Page 144 of Born in Depravity

I opened my eyes and peeked over to the side. Nikolay was looking at Henry with angry eyes. My bomb was close to exploding.

“I-I—” Henry stuttered, but he got nothing. There wasn’t anything he could say that would abate their anger. Even I knew that.

Petrov walked into the room with his companion by his side. I caught her eye. She shot me a disgusted look and I moved in closer to Damien.

“You can’t kill him in my house, Damien,” Petrov said.

I felt Damien tense against me. “Oh, can’t I? You’re either with me or you’re against me. Choose, Petrov. And choose very carefully.”

“Of course I am with you,Pakhan. I am one of your most loyal men.”

Beside me, Nikolay sneered. I didn’t think anyone caught that but me. They all thought Petrov was a traitor. Perhaps he was, but he was acting convincingly otherwise. He sounded genuine.

“Then you’re not going to stop me.”

Petrov moved forward. “For a whore,Pakhan?”

Nikolay moved so fast, I didn’t even see him until he had Petrov pressed against the wall, his forearms pushing against the other man’s neck and cutting off circulation. Petrov clawed helplessly at Nikolay, but I had a feeling Petrov wouldn’t escape unless Nikolay let him.

Petrov’s woman screamed, the sound piercing my ears. I winced and Damien looked at me.

“Someone shut the bitch up,” he demanded. Some men came in and took her away. She struggled, clawing at the men before she was taken out of the house.

“Nikolay, let him go,” Damien said.

“He disrespected us. That’s enough for a death sentence. I’ve killed men for less, and now you want me to let him go?”

Damien sighed. “Nico.”

Nikolay glared at Damien before he finally let Petrov go.

The man coughed, his blue face turning a deep shade of red, and finally a slight pink.

I didn’t have it in me to feel sorry for him. A noise drew my attention, and I was surprised to find a small knife stuck to the wall by Henry’s head.

Henry paused, his eyes wide.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Nikolay asked. It took me a moment to realize Nikolay was the one who threw the knife.

Petrov walked over to Damien. I almost stepped back from the look of hatred in his eyes, but he quickly molded his expression to one of deference.

“Think about me. Out of respect to me, let Henry live. What would your men think if they learned you killed my associate over Angelo Agnello’s daughter?”

Damien tensed and I moved my hand down his chest. That seemed to calm him down some, though he didn’t speak right away.

When he did, a chill permeated the air, and I had to remind myself that it wasn’t directed at me.

“I’ll let him live,” Damien said, and I didn’t know what it said about me when I felt a tinge of disappointment. I didn’t want someone’s blood on my hands, but I couldn’t stomach the thought of looking at Henry, since all I saw were all the bad memories associated with him during the only two times we’d met.

“T-thank you,” Henry stuttered.

Damien laughed, the sound cold and mean. “You think I’m just going to let you walk out of here? What did I say would happen if you touched her?”

My mouth gaped as I remembered what he had said in the room.

Anyone who dares touch you will leave this house without his hand.

Oh, God.

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