Kiss Me in the Dark Anthology - Monica James Page 0,28
piece of shit is, and I kill you. The choice is yours,” I offer with a smirk because there isn’t a choice.
His fate is decided. And I’m fine with that.
He struggles against his restraints, grunting in anger. “Your brother—”
“Half-brother,” I correct, curling my lip in disgust.
“He is the new король of this town. You are a joke.”
Oh, this waste of space is really testing my time and now, my patience. “We’re going to have to agree to disagree because he wishes he were a king. He’s merely a scared little boy, hiding behind his mother’s skirt.”
His mother, Zoya, is sadly also mine—she’s the reason he was able to infiltrate my empire and ensure it came crashing to the ground. So it goes without saying that she must also pay for her crimes. She made her choice—we all did—and now it’s time we deal with the aftermath.
Viktor isn’t going to talk, but that’s okay. We all have our weaknesses. And I plan to exploit his. “Your loyalty to a bottom feeder will get you and your family killed.”
He bursts into laughter. “Please, you’d be doing me a favor. I’d pay you to kill my свинья of a wife. And I doubt those kids are even mine. So if this is your grand plan, you lose—again. The feared Aleksei Popov is nothing but yesterday’s news.”
Pavel yawns beside me.
Tsking Viktor, I decide to put an end to his theatrics because I have someplace to be. “You know what separates me from Serg? I earned my place by adapting to my environment. That’s what a victorious leader does.
“I ensured I knew every single thing about my enemies because when the time came, I would use this for my gain. Like right now.”
Walking toward Viktor, I smoke my cigar casually. “It appears you’ve been a very busy boy, going back and forth between your wife and mistress. I don’t know how you can keep up.”
I take great pleasure in seeing him pale.
“Why don’t you just divorce her?” I ask. Even though I know the answer, I just want to see him squirm.
Before he has a chance to reply, I tap my forehead as if I’m struck with an epiphany. “Maybe it’s because your beloved is married herself? What do you think would happen if her husband knew the son he loves so much is actually yours?”
Viktor stops struggling. We all have a price. And I’ve just found his.
“You bastard,” he snarls while I shrug offhandedly.
“Just like your son.”
“You wouldn’t hurt them,” he says, but the small quiver to his tone reveals his doubt.
“You’re right, I wouldn’t,” I reply with a nod. “All you need to do is tell me what I want.”
“I tell you that, and you kill me anyway!” he yells, spittle coating his chin. “I’m fucked either way.”
Desperation reveals a man’s true colors. If he cowers in the face of fear, then you know if you prod hard enough, he’ll eventually budge. Viktor is the perfect example of this.
“Yes, your fate is already decided. But for once in your miserable existence, you can do something right and save someone’s life; not take it away.”
I know Viktor’s secrets. He wasn’t selected by Serg for his physical prowess. He is a cold-blooded killer, and no one is off-limits. This isn’t an excuse to why I will feel nothing for ending him. He’s a bad man. But I suppose, so am I.
When Viktor shakes his head firmly, sealing his lips shut, I decide he needs a little encouragement. Taking one last pull of my cigar, I savor the hit as I hate to waste it, but…
Without hesitation, I press the scalding end into Viktor’s cheek, appreciating his cries for mercy and the smell of burning flesh. He seems to forget he’s tied to a chair as he desperately struggles to pull away.
“Where is Serg?” I ask calmly, forcing the cigar deeper into his cheek. His flesh bubbles under the heat, and a small part of me yells that he’s had enough. I realize that part only exists because of Willow. What would she say if she were here?
But she’s not. She made her choice. And I’ve made mine.
Being vulnerable is for the weak; something I will never be again. I am where I am because I tried this humanity suit on for size, but guess what? It doesn’t fit. I much rather this suit of armor because its impenetrable walls protect me from this disgusting thing they call love.
“Okay! He, he…” Viktor’s spluttering reminds me of