Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
His words are true enough. Something that would have felt bitter to me before is now just an honest truth that I can no longer deny.
Sergei only ever had love for Nikolai. Everyone else in his life was disposable. Myself. My mother. Even his mistresses. Nikolai’s mother disappeared years ago, and nobody knows what happened to her.
To have the only thing he ever valued participate in his destruction would be difficult for Sergei. I believed that I would never trust Nikolai again. That he could never make amends for what he did to me.
But as I rise up and he walks by my side to kill our father, I am grateful for his presence.
The basement is cold, with a persistent stench of copper and Sergei’s sweat.
When his sons enter the room and meet his gaze, there is a flash of betrayal as I had hoped.
But it is not for me. His eyes linger on Nikolai, assessing his intentions.
Sergei has lived by the Vory codes for most of his life. He already knows death will come. There is no doubt he accepts that as fact. But he believes that because he is a Vor, he will receive an honorable death.
He is wrong.
Already, his toenails and fingers have been removed. He has been water boarded repeatedly by Ronan Fitzpatrick and brought back to life several times already with shock paddles. His eyes are cloudy and his pulse is no doubt weak.
But it isn’t over. Not even close.
“Talia’s death was quick,” I tell him when I step forward. “But I can assure you that yours won’t be.”
I make a gesture to Ronan and he hands over the small black case. My fingers itch to open it. To touch the thing that will cause him pain unlike he’s ever known.
But instead, I hand it to my brother.
“You can do the honors,” I tell Nikolai.
It is difficult to relinquish this moment. But I know that Nikolai is right. This is what will hurt Sergei the most. His face is solemn but not repentant as he retrieves the syringe from the case. And under Ronan’s guidance, he injects the special blend of snake venom into Sergei’s arm.
It only takes a few moments for the effects to kick in.
Sergei begins to convulse on the table and foam at the mouth as the neurotoxins take over his body. When the paralysis sets in and his bulging eyes find mine, I lean over him so that there can be no misunderstandings between us.
“It is only the beginning.”
And then beside him, I take my seat. A spectator to his last and final hours.
There will be no violence or bloodshed from my hands today. By all outward appearances, it could even be considered a gentle death. But the pain that Sergei will feel as the venom attacks his nervous system is anything but gentle.
It is a balm to my soul, watching him suffer. And yet it means nothing at all. I will still be forced to go on. Without Talia. Knowing what I’ve done. Knowing that I failed her. That I am no better than Sergei himself.
And the only satisfaction I will have in the end is that my father is dead too.
“How long will it take?” Viktor asks as he sits down beside me.
I did not expect him to watch. But it should not surprise me. Even after all I have done, Viktor still regards me as a son. As one of his own.
“It could be hours,” I answer.
Beside me, the Reaper and Nikolai also take their seats.
And then we wait. The only sounds to break the intermittent silence are those of Sergei’s tortured groans and the shaking of the table beneath him.
It is a short event. Shorter than I had hoped.
Just as I always suspected, Sergei was weak. But this knowledge does not give me any satisfaction.
Because in this house, and in my life, the sun no longer rises.
51
Talia
“How is he?” I ask Lachlan.
He does not reply for some time. And it annoys me. I keep touching the star on my hand, and he is watching me with curious eyes. But guarded too.
“Talia, you must realize that it would be out of character for me to call him so often. He is not taking calls, anyway.”
I tap at the table again. And Mack’s watching me, but she keeps her lips zipped on the subject.
“But you said he’s a friend. Wouldn’t normal protocol be to go visit him?”
Again, Lachlan remains silent. And I realize he’s hiding something from me.
“What is it?” I ask.
He looks up at me and frowns.
“I have been to visit him,” he answers finally. “He’s as well as you could expect him to be.”
“Oh.”
I need more. I’m desperate for more. But Lachlan simply sighs.
“His father was responsible for the car bombs,” he tells me. “And he is dead now. Arman too.”