallowing the bottom half of my face and casting attention to the dark circles under my eyes.
I barely recognize myself. But maybe that’s a good thing.