Page 85 of Cruel Russian Monster
He grabbed his glass and motioned for us to sit on the sofa.
Once seated, he said, “Usually I'd let you go first. However, I think the situation at hand demands that I go first. Do you mind?”
I shook my head. As much as I wanted to yell and demand that he let me go, I knew it was important to hear what he had to say.
He smiled. “You've always been such an obedient little sister. Are you also an obedient little wife?” His tone was cold.
Shivers ran down my spine. I clenched my fists in my lap and forced myself to meet his gaze, but I didn't respond. I didn’t think he wanted me to.
“I saw some of the messages on your phone. And the pictures.”
I froze. A rush of bile cleared my throat. I swallowed hard, forcing it back down.
He continued, “You've created quite the friendship with Jaroslav’s sisters. What are their names, again?”
His eyes darkened as he looked at me. I inhaled deeply and tried to steady my nerves.
“Mariya and Ninel,” I said, in an unbothered tone, though I was far from feeling that way.
“Yes, Ninel and Mariya. Very pretty names, for very pretty women. You see, once I've kidnapped them, I've arranged for them to have a little bit of fun.”
“W-what do you mean by fun?” my voice croaked.
“Did you know that there are shows where men go to pay to see men have sex with women? There's a stage and everything. And get this,” he took a sip of his drink. “It's not just one man. It's actually multiple men at a time.”
“You can't! You have sisters! Why would you want to do that to someone else's?” I shot up off the sofa and blurted out furiously before I could stop it.
Artyom went on, ignoring my outburst. “Relax, Vera. Sex is a normal occurrence in life. And guess what? I'll even tape it and send a copy to Lev. Fuck, I might even upload it to social media. That would be a kicker.”
He smiled and leaned back, draining the last of his drink before placing it on the coffee table.
I felt as though something slammed into my skull. This couldn't be happening. This was all my fault. I should have just married Lev. How could I have thought there wouldn't be consequences? I loved Ninel and Mariya like my own. If anything happened to them, I'd never forgive myself. I sank into the sofa opposite Artyom, my head in my hands.
“And after those men are done with them”—I looked up at him as he smirked—“I'll sell them to the cartel, and they'll live the rest of their lives flat on their backs.”
“Artyom, please. You don't need to do this,” my voice cracked.
“First, Lev went out and married Katya when he gave his word that he'd marry you, and now Jaroslav pulls this bullshit?” Artyom roared. “Do you fucking know what you've done, Vera? How are people going to look at me after hearing what you've done? That you're fucking the enemy?”
I knew I had to be careful with the next words that came out of my mouth.
“Artyom,” I said softly. “I married Jaroslav because I wanted to,” I lied. “We both want the war between our factions to end. Katya lives there; she's our sister, and she has a son, your nephew. People would see the marriage between Jaroslav and me as a truce. Both factions came together to solve their issues. It could be a win-win for everyone.”
Artyom laughed darkly. “A fucking truce? After Lev betrayed me, and now you? My own flesh and blood?”
“But Katya is our blood! Where is your loyalty to her?”
“She's a fucking bastard child! Some stray birthed because Dad didn't fuck some whore with a condom! She hasn't done anything to deserve my loyalty!”
“But…”
“But nothing, Vera!” Artyom cut me off sharply. “If you refuse to tell Jaroslav that your marriage is over, every single thing that I said I'll do to Ninel and Mariya will come to pass. You have one hour, then my men move in.”
Artyom walked out, and the tears began to fall. God! It didn't matter which choice I made, my heart would still be broken into a million pieces.
If I had known this morning would be the last time I kissed Jaroslav, I would've kissed him a little longer. If I had known when I called him earlier that it would've been the last time I spoke to him, I would've spoken to him a little longer. I would've told him what I had wanted to tell him these past weeks—that I loved him.
And now he'd never know.
