betrayed the family. The truth had to be found.
“Sacha is a natural born leader, which isn’t what I can say about you. He’s a warrior, a loyal fighter in our beloved Bratva. He will be Pakhan one day when I am gone.” My father turned away.
I was able to catch the look on Michail’s face, the pain that he’d learned to mask so well. When I heard a slight sob pushing up from his chest, I held back a hiss. I’d known my father was a brutal, often uncaring man from the day I’d been brought into his house, but this surprised even me.
“Then trust me, Papa, you might get your wish sooner versus later. After that, I’ll be the one to take the rightful place as Pakhan. Mark my words.”
I slipped further into the shadows as Michail stormed toward the door.
“Rest assured, Michail, the truth will be told.”
The truth. What truth? I was nauseous, trying to remember anything else.
Thud!
Another blast of anguish yanked me back into the present, although the images remained vibrant. I’d forgotten all about the tumultuous meeting, one that had taken place only two weeks prior to the murder of my father. I’d been home for two nights, the visit cut short by my father’s need to handle business. Gasping, I blinked several times, fighting to remain conscious.
“Prekratit’!” Dimitri snapped. “Just stop,” he repeated. “This isn’t going anywhere. Bring the girl.”
At the mention of Chloe, I fought to escape from the ugliness and pain, issuing a single roar.
“The Achilles heel. Isn’t that what you Americans say?” Dimitri laughed. “And you are no longer the powerful Bratva I heard all about.”
I struggled with the chains, jerking them back and forth across the beam as one of the men climbed the stairs. Within seconds, I heard their return, the muffled sounds indicating she’d been gagged. The asshole jerked her off the landing, tossing her to within inches of me.
“I. Will. Kill. You.” While my words were strangled, Dimitri heard every word.
He continued to laugh as he fisted her hair at the scalp, yanking with enough force she moaned. While her face was red, I couldn’t see any other indication they’d beaten her.
Yet.
I knew what they were going to do, what they would force me to watch. And I knew the outcome. My guttural sounds ebbed and flowed as I continued fighting, trying to maneuver the chains. Her eyes were so full of fear as she looked at me, pleading to try to help her. I’d never felt so incapable, the rage pushing me past the point of no return. I refused to allow them to hurt her. That wasn’t going to happen. I would kill them.
“I can see she means something to you,” Dimitri laughed. “She is a pretty little thing. Maybe you need a reminder in the reality of our world since it’s evident that you’ve forgotten everything your father taught you.”
Her hands were bound from behind but being the little fighter that she was, she refused to stop struggling. When she almost managed to jerk out of Dimitri’s hold, he backhanded her, sending her skidding across the floor.
Spots of blood formed in my eyes, my rage to the boiling point. The other men laughed, one of them finally jerking Chloe to her feet and dragging her closer.
Her muffled cries were matched by a defiant look in her eyes.
“I think,” Dimitri said as he tapped his index finger across his mouth, “that I’m going to allow my men to enjoy her beauty while you watch. Then it’ll be my turn.” His bellowing laugh pushed me harder. He walked closer, ripping the gag from her mouth. “She’ll need to be able to use it.”
My wrists were chafed, blood trickling down both arms, but I didn’t give a shit. I was forced to watch as the soldier ripped at her clothes while she did everything in her power to get away from him.
I closed my eyes, gathering what strength I had left, jerking on the chains. A group of images formed in my mind, captured moments of the time I’d spent with Chloe. As they rushed by, my breathing grew more rapid.
Pull.
Pull.
Pull.
The sound of her scream sent a jolt of electricity shooting through every cell and muscle, turning the adrenaline racing into my body into rocket fuel. My roars echoed in the room as I curled my legs, pitching my body forward.
One of the soldiers finally paid attention, rushing in my direction. I lifted my legs again, slamming both