Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
“No, you’re not. I told you that your life is mine, and I specifically said that I wasn’t joking, but you apparently chose to believe the opposite.”
In a last attempt to fix the situation, I pull out my gun.
Kirill doesn’t change his stance and merely stares at me in the same manner he has all along. “Are you going to shoot me, Sasha?”
I don’t allow myself to think as I aim and shoot.
The phone flies out of Kirill’s hand and clutters to the ground with a hole right in the middle.
I release a breath. Uncle Albert’s phone number is safe now. Kirill can’t, under any circumstances, get a hold of that part of my life.
Not only does he have no loyalty to anyone but himself, but he’s still his father’s son. He’s clearly overachieving what his father failed to do, so what if he also decides to exterminate the rest of us like his father wanted to?
One moment I’m standing, and the next, my feet leave the ground as Kirill grabs hold of my neck.
His fingers dig into the sensitive flesh, and I can’t breathe as he tightens his hold. I thrash, scratching at his wrist, but I might as well not be touching him.
His voice darkens, sounding like it’s underground due to the buzzing in my ears. “Who is he that you’d go to this length to protect him, hmm?”
I pat his wrist, my eyes begging him to let me go. “Ki…rill…”
“Who the fuck is he, Aleksandra?”
His voice booms in my ears. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard this angry, frightening tone that could crumble mountains.
Tears rim my eyes, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the way he yelled at me or the fact that I’m suffocating.
Just when I think I’ll lose consciousness, Kirill releases me. I stumble to the ground, coughing and massaging the handprints he left on my throat.
My shoulder hits the wall, and I’m thankful for the support as I topple over and nearly throw up from all the coughing.
When I’m calmer and breathing more easily, I stare at the monster standing over me. His eyes are a raging color that resembles a stormy sea that’s out to drown me.
“I’m going to need a name.”
I slowly shake my head. “I…can’t.”
“You can’t or you won’t?”
I rise to my full height. “Why should I be obliged to tell you anything when I know nothing about you?”
“I own you, not the other way around.”
“No one owns me.”
He gets closer, his expression more frightening than before. I step back.
I don’t mean to. It just happens.
Kirill is a scary man. Some would argue he’s not a man, but half man, half beast. Right now, he looks fully monstrous.
This isn’t methodical like on the battlefield or when he’s plotting something. He’s neither calm nor collected.
This is personal.
It’s clear in every step he takes that this situation will end badly for me. The problem is, there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to dissipate the raging volcano that’s about to sweep me over.
I can’t even escape with him blocking the only exit.
Maybe if I distract him—
A commotion comes from the stairs, and I freeze. Kirill doesn’t; his entire attention remains on me. He’s like a giant black cat who won’t stop until he catches his prey.
“Boss!” Maksim calls from upstairs. “There’s been an intrusion.”
28
SASHA
Despite the state of emergency, if I could hug Maksim for interrupting Kirill’s destructive plan, I would.
But then again, that might have the exact opposite desired effect and put Maksim’s life in danger, which is why I refrain from acting on that impulse.
That, and the fact that the club’s security might be in jeopardy.
In situations like these, anyone would expect chaos to ensue, but that’s impossible in an establishment run by Kirill.
There isn’t even an alarm asking people at the club to leave. The music continues, and everyone keeps dancing and drinking, completely unaware of the severity of the situation.
Kirill heads straight to the control room. I take a few moments to compose myself before I follow after.
But even when I reach the area, I remain in the shadows, at the farthest point, while still standing in the same room as him.
For my survival, I need to avoid being the center of his attention as much as possible.
We find Yuri watching the security footage with some other guards. On one of the screens, Viktor is inspecting a package that was left at the doorstep of the staff entrance. A large duffel bag, to be specific.
“Rewind the footage to the beginning of the incident,” Kirill orders, then clicks the intercom that connects to the speaker outside. “Don’t touch that yet, Viktor.”
“Yes, sir,” comes the guard’s reply.
Yuri clicks a few buttons, and the images go back to five minutes ago. A black van screeches to an abrupt stop near the club, then accelerates to the entrance. A few guards shoot at it, but nothing penetrates it. Which means the vehicle is bulletproof.