Empire of Sin(Empire #2)(99)

“Papa…please don’t do this.”

“I told you to cut off all ties with him, Anastasia, but you didn’t. So we’re doing this my way.”

The guards push me aside and I trip, but Knox grips me by the arm to keep me standing.

I grab onto him as if he’s a lifeline. If he’s going to hurt Knox, he’ll have to hurt both of us.

Knox, however, steps in front of me, partly shielding me from my father. His broad shoulders are the only thing I see and I find solace in that. Safety in the midst of the chaos that’s whirling around me.

“Don’t touch her,” Knox tells the guards, his posture turning rigid and his voice holding a lethal edge.

“Or what?” It’s Vlad who asks in his thick, scary accent. “Do you think you can do anything? Here, of all places? I can put a bullet in your head in the next second for your insolence alone.”

Knox remains in his erect posture, not even a little fazed by Vladimir’s threats. “Is that how you treat possible business associates?”

“Associate?” Adrian asks with a note of curiosity.

Knox stares at Papa. “I have an offer for you, but I’ll not make it unless I’m given your word that Anastasia will be safe and free from any engagement you forced on her.”

“You do not make demands in my own house.” Papa’s voice hardens and I know he’s getting angry. I can taste the thickness of it in the air.

So I soften my voice. “Just…hear him out, Papa.”

I have no clue what type of plan Knox came up with, but any plan is better than nothing at this point.

“What’s your offer?” Adrian asks.

“I won’t say anything until I’m given your word.”

“Speak or I’ll put that bullet between your eyes.” Vlad doesn’t reach for his waistband, but I don’t have to see it to know there’s a gun there.

I release a fractured breath and tighten my sweaty hand on Knox’s, then whisper, “Just say whatever you came to say…please…”

If he doesn’t, Papa won’t hesitate to give the order to kill him. And if I witness that, I won’t be able to survive.

I can tell Knox doesn’t want to budge, but playing hotheadedness with the leaders of the brotherhood is the last thing he wants to do. These are men who are used to violence and wouldn’t hesitate to use it on him.

When I squeeze his hand one more time, he says, “I heard you’re looking to legitimize more of your income through your legal front, V Corp, and I can help with that.”

“How?” Adrian asks.

“I own a third of a multi-billion-dollar empire that’s currently managed by my father and my sister. That’s how.”

“So you’ll invest in V Corp.” It’s not a question. Adrian is grappling with details and forming his own theories. “How much are we talking about?”

“Every penny to my name.”

I gasp, holding my hand to my mouth to hide the sound. Did he just say he’ll give all his money to my family?

For me?

Papa watches Knox without a change of expression and Vladimir still has suspicion written all over his face.

It’s Adrian who remains in his calm and continues his interrogation. “Wouldn’t your father oppose such a step? I believe a successful businessman like him wouldn’t want ties with us.”

“I already spoke to him and he won’t interfere with any decisions I make about my inheritance.”

A brief silence falls in the hall and I fidget, my hands turning clammier in Knox’s as I wait with bated breath. In theory, they should agree. Adrian of all people would because profit is his first aim, but Vlad and Papa are much more traditionalist and wouldn’t look at it from that perspective.

He’s still an outsider and definitely not Russian.

“Leave,” Papa tells Knox.

“I said I won’t until you give me your word—”

“Leave,” Papa cuts him off, but he’s not threatening him again. He’s not telling him that if he doesn’t leave, he’ll kill him.

Which means he’s changed his mind about something, or maybe he’s considering another option.

I can’t help the hope that blossoms beneath my ribcage and spreads to my whole body.

Knox is about to say something, but I grab his arm and shake my head. I rise on my tiptoes and whisper to his ear, “This is the closest thing to a truce that he can offer, so just go… I’ll call you.”

“No.”

“Knox, please…you won’t get another chance to leave this house alive.”

“I don’t want it if it means separating from you.”

A shadow falls over us and it’s Vlad, glaring at both of us. “Are you going to leave with your head in place or should I sever it first?”

“He will,” I say firmly and then nudge Knox, begging him with my eyes to make the smart choice.

His jaw tightens and those beautiful golden eyes darken. For a second, I think he’ll say no and land himself in trouble, but he slowly relaxes his jaw.

“If she doesn’t call me in a day,” he tells my father, “I’ll be back, and this time, you won’t be able to kick me out.”

Vlad steps forward, probably to smack him for the insolence of speaking to the Pakhan that way, but Papa shakes his head.