I froze. My heart jackhammered. Every instinct screamed don’t, but the knife pressed deeper into Misha’s throat.
“Now!” he barked.
The blade bit deeper. Misha’s body jerked, a low groan escaping him.
My hands shook. I had to buy time. Just a little more.
“I will,” I whispered. “Don’t hurt him. Please.”
Lev grinned. “Knew you’d break.” He circled behind me and slapped my ass. Hard.
Misha roared, his body convulsing against the restraints, veins bulging with helpless rage.
“Look at your mighty Pakhan now,” Alexei murmured, unzipping his pants, hand already stroking. His eyes devoured me. “We haven’t even touched you yet, and he’s falling apart.”
Misha’s eyes locked with mine—pure fire. Blood trickled from his lip where he’d bitten down, hard enough to split it.
I reached for the hem of my dress. Slowly. Deliberately.
Chernov chuckled. “Take your time. Even if it takes an hour, we’ll wait. You’re a performance, sweetheart.”
The fabric fell to the floor. I stood in tight leggings and a fitted top. Covered. Still armed beneath.
Chernov’s face twisted. “You came dressed like a nun to a blood ritual?” he snarled. “Strip. Everything. Or I carve another hole in him.”
I didn’t move.
Alexei approached, gripped my hair, yanked hard. “Enough. You’re wasting our time.”
Chernov’s voice was razor-sharp. “We could tear it off you. But we won’t. You’ll do it yourself. Or you’ll watch your lover die screaming.”
I stared at Misha. His eyes pleaded. Not with fear. With fury.Don’t do it.
Still, I didn’t move.
So Chernov drove the knife into Misha’s hand.
His scream split the air—raw, animal, unbearable.
“No!” I cried, ripping at my shirt. Buttons popped. Fabric tore.
And then...
The signal.
A low, distant pulse in my earpiece. One long beep.
They were in.
I reached behind me, yanked free the device strapped to my lower back—a small timed explosive, just enough to shock and disorient.
I threw it to the far side of the room and sprinted the opposite direction.
The charge popped... smoke, blinding light, enough to turn trained killers into fumbling shadows.
“Get that bitch!” Chernov snarled.
Lev and Alexei bolted after me. Chernov stayed with Misha, pressing the knife deeper.
