Page 67 of Mission Shift

My throat tightened.

The Devil huffed, shaking his head. “You’re lucky I’m handling this personally. I convinced the Kremlin that if the truth about you got out, it would shatter the illusion of this war. They agreed to let me deal with my own blood.”

A cruel smile crossed his face.

“So I did.”

My stomach twisted.

He stepped closer, tilting his head. “You’ve been sold.”

The words slithered through me like poison.

My breath hitched.

“Yakov Malinov has wanted you since you were a little girl,” he murmured, watching me closely for a reaction. “Now, you’re his. His personal concubine. He’ll expect offspring, of course. And after that, well…” He shrugged. “I don’t give a fuck what he does with you.”

I stiffened my back, unwilling to show this man an ounce of fear.

“I would’ve preferred to put you in the dirt next to your mother,” he said almost casually. “But this…this will be far worse for you.”

I swallowed bile, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response.

The Devil smirked.

“He’ll give you his name. He wants you to be presentable to society, so he’s marrying you. And I’ll ensure my name is erased from your history.”

He leaned forward, his lips curling into something vile.

“I hear he has a dark appetite,” he whispered. “A taste for pain. For suffering. He enjoys drawing it out. I imagine he’ll take you in ways you never thought possible, and when he’s finished with you, it’ll take days for you to die.”

I was already aware of Malinov’s sadistic reputation and what he did to women. He was a monster. Cruel. Old. Powerful in all the worst ways.

I’d rather be dead.

The Devil straightened, his lips curling into a maniacal sneer. “Malinov and I have agreed that if you step one toe out of line or have any suspicious contact with anyone, he’ll cut out your tongue and chain you in a cell for as long as he has use of you. Once you’re gone, you will never step foot in this house again. You’re his.”

Good.

I’d never wanted to come here in the first place.

His expression turned businesslike.

“You’ll be locked in your room until the contract is finalized,” he said. “You look like a beaten whore. Malinov will want you in one piece before he collects his property. There should be enough time to recover and look decent.”

Property, humph.

I forced my breathing to stay even.

“If you try to escape,” he continued, “I will personally put a bullet between your eyes.”

My jaw locked.

“I have no patience for traitors,” he hissed.

With that, he turned to the side and motioned to a man standing nearby.

“Oleg, let the doctor know it’s time for his interrogation,” he ordered. When he’s finished, get her to her room and let me know so I can send someone to start cleaning her up. She needs to be presentable for her new owner in fifteen days, so no more marks on her. You hear me.”

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