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)
God, I had never spoken truer words.
20
NIKOLAI
“Tatiana good?” Dmitry asked as he leaned against the wall and stared at the ground, his jaw working as he ground his teeth.
“After dinner, the men checked in that she cleaned the kitchen and was turning in for the night. She also told them to ‘fuck off’ when they wanted to stay outside the front door and that ‘guard dogs stayed outside the apartment building.’”
I would have chuckled at the piss and vinegar in my baby sister, but I was too jacked up on anger and adrenaline to find any humor that she let the Petrov temper take control.
“Her bedroom light went out, and she’s been quiet ever since.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face, feeling the weight of fucking everything on my shoulders. I knew Dmitry felt the same.
The backroom in the basement of one of the empty buildings we owned was dimly lit, and the air was heavy with violent tension. There were three other men we’d brought along for this “meeting” and each one of us was jonesing to let out some aggression.
I paced back and forth as anticipation coursed through my veins like a drug. The only fucking drug I needed to get the job done. And by job, I meant slaughtering my enemies.
The promise of violence, of retribution and vengeance, was so intoxicating it coated the air like thick smog.
“When the fuck are they showing—” Dmitry’s words were cut off when the heavy, metal door creaked open. We all turned and focused on the young man who was being dragged in by two of our soldiers.
The man couldn’t have been more than twenty-five, and despite his muscular frame, the fucker was pale and trembling, his fear seeping out of him like an infection from a wound.
Our men hauled him into the center of the room and tossed him on the ground, and the guy flipped onto his ass before standing. His leg was fucked up, which was clear because he couldn’t keep much weight on it as he hobbled around, looking at the big motherfucking Russians who surrounded him.
“What's your name?” Dmitry commanded, his voice cold and authoritative. He pushed off the wall, making his way a few steps toward the scared shitless little douchebag. When silence met Dmitry’s question, he barked out, “Speak, motherfucker.”
“J-Josh,” the other man stuttered. The vicious pause that followed his response had him swallowing hard, his eyes darting between us.
I could see the fear in his gaze, and I would’ve been lying if I didn’t admit it got me off. “You know why you're here.” It wasn’t a question. His bloody nose and black eye told me our message had been heard and felt.
“I-I was at the warehouse. I saw everything,” he stammered.
We put out feelers after we discovered someone had taken out Maksim. Although Maksim wasn’t a top-level member, he was still part of the Bratva, so it was a direct insult and hit to me and my brother. We didn’t fuck around when it came to anyone thinking they could make a move on us.
I stared hard at Josh, and it was clear the intensity of my glare scared the shit out of him. He flinched and took a step back, and then another one, until he slammed into Dmitry’s chest. My brother placed his big hands on Josh’s shoulders and dug his fingers in hard enough the guy squealed like a pig.
Dmitry pushed him forward, and Josh stumbled, righting himself as he kept his focus on me.
“Why didn’t you come to us with this information?” I asked.
Josh didn’t answer, just looked at all the men surrounding him.
“Why did you run when you heard we were looking for you?” Dmitry added, walking over, and he got on his haunches, rifling through the black tool bag we brought for tonight. When he stood and faced our “guest,” holding up a hunting knife, Josh started crying.
“Oh, fuck,” he blubbered. “Please.” He held his hands up, palms facing outward in defense. “I got scared.” He ran the back of his hand over his nose, smearing snot and blood across his cheek. “I planned on coming to you and telling you everything, but I was scared shitless. Fuck, can you blame me?”
I looked at Dmitry, and after a prolonged pause, we both started laughing. “True that,” I said, but then sobered instantly when I focused back on Josh. “Running was the wrong move, man. Made you look guilty. Like maybe you were part of it.”
Josh shook his head furiously, squeezed his eyes shut, and sniffed, causing blood to slip out of his nose. “No, no-no-no. I would never go against you guys. I’d never go against the Petrovs.” He was stumbling over his words, his fear making him seem sloppy.
“Calm the fuck down before you piss yourself.” The disgust in Dmitry’s voice was tangible. “Just tell us what you saw, and we'll talk about you leaving here, Josh. Sound good?”