Page 79 of Wicked Savage

“What?” Her body trembles.

Does she know he’s recording her? Does she think we’re gonna save her? How the hell could we have missed this? How the fuck did we not know he took her?

“Nu da, moya dorogaya. He didn’t give me something I wanted, so I take something that belongs to him. I say that’s fair, yes?”

Popping open the canister, he spills the kerosine all over her body as she chokes on it. When he lights a match, my pulse quickens.

God damn it. I can’t watch this. I can’t…

“Oh m-my God, I beg you, please. No! I have children. Don’t do this…”

His laughter…I’ll never forget it. And when he tosses the flame at her, I close my eyes, her screams piercing through the air before dying with her.

And when I look back, she’s not there anymore.

Nothing but charred-up flesh.

I’ll kill him for this. I’ll kill them all for this, and I won’t rest until every one of them pays.

* * *

I never got what I wanted. Aside from Sergey, the rest of the Marinovs are still alive.

And Dinara? She’s out of reach. For good. I meant what I said: she and I will never happen.

I throw my arm over my face, and when I close my eyes, she’s there. My angel and my curse.

Why can’t I get over her? What’s so different about this woman?

My phone buzzes. I grab it, hoping it’s her—maybe a message, her voice that I miss. Even if it’s her cursing me out, I’ll take it. I deserve it.

Wish it was easy to forget everything from the past and just be with her, but I can’t let it go. I can’t be a part of that family, making a life with her like Mom’s death meant nothing at all. She wouldn’t want that.Idon’t want that.

Fionn’s name flashes on the screen. When I ignore it, he calls again.

Fuck me.

“What?”

“We’re going to Rzvrt this weekend.”

“Maybe you are, but I’m good. There’s nothing there for me.”

“Are you sure about that?”

I blow an annoyed breath. “What the hell does that mean?”

“What if she shows up? Wouldn’t you wanna know if she’s fucking someone else?”

That’s never gonna happen. If she shows up, I’m bringing her back home. And if she’s with someone else, he’s gonna end up leaving in a body bag.

“I left her. Can’t tell her what to do.” I don’t even sound believable.

Fionn laughs. “You’re full of shit. You’d kill him. We both know it.”

Of course I would.

“So, you coming or not?” he continues.

---