Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
But none of these fuckers seemed to care there was hardly any breathing room. I stood there for a few seconds, just taking in the sights, sounds, and horrendous stench that assaulted me. Because there were so many people, I was shoved to the left and right until I made my way off to the side so that my back was to the wall.
The noise was deafening, and unless I focused, I couldn't make out a damn thing. But once I filtered out the swearing and cursing around me, I could hear them chanting one thing.
D’yavol.
There was a crackle from the overhead speakers, and everyone started pushing forward. Through the parting crowd of swaying bodies, I’d gotten a stark visual of the blood-stained ring in the center of the space. Several large, fluorescent lights hung above it, illuminating the dark-brown marks on the white mat.
“I know why you dirty motherfuckers came out tonight.”
The crowd went wild, making my ears ring.
“You want to see the Devil, isn’t that right?”
There was a roar of screams in response.
I was shoved to the side and braced a hand on the wall, feeling the rough texture that dug into my palm and scraped my skin. A hiss of pain left my parted lips, and I looked down at my palm, seeing the abraded skin and the welled blood. I smoothed it down my black pants to wipe it clean and focused on the ring again.
Damn, I hadn’t even been here that long, and I was already marked up with evidence of me breaking the rules. I was pushed and shoved even more until I was drifting toward the ring, like I’d been caught in a wave moving toward the shore.
Rolling forward and being pulled back, rhythmically repeating the movements over and over again.
I couldn’t breathe as people moved even closer to me, crushing in on me from all sides. I felt claustrophobic. Suffocated. Panic started to well up.
This had been a stupid idea. So stupid.
I have to get out of here.
I clutched my purse against my chest as large men boxed me in. I couldn't even hear my thoughts, let alone form a sentence to tell everyone to back the hell up.
The crowd surged me forward once more, and because of the sudden force, I reached out and braced my hands on the person’s back directly in front of me. I righted myself at the same time the man I had caught myself on turned around, which he did in a manner that set off warning bells in me, since it was so aggressive.
I felt like I was in the middle of the ocean, and the imminent threat of drowning was upon me.
In my instincts’ defense, warning bells had gone off as soon as I got here tonight, but I had chosen not to listen to them.
But it all made me feel… alive.
I tilted my head back and stared at the man’s craggy face, seeing the clear female-hating expression on his face. He sported tattoos on his forehead and temples, but they were old—faded and bleeding into one another.
He snarled, showcasing several gold teeth amongst yellow-stained, crooked ones.
I went to turn and forcefully push my way through the crowd and right out the damn building, but he gripped my arm and yanked me back to him.
“Ты маленькая штучка.” You’re a little thing.
His Russian accent made it feel like nails were being driven into my head, his voice harsh and deep, like he’d been drinking and smoking for the past thirty years.
“Мне было бы весело сломать тебя.” I’d have fun breaking you.
I felt my upper lip curl in disgust. I may have been trained my entire life to become the pretty Russian wife who’d hang on her husband's arm and always do what he said. That was what my father had seen for my future.
But then I heard my oldest brother’s voice in my head, telling me I was a queen. I was strong. I remembered Nikolai’s words, as he’d repeated them countless times.
“Там был не только дьявол с властью и тот, кто командовал, Тати. Еще была сама Лилит, которая шептала ему на ухо, что делать дальше.” There wasn’t just the devil, who had the power and called the shots, Tati. There was also Lilith herself, who whispered in his ear on what to do next.
This man’s voice was just as craggy as his face. It was audibly and visually unsettling, snapping me back to the here and now, as he told me, “Я заставлю тебя плакать и умолять меня остановиться.” I’d make you cry and beg for me to stop. “Но я бы не стал.” But I wouldn’t.
His disgusting words made my heart race, but I kept my expression blank.
I’m a Petrov. I’m strong as hell and have an army behind me, I thought, as I pulled up all the strength I had inside me.