Page 149 of Mafie Queen

“I struck a deal. There was no way all of us were going to make it off this island alive, and I couldn’t risk everyone dying. This was the only way to keep everyone safe.”

Her face scrunches up, betrayal written into every feature. I keep mine neutral, something I almost never am, and I think that seems to only hurt her more.

“When?” she asks.

I hear the defeat behind the question as her shoulders droop. She won’t fight, not when my father could incapacitate her with a single word.

“I got a call from him after our fight. It was why I had to leave that night. I needed to get things in order for today.”

“Alexi will kill you.” It’s amazing how her voice can go from sounding weak to such a deadly thing in a second.

“At least he’ll be alive.”

She shakes her head. “Lev will never forgive you.”

“At least he will be able to live.”

Her muscles tense with fight, but my father holds up a hand and her spine goes straight, as if she is remembering just how quickly he can change her position.

“Good work, Son,” Rostya says as he walks up to me, clapping me on the shoulder. The only physical affection he’s shown in years that doesn’t come with pain.

“I knew I could count on you. You’ve made me very proud. Your friends will be unharmed, and we will leave the Bratva alone. So long as you don’t interfere in our plans to take over other organizations, the rest of you will be safe.”

A body slams into me before it’s jerked back, but I wrap my arms around her.

“This was the only way, Little Shadow.” I pull her tight one last time then grab her wrists to push her back into the direction of her uncle. Her fingers curl into mine as she gives me one last pleading look.

Evie backs away, letting out a scream I didn’t even know she was capable of, one only a banshee could rival as she falls to her knees in front of me. I just handed her to the men who tortured her for as long as she can remember. Part of my soul breaks off at the sight of her on her knees because that’s never where a queen should be.

Chapter 52

Tears burn my eyes as Adrik and Rostya drag me to the helicopter. I pull on my restraints, desperate to slip a wrist free, but it doesn’t happen. They won’t budge.

Rostya grabs me by the hair, his evil eyes shining with so many dark promises, and my breathing kicks up in response.

“Keep up this fighting, and I’ll say it.”

I give in to him and sit back because anything is better than that. The pain I felt when he used that word was worse than any I can remember. I thought my head was actually going to explode with pressure at one point. If Lev hadn’t been there to pull me back to reality, I don’t know what would have happened to me.

I try not to think about what just happened as my heart shatters into a million pieces. I want to understand it, and in a way, I do. The look in Damien’s eyes was the worst though. It was full of pity, regret, and a hurt so deep I felt it myself. I can’t always predict my nightmares, but I know they’ll center around that look for a while.

Adrik places me in a chair, my arms still pulled behind my back as he straps me in tight. It’s not like I expected him to let me sit here like a human or anything, but damn this angle hurts. Oh well, pain is an old friend I’ll welcome with open arms. Thinking about the physical hurt is better than dwelling on the emotional trauma of what just happened back there.

Our plan today was supposed to be flawless, the island was supposed to bring us comfort and draw them out to a place we knew. I shake my head as a tear falls down my face.

“Sending in all teams. Targets are in the northwest sector of the island.”

Rostya and Adrik are talking, but I don’t process his words until we’re up in the air, and Adrik pulls up his computer.

“You said you’d let them go,” I say, dread flooding my veins. “You said they would be safe.” I look at Rostya, who is grinning so wide it’s as if his face is that of a cartoon supervillain. I shiver as he speaks, his words make my eyes widen in horror.

“I lied.”

I look out the window to see we are over water, but the helicopter isn’t moving far. The second I catch a glimpse of something in the water, I begin to thrash in my bindings. At least a dozen speed boats are headed right for the docks, just a few yards from the house, easily holding ten people each decked out in full gear.

Rostya and Adrik laugh as their chopper circles the island, watching their battle wage. My uncle stays on his computer, communicating to the team below, and a sickening feelingbubbles in my stomach. I try to hold back from vomiting, but I can’t.

Leaning forward, I let my breakfast fly from my mouth, covering the floor and making Adrik and Rostya unbuckle to leap away. The door is still open, so when the helicopter turns to look down at the fire now taking over the island, Adrik stumbles and his computer slips from his fingers.

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