Page 103 of Demitri

I see Andrey roll his eyes at how fucking stupid the woman is.

“You want to take over as head of a Bratva that’s already died out once and you don’t know any fucking Russian,little sister?”

“I don’t need to know the language to run the family.”

“You probably also don’t think you need a dick. You’d be wrong there, too.”

“Not true. The family has progressed since our father’s death.”

I look at Andrey as best I can with my eyes swelling shut. “You haven’t told her?”

He snarls at me and shakes his head. “No point.Tupaya sukawouldn’t listen to me, anyway.”

“You know, it could be the pain I’m in, but this is pretty funny shit.”

“I’m done listening. You’re going to sign our father’s money over to me so I can do what he would have wanted and make this family strong and powerful again. Do what he couldn’t with the goods I have access to.”

“Gonna be hard to do with the feds breathing down your throat, won’t it?”

“What feds? You’re the only snitch left. Your uncles have been disposed of. They thought they got away, could lie low and come back, but we took care of that. And Uncle Sasha loves me like his own princess.”

I might not ever shut up when I’m under stress like this, but I know when to keep my mouth shut. If she doesn’t know Sashaisthe mole, I’m not going to be the one to tell her. I don’t see her being alive much longer, anyway. If she succeeds in getting the money from me, she’s useless.

“Let me give you a little tip. The longer I’m alive and have the money, the longer you stay alive.”

“Hurt him,” she commands Andrey.

Fuck. Me. Try to help your sister out and this is how she repays you?

I brace for impact, knowing it’s going to hurt. Will it be a kidney shot? Jaw breaker? Another finger?

Oh, my ankle. The iron hits and I think I might throw up from the pain. He’s having way too much fun with this.

“Fuck, Andrey!” I finally yell, giving him what he wants. “Fucker!”

Punch.

And there it is, my jaw. Maybe a couple of teeth. Asshole can throw a fucking punch, that’s for sure.

“Shut up.”

“Fug vu fashol.” There. I told him. I’m sure he understood. He’s been breaking jaws for decades.

“Get his fingerprints,” Katya says, moving to the door. “Let’s see what we can do. Leave him in here when you’re finished, in case we need something else.”

Once she’s out, Andrey looks at me, shaking his head. “You never learn, do you? I didn’t want to do this, asshole.”

I roll my eyes at him, my head lulling to one side.

“Not this way. I wanted to pick the time and place. My rules.”

I blink my swollen eyes at him. “Ver wules,” I mock.

“Poshyol te nakhuy. I survive by my rules. Beating you when you were a kid? So I didn’t get beat. Taking out the trash in the family? Well, he never took me out, did he? I fucking survived. Thatsukadoesn’t have the authority. She doesn’t know the rules or care to find out. We only let her think she’s in charge. You, however, walked away. You told our secrets. This is what you deserve.”

I know if I keep staring at him, he’ll spill his life story, but I don’t care. My hand is numb, my arm is throbbing, my ankle is screaming for help, and my face? Fuck, Mia’s going to think I’m ugly now, isn’t she?

Mia. I’ll survive this for her. Fuck all of them if they think I’ll give up and leave her alone. Mia. I swear I hear her voice. If I close my eyes, I swear I hear her calling my name.

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