Page 24 of Tangled Souls

“I didn’t know Mikhail when I was growing up,” Adam starts, his voice soft and broken, his words barely discernable with the way they’re slurring as the pain really sets in. Then there’s the blood loss; it’s probably not helping matters but I don’t really give a fuck. “Mom made sure I didn’t have contact with that sideof the family tree.” He closes his eyes briefly, pain etched across his face as he mutters, “I wish it would have stayed that way.”

“You made a choice, there’s no reason to waste a wish on bullshit completely in your control,” I point out.

Adam’s eyes crack open, and he lets out a labored breath. “Maybe,” he offers, almost conceding but not quite. “A few months ago, Mikhail came to me. He told me about what could be gained by being behind him. I didn’t want any part of it at first, but then he threatened my mom even though she is his blood. I figured doing what he wanted was worth saving her and I would benefit from it. He promised me a life of luxury.”

“Loyalty under duress is no loyalty at all,” Huck mutters under his breath.

When I meet his gaze, I give a nod of agreement. Mikhail is desperate and it shows.

“I was just supposed to sit next to Oaklynn tonight and chat her up, be charming while threatening her. Mikhail just wanted to get a read on her. He said she was a meek, stuck-up bitch.”

My fists clench and I step forward to show him just what I think about his words. Before I can get to him, Baker is there and backhanding him across his already bloody, bruised, and swollen face. Adam lets out a whimper which sounds more animal than man.

“Guess it’s a good thing you won’t have the chance to report to him about the kind of woman our wife really is,” I spit the words as the control I’m barely holding onto frays a little bit more.

“Mikhail is coming for you,” Adam looks at each of us, his eyes clear of the pain for a moment, “and he’s going to start with yourwife. She’s your weakness. Mikhail doesn’t have one. Everyone is expendable to him.”

“His arrogance is going to be his downfall and his maniacal need for power that will never be his. He probably dresses it all up in revenge, but he only wants power. He won’t get it,” I vow.

Adam slumps back, his head falling forward, “Doesn’t matter to me either way. I’m already dead.”

Now he’s getting it.

Baker kicks at his foot, but he doesn’t move. We watch for a moment, his chest rising and falling, even if the movement is shallow. He’s passed out; I’m mildly surprised he lasted as long as he did.

I share a look with Huck and Baker which speaks volumes. We’ll be keeping him alive. For now.

He might come in handy later. We’ll have someone come and clean him up and dress his wounds before he’s put in one of the cells down here.

“At least he didn’t seem to think Mikhail is going to come and rescue him,” I mutter while looking over at Adam.

Baker snorts out a laugh. “Mikhail doesn’t give a fuck about him. Cousin or not.”

I look at the blood on Baker and then down at myself. “Let’s go home. We need to fill in Kirill and I need to hold our wife.”

With one more look at Adam, I leave the room without looking back. I can feel Baker and Huck fall into step behind me.

Torture isn’t new to me. Being able to get the answers out of people who want to keep their silence and secrets has been a point of pride.

But now all I can think about is getting home to Oaklynn.

Fuck, what has this woman done to me? And why do I like it so much?

CHAPTER 9

BAKER

“I should have changed before we left the warehouse,” I mutter more to myself than to Maxim or Huck.

Now that my adrenaline has leveled back out after torturing Adam, who is fucking lucky he’s alive right now, I’m starting to freak out because of the blood on me. I could be covered by a lot more considering how hard we worked him over tonight.

Maxim shakes his head. “It’ll be fine.”

“It won’t be fine,” I snap at him.

Panic starts to set in. I don’t want our woman, our fucking wife, to see me like this. She’ll see who I really am and what I’m really capable of.

I don’t want that.

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