Page 18 of Kidnapped By the Bratva

My hands tremble, the ropes pulling at my wrists and my shoulders ache from having my hands tied behind my back for so long.

It doesn’t compare to the full-body repulsion that races through me at the sight of a dead man.

“I will kill them all if I must.” The look on his face turns my blood to ice. My body goes numb as his gaze connects with mine. “Or tell me who the informant is, and this all stops now.”

The only thought running through my mind is that I can’t look at Joseph. Even though I want to glance at him—to make sure that he is alright—I can’t. The second I look at him, he’s dead.

Instead, I keep staring at Nik. I should look away. I want to look away, but I can’t. It’s like being at the scene of a mass-casualty accident. The morbid curiosity keeps me watching.

Nik is brutal. He had a man killed because I wouldn’t give him the answer he was looking for.

That person was loyal to the Bratva. He killed one of his own, just like that.

I must figure out a way to get me and Joseph out of here alive.

I shouldn't have arrested Yuri in the first place. I should have waited longer. Not have reacted immediately to the information.

Nik’s dramatic sighs have the men shifting slightly. “You’ve just used up your last ounce of goodwill. Who the fuck am I killing?”

Don’t look at Joseph. Don’t look at Joseph. Don’t look at Joseph.

I don’t know what to do. He will kill everyone in this room if he must. Their blood will be on my hands. I will be responsible for the death of over half a dozen people.

But if I do tell him, then I’m responsible for the death of a friend.

He raises his hand again, still facing me. His grey eyes slice me into pieces, trying to dissect everything going on in my mind without saying a word. My jaw tightens and I dig my nails into my palms.

The sharp pain is the only thing keeping my head clear right now.

“Don’t kill anyone else.” My voice comes across as stronger than I feel. “If you must kill someone for what happened, then kill me. I’m the one who fooled Yuri. I got him all by myself. I arrested him. If there’s someone who must pay, then let it be me.”

Dimitri aims his gun at another man, ignoring me completely. A lazy smile spreads over Nik’s face as he leans closer to me. His face is inches from mine.

“Oh, Malyshka, you didn’t think you could sacrifice yourself, did you?” He chuckles and leans back. He takes his time analyzing each man. “One of the men in this room is a traitor. He betrayed the Bratva, and he must pay for it. If you don’t tell me who that is, Dimitri will kill everyone here.”

I can’t help it. I look at Joseph.

There is nothing else I can do. I’ve tried to save everyone here. Nik is uninterested in my offer. He wants retribution for what’s happened, and he isn’t going to settle for anything less than the man who double-crossed him.

Joseph winks at me before holding his head high. He steps out of the line-up. “I’m the informant.”

“No!” I lunge up from the seat, but Nik grabs the rope around my wrists and hauls me back down. “Run!”

He smiles at me and shakes his head. “Someone must die for turning against the Bratva. I’m the one who fed information to the police. I’ll be the one to pay the price.”

My vision blurs and my chest aches. Hot tears track down my cheeks as Dimitri aims at Joseph. Nik stands up and takes the gun from Dimitri, beaming as he points the gun between Joseph’s eyebrows.

His finger loops around the trigger. “You should have known better than to fuck me over.”

The tears stream faster and harder. My strangled sob is the only noise in the room.

“It’s going to be okay, Hazel.” Joseph’s voice is soft and steady, the same way it was years ago. “You’re going to be okay. I believe in you.”

I’m not going to be okay. I don’t think I’m ever going to be okay again. Not after this.

Joseph smiles at me as Nik squeezes the trigger. A loud thud echoes through the room. Joseph’s body jerks before he stumbles backward. The spray of Joseph’s blood covers the wall behind him. His body slumps to the ground.

I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you.

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