He hit the cabinets in the kitchen, cracking one of them before collapsing to the floor. With a groan, he tried to crawl away from Volkan, bringing his arms up protectively.

“Stop!” he begged. “I was just trying to help.”

Volkan laughed bitterly. “By arranging to have my bride taken from me? That sounds like my kind-hearted brother.”

He kicked Demir, hoping Demir’s scream of pain meant he cracked a rib. He crouched next to his brother and sent his fist into Demir’s stomach, then another in the spot where he’d kicked him. “You need to fucking learn not to touch what’s mine.” He grabbed Demir’s hand, chose the middle finger and bent it back ruthlessly until he felt the bones separate. Demir’s screams were a symphony to Volkan’s ears.

“For years you’ve been trying to sabotage me, to steal shares in the family business, to lessen me in the eyes of our mother and sister. Your jealous machinations end here.” He chose another finger and gave it the same treatment as the first. “I will no longer cover for your lazy ass. This time, you pick up your own pieces.”

A hand touched his shoulder and he was on his feet in seconds, ready to attack. He was surprised to see Zeynep standing behind him. Her hand was at her throat where livid bruises were forming.

“H… he’s had enough,” she said, coughing. Her voice was hoarse.

He advanced on her, causing her to stumble back and look at him warily. “You tried to get rid of my wife.”

Zeynep shook her head frantically. “No, I was trying to help her.”

“Like your husband was helping?” he demanded. “Because I’m pretty sure his idea of helping would’ve been shoving my pregnant wife out of a helicopter over the Black Sea.”

Zeynep’s shoulders slumped and she nodded. Her legs folded under her and she half sat, half fell into an armchair next to the overturned couch. “I think you’re right,” she admitted, and when Volkan glowered at her, she added, “But I was genuinely trying to help her. She seemed so lost when you brought her here. I knew something wasn’t right, that she wasn’t here willingly. I had to get her away before anything could happen to her.”

“Very noble,” he sneered, making it clear he didn’t believe her motives were entirely pure. “Why would anything have happened to my wife, unless it was you or your husband planning it?”

She stared at him fearfully but lifted her chin and answered. “Because of what happened to Caria. I didn’t want the same thing to happen to Yasmin. She’s an innocent, she doesn’t deserve to die so young.”

Volkan laughed darkly and shook his head at the fantasy she’d weaved in her head. “Of course you would believe I would eventually kill her since I killed my first wife.”