Page 76 of Sadistic

The threat is implicit—touch his family, make them pay for his sins.

"Doran," my father says quietly.

A reminder, not a reproach.

I think about Revna.

In six hours, I'll pick her up for dinner.

She'll smell like vanilla and law books, and I'll have to pretend I didn't spend my morning covered in someone else's blood.

The duality of my life has never been more stark.

"You have forty-eight hours to return every cent," I tell Bogdan, standing. "With thirty percent interest. Mikhail will be watching. You run, your daughter gets a very different education than the one you're paying for. Understood?"

He nods frantically, relief and terror warring on his face.

"Get him out of here," I tell the men waiting by the door.

They drag Bogdan out, leaving smears of blood on the concrete.

I'll have to have the whole floor redone.

Again.

"You're going soft," my father observes once we're alone.

"I'm being practical. Dead men can't pay debts."

"Your grandfather would have taken a finger for every percentage point stolen."

"My grandfather was the devil according to you, so why would you compare me to him? I appreciate everything you’ve done to teach me." I strip off my bloodied shirt, reach for the clean one Mikhail always keeps ready. "But things have changed, Father."

"Some things don't." He watches me button the fresh shirt. "This dinner tonight. With the girl."

"Revna. Her name is Revna."

"You're getting attached."

"I'm marrying her in nine days. Attachment seems like the appropriate course of action, don’t you think?"

He makes a sound that could be agreement or dismissal.

With my father, it's hard to tell.

"Your mother wants to know about the honeymoon plans," he says, shifting topics. "She's concerned you haven't arranged anything."

"We'll figure it out after the wedding."

"Will you? Or will you throw yourself into work and neglect your new wife?" He studies me with those cold eyes. "Marriage requires effort, Doran. Even arranged ones. Especially arranged ones."

"Is this wisdom from experience?"

"Your mother and I have been married for a very long time. We've survived because we make the effort." He moves toward the door, then pauses. "The girl—Revna—she has spirit. Like your mother. Don't crush it trying to control it."

"I won't."

"See that you don't. Broken things hold no value."

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