King's Ransom (Ruthless Doms 3)

Except, apparently, this one.

Stefan takes out a keyring and inserts a key into a lock. I don’t know the area beyond the garden well. Where are they taking him? They open the door and drag the man in behind them. I stare when they shut the door. Have they locked it?

Like the fool that I am, I wait a moment, then scurry toward the door and try the door. It’s locked, of course. Why would I even want to go in? I have no doubt I don’t want to see what they’ll do next, but I can’t turn away, like a moth toward flame. That’s my Stefan down there and I want to be sure he’s okay. But I know there’s more to it than that. He’s the brutal, fearless pakhan. I’ve never seen him so angry, and though it terrifies me, I’m enthralled.

My gaze falls on a small window. The basement light is on, and I can see everything from where I am. I fall to the ground and creep over on my hands and knees, just in time to see Nicolai force the man into a kneeling position. I stare, unable to move.

I can’t hear anything they’re saying, but I watch as Stefan paces the room. Nicolai holds the man by the hair and bares his neck. I cringe, my stomach tightening, as the man’s mouth drops open. I can imagine his whimpers and pleas.

Stefan steps to the side so I can no longer see his face from where I am.

He issues a short command to Nicolai. Nicolai nods.

I should shield my vision. Although I know the Bratva do wicked things, I’ve never actually witnessed it with my own eyes. And if I see them… I will myself to go, but I’m frozen in place. I can’t even blink or swallow. It’s like I’m petrified right here in this position.

I stare at the doorway as Stefan steps toward it, as if to block it. His arms are on his chest and he’s watching Nicolai. He nods to him and Nicolai cocks his pistol. The man begins to cry and though I can’t hear what he says, I can imagine him swearing his innocence. Though I don’t know the story, I suspect he lies. If Stefan has ordered his death, he’s no innocent. If these two are going to execute him, there’s good reason, I know it.

The man sobs. I’m shaking so badly I can’t still the trembling in my limbs. The man faces his last moments on earth, probably begging for his life, and even though I know he likely deserves to die, I can’t bear to hear it. I cover my ears, not bothering to swipe away the tears that stream down my cheeks. I hate this. I hate knowing Stefan is complicit. I hate seeing this with my own eyes.

Nicolai pulls the trigger. I flinch, expecting an explosive sound, but the shot is almost silent. Despite the fact that they’re on their own property, they’ve chosen to hide this, to use a silencer.

The man’s screaming immediately stops. His body falls to the ground with an ominous, sickening thud. I cover my mouth to stifle the scream that rises within me as Nicolai shoots another round of bullets, each one making the man’s body flinch and shudder and crimson blood stain the tattered clothing.

Bile burns the back of my throat, and my stomach clenches with fear and nausea.

I cover my face. I wish I hadn’t seen any of this. I want to run away and eradicate this from my mind. This was a terrible, terrible mistake. I’m going to be sick. My hands are wet, and I don’t know why, but I quickly forget my predicament when a strong hand comes to my neck. I scream in utter terror when I’m lifted straight up off the ground and into the air. I flail, trying to get away, and can’t see who holds me.

“Well, what do we have here?” says a familiar voice. I crane my neck and can barely make out the form of Rafael, Nicolai’s best friend. The massive giant of a man plops me down on the ground in front of him, fixes me with a ferocious stare, and pulls out his phone. “Don’t you fucking move.”

The next minute, he’s talking into his phone. “Got you a present, boss.”Chapter 3StefanI hear a scuffle outside when my phone rings, but I’m distracted, watching a body on the ground in front of me twitch in the throes of death. It’s not a sight one gets used to.

I answer on the first ring. Rafael. He tells me he has a present for me.

“You have a present for me? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Caught someone spying outside the window to the interrogation room.”

“Who the fuck was it? We’re still down here.” It matters. Another brother is a problem easily fixed, someone else another thing altogether.