“No.”
It doesn’t even matter now, I realize. Since I can’t stop a marriage for my sisters from happening. I won’t even be able to stop Denis from marrying me off to someone once Mikhail is dead.
I have never felt more powerless in my entire life.
I fall silent since there’s no comforting words I can offer Irina. That stings most of all.
Mikhail
Cillian brings me to an old, abandoned warehouse that stinks of gasoline and cat piss.
His men laugh as they string my hands up over my head and attach them to a hook hanging from the ceiling. My feet barely reach the ground like this. I’m a tall man. I’ve always felt grounded in my life.
For the first time, that has changed.
One of the guards spits on my face. I don’t even blink. Nothing will faze me. The last thing I will do is show fear in front of Cillian fucking Kennedy. The door opens and in walks Liam, joining Cillian at his side.
“I wanted my future successor to see this happen,” Cillian says, wrapping his arm around Liam’s shoulders. “To see what it’s like to take down a king.”
“I’m flattered you think I’m a king,” I say with a smile.
One of the guards backhands me across the face. “Shut up.”
Cillian holds up his hand. “It’s ok. Let him talk. He won’t be talking for long. Not when we’re done with him.”
“So, let me make sure I’m clear on this: you’re going to torture me before you kill me, correct?”
“Aren’t you so smart? I want to make you suffer.”
“I didn’t realize you hated me this much, Cillian.”
“I personally don’t hate you at all, Mikhail. We need you out of the way so Nico and I can grow an empire. This is just business. Torturing you in the process is just an extra win in my book.”
On a table behind him lays row after row of knives, all different shapes and sizes. Cillian picks up a small one.
“Shall we begin?”
Chapter Sixteen
Natalya
Iknow I can’t stay here, locked in my childhood room, while Mikhail suffers. He’s not dead. Not yet. I would feel it. That’s how much Mikhail and I are entwined. I would feel his death.
I have to get out and talk to his men. Tell them about it. None of them know what happened. The only person who was around when the explosion happened was Mikhail’s driver and he’s dead now.
Pressing my ear to my door, I listen for anything that could help but I can’t hear Denis. Can’t hear him plotting. My own uncle has done this to me. I did shoot him, so I guess this is pay back. My father never wanted to bring his business home with us and that included Denis and I know why: Denis isa jealous, petty man who wanted what my father had, which unfortunately, is me and my sisters.
My mom is around here somewhere but I’m assuming she’s locked up like the rest of us.
“Irina,” I say through the wall.
“Yes?”
“Where is Mom? Is she locked up?”
“Sometimes. I think. But not always. I think Uncle Denis likes spending time with her.”
A shiver falls down my spine. What does Denis like to do with our mom? If he wants my father’s life then… I push the thought away. I can’t dwell on it. I don’t even know if Denis has tried something with her.
