from Kostya’s first aid kit. He would take her to see a private doctor in the morning, but he had seen enough broken noses to know when they needed surgery and when they didn’t.
Silently, they admired Kostya’s skill with ropes. Naked, gagged, and hanging by his bound wrists, Kavanaugh looked every bit the pasty weasel he was. The pathetic hatred he had for people who didn’t look like him was on full display in the tattoos emblazoned on his skin. He had finally stopped crying, but he had a river of snot running down his face.
“So, who’s first?” Kostya asked, handing him a length of pipe.
Ivan held the pipe in his hands, testing the weight of it against his palm. It was a good size, big enough to inflict damage but not so big that it would cause fatal injuries as long as they stayed away from his head and major organs. He looked down at Ruby and extended the pipe. “Ladies first.”
She stared at the pipe and bit her lower lip. When she didn’t take it, he gently took her wrist, turned her hand, and wrapped her fingers around it. She clasped it tightly, holding it in her shaky hand, and then looked at Kavanaugh. He could feel the anger vibrating under her skin. No doubt, she was reliving the pain and humiliation he had inflicted upon her.
Taking a step forward, she said, “Sixty-three.” Her voice wavered as she repeated the number. “Sixty-three.” Her arm flexed. “That’s how many times you pulled me out of my cell and raped me. That’s how many times you used me like I was some disposable fuck doll without feelings.” She raised her arm high and asked, “You think I can swing this pipe sixty-three times before my arm gives out?”
Kavanaugh screamed into his gag, but his cries for mercy were ignored by Ruby. The first whack of the pipe against his outer thigh had Kavanaugh howling with pain. Ruby let loose a primitive growl of pain and anger and vengeance and hit him again.
And, as it turned out, she absolutely could swing that arm sixty-three times.
Chapter Twenty
By the time Ivan and Ruby finally arrived at Nikolai and Vivian’s house, I had practically worn a stripe into the hardwood floors in the sitting from pacing anxiously back and forth. Boychenko had taken custody of me from Eric and hadn’t let me out of his sight since arriving at the house. He had tried to distract me, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything.
As soon as I spotted them walking up the sidewalk, I raced out of the house, Boychenko close behind, and rushed out to the meet them. I reached Ruby first and grabbed her in a panicked hug. I checked her over, taking in the broken nose and the swollen hand. She was guarding her right arm, probably from an injury sustained during her kidnapping, and her clothes were different.
“I’m okay,” Ruby assured me. “Really.” She gestured to her face. “This is worse than it looks.”
I hugged her again. “I was so afraid.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” I squeezed her tightly. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Only because of Ivan,” she said, stepping back to give us some room.
His tender gaze fell on me, and he placed his big, warm hand along my face. I nuzzled into his touch and let him draw me into his arms. Like Ruby, he smelled of a strange, cheap soap and had on different clothes. I decided it was better not to ask why. Not now, at least.
“Can we go home?” I asked, desperate to feel safe in my own house, with my husband and my sister close.
Behind us, Boychenko said, “I’ll drive your car home tomorrow, Erin.”
I turned to thank him and saw that he had my purse and coat in his hands. “You’re a sweetheart,” I told him, lifting up on tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”
He glanced away and cleared his throat. “You’re welcome.”
Ivan’s hand settled onto the small of my back. He nodded at Boychenko and escorted Ruby and me to his idling SUV. We drove home in silence, none of us ready to talk about what had transpired today. Ivan held my hand, keeping us connected, and glanced over at me every now and then to smile. In the backseat, Ruby seemed oddly serene. Something had happened while they were gone, something that helped her find some peace.
When we finally made it home, we trudged inside, all three of