Page 133 of Sinful Promise

This is it.

I’m going to die.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Emily Mullens.”

My skin breaks out in goosebumps.

I barely have the energy to lift my head to see who has entered the basement room, but I have a feeling I already know who it is. Igor Ivanov.

“Officially, I mean.” He steps further into the room.

He leaves the door to the basement open, as if to taunt me.

He’s exactly how I imagined him to be—like a snake in human form. His dark eyes are empty-looking, and when he smiles, I notice the sharp points of his canines that look like they could easily tear through flesh. Deep scars cover his hands and forearms, and the bump in his nose tells me it’s been broken, probably more than once.

If brutality had a form, it would be Igor Ivanov.

“I wanted to tell you that you impressed me at that party all those months ago.”

“What?” I finally look up at him.

The smirk on his face tells me all I need to know about Igor. He’s enjoying every second of my suffering, and I know this is only the beginning.

“The way you seemed to slot into that lifestyle was admirable. Many of my…colleaguescouldn’t stop singing your praises, along with some other things.”

I recoil at his words. I don’t ever want to think of that night again.

“They’ve been pestering me to get you back. They asked me to tell you that you will be very heavily compensated for your time.”

I keep my mouth shut, if only to stop myself from vomiting again as Igor crosses the distance between us.

When he crouches in front of me, his eyes flick to the floor, and he grimaces.

He tuts as he eyes the mess I’ve made beside myself. “Maybe it’s a good thing Danil isn’t here to see you like this, Emily. You’re not exactly looking your best.”

I say nothing.

“Don’t you want to know how Danil is doing?”

I try not to react. I know he’s likely only baiting me, and I’m not going to give him the satisfact?—

His hand strikes me across the face, and my head snaps to the side. I can’t stop myself from crying out, and my cheek instantly burns with the sting from his hand.

“I asked you a question, Emily.”

Any amusement in his tone has vanished, and I know I’m walking a fine line between life and death. Igor Ivanov looks like the type of man who could kill someone with his bare hands without even breaking a sweat.

As much as I don’t want to give in to Igor’s demands, if there’s any chance that Danil is still alive, I need to do whatever I can to make sure it stays that way. At least until Alexei and the others can get here.

“H-how…” My throat is painfully dry and with each word I speak, it feels like I’m rubbing sandpaper along the inside of my esophagus. “Is…Danil?”

Igor’s face breaks out into a smile, if I can even call it that. It’s more of a sneer that shows off his teeth.

“Oh, Danil is just fine. A little battered and bruised, but he’ll make a full recovery. That is, if I let him.”

A sob escapes my lips, but that only makes Igor laugh.

“It’s not all bad, Emily.” He reaches out to wipe his thumb across my cheek.

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