Page 92 of The Tsar's Obsession
“I do. I have realistic goals," he spoke seriously, killing me with his gaze. “I did such a good job, Mia. Look at you.” His fingers ghosted on my cheek again, and I jerked away in disgust. “I planned it all perfectly. You, him, Yura, Jeremy, Polina. You’re all going to die tonight. I even tricked your stupid brother, a minor player but an important witness.”
Dmitry’s voice was sincere, but his next action was suffocating. Slowly, his fingers wrapped around my throat, the pressure immediately alarming. “Tell me I did a good job, baby,” he breathed into my ear as my oxygen was being reduced quickly, urgently. He pressed harder, and I pulled back instinctively, but to no avail. “Tell me…I’m a good boy.”
The lights spun in my eyes, and Dmitry eased off, letting me take a desperate inhale of the stale air. “Tell me.” His voice was low, the look in his eyes desperate, like a small child asking for approval.
The seconds ticked, and the pressure was building again. “You’re a…good boy,” I croaked, indulging him in his sick game. He held up the phone to my eyes, showing me the screen as his hand slid off me. It was Kirill’s number, the call was about to connect, and Dmitry’s plan was about to head into action. The line rang only once before Kirill’s panicked voice sounded.
“Baby!?”
Baby.
Sunshine.
Svet moy.
I was such a fucking fool. I had it all. I hadhim,his love, hisdevotion. And I threw it all away because I was angry. Dmitry gave me a small smile and jutted his chin out, encouraging me to respond, ignoring my tears.
I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t pronounced his name in four long, agonizing weeks, but now, it was like saying a blessing. “Hi Kirill.”
“Mia,” he almost whispered, knowing that something was awfully wrong. He knew. He always knew. He knew me better than anyone. “Talk to me, baby, what's wrong?!"
I listened to their conversation, drowning in regret. I loved Kirill with all my heart. All of me belonged to him, and all I wanted was to be in his arms. Would I ever see his mesmerizing eyes again or feel his gentle touch? Would I ever get a chance to tell him…that I made a mistake? Tell him that I loved him beyond measure?
"Lastly, let me talk to Mia." Kirill’s calm and confident voice came through the phone speaker. Dmitry moved the phone closer to my lips, but I didn’t know how to start.
"Kirill." I finally managed to say his name again, all my fear on display.
"Baby. I miss you so much." Kirill started, and Dmitry rolled his eyes dramatically. "Do you remember what I said I would do if anyone touched you with even one finger?" he asked, as calm as lake water.
Yes.
Yes, I fucking remembered. He said he would cut that person to pieces. And that’s what I fucking wanted to see. Inside my mind, everything changed in a second. The fear didn’t go anywhere, but it transformed into fire. Into certainty. He was coming for me, and he wasn’t doubting for a second that I’d still be here when he arrived.
His voice, smooth and playful, gave me exactly what I wanted. I straightened up and matched Dmitry’s smile. “Yes, baby. I do."
"Has he?" Kirill inquired.
"Yes. He has." I copied his tone, assured and confident.
"Which partdo you think I should cut first,svetmoy?" God, I loved this man. We belonged together; we were one.
My eyes drifted across Dmitry’s body. So many options. "Cut off his dick first,” I spoke sweetly. “He thinks so highly of it. Shove it down his throat.” Dmitry’s eyes slightly widened in amusement, but I spoke louder. “And then I want you to take out his eyes, baby. I don't appreciate how they look at me." My wide grin was maniacal, butI. Was. Alive.
"Done. I’ll see you soon, my love. Don't start without me." The call ended, Dmitry still holding the phone. Dead silence swallowed the musty basement, and even Jeremy paused his sniffles. The balance of power was all skewed now—in my favor.
For all his bravado, Dmitry looked...off. Like the play veered in an unknown direction. He stared at me, gears grinding in that stupid head. That’s why Kirill was the Tsar. Not him. Not anyone else.OnlyKirill.
“Ilya?” Dmitry called out suddenly. A man approached, and I looked up to seemy driver!My fucking driver! Ilya had been handpicked by Kirill. He was trusted, he was loyal, and he was a fucking backstabbing snake! “Yuri’s on his way,” Dmitry muttered. “Let the guys upstairs know.”
Ilya retreated, and Dmitry rose from his chair, his crotch ending up right in my face. He headed toward Jeremy, but at this point, it was up to me to set the tone.
“Fuck, I miss his dick!” The words burst out of me before I could stop them. Dmitry froze mid-step and then turned sharply, as if to check that it was me speaking. “You know, with Kirill, I never doubted he had a huge dick. He never had to do stupid shit to compensate." My arrogance and confidence were only growing, like the pain from the handcuffs around my wrists.
I just had to stretch out the time. Kirill was coming for me, and I just needed to distract this sicko to interrupt his vile plans. “But you know, one thing I never did with him was any drugs, ironic considering he’sThe Tsar.” I placed heavy emphasis on that title.Dmitry’s dark eyes narrowed on me, his lips curling into a scowl. “I feel like–”
"Shut the fuck up.” His arm reared back before I could react. The crack of his palm against my cheek was paralyzing. Pain zinged through all of me, and I gasped for air, waiting for another dose. "We’re not here to talk about your fucking feelings.” He grabbed my chin, his fingers digging into my cheeks and forcing my head back to him.
Just stretch out the time. Just focus on one thing at a time.
