Page 76 of I Stop Somewhere Waiting For You

“What the fuck are you two trying to pull?” Yuri demands, swiping the pictures from the table as he rises to his feet. “You think you can team up against me?”

“Nobody’s teaming up against you, Yuri. You’re fucking paranoid.” I drop my cigarette to the floor, snuffing it out with my boot.

Yuri chuckles, which is never a good thing. Glancing back at one of his henchmen, he gestures to us with his thumb. “I am paranoid?” he asks, his amusement growing into a steady stream of laughter. “Well,” his gaze returns to us, “if I am just being paranoid…”

Yuri lunges, uprooting the table from between us and flinging it off to the side, his cigar flying with it. Before Nick or I have a chance to react, he’s withdrawn two blades from his back, simultaneously driving them down into our thighs.

“SHIT!” I hiss. “Fuck.”

A string of expletives pours from Nicky as well, though I’m pretty dialed in on my own pain at the moment. Yuri’s hands remain clenched around the handles. Just as I start to adjust somewhat, he twists ever so slightly causing my leg to scream in agony once more. I try to breathe through the pain, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

“One of you is going to explain this.” He forces out through gritted teeth. “Now.”

“I told you! I used to fuck her.”

He turns his gaze to Nicky. “And you were okay with this? Your supposed enemy sleeping with your sister?”

“Fuck no! Ahh!” Nick screams as Yuri gives the steel protruding from his leg a twist. “I kicked his ass when I found out.”

“You fucking tried, bitch!” I spit, fighting to keep my vision clear when it’s now dancing with spots.

“And what happened?” He presses further.

“He just told you! He found out. We slugged it out. I officially got to brag that I fucked his sister. Mission accomplished. I went back to my girl. Still with her.”

“And these pictures?” Another twist for me, my face contorting in anguish

“Nicky tried to low ball me the other day on a deal. Pissed me off. So, when I bumped into her on the street, I tried to stick it to him by fucking her again. She wasn’t having it, though.”

Yuri glares at me, my eyes holding his stare. “If I find out you two are fucking me, I will take a ride out to Hydetown to see Amber. I will gut her, Maverick, and hang her corpse on that nice big wrap around porch you have out there for all to see. Then, Daniel—” he looks to Nicky “—I will stop by to see your cute little redhead.” Nicky’s head snaps up, his eyes wide with shock. “That’s right. The one that belongs to another man, but you sneak away to fuck when you think no one is paying attention. Tell me, does she give it up to everyone? Or would I have to hold her down and take it from her?”

Nicky’s hands curl into fists, the anger rolling off him in waves as he attempts to maintain control.

“And then,” Yuri continues, his voice dipping ominously low, “just for good measure, I will pay a visit to Joanna. My men could use a night of fun and that one looks like she has stamina.”

My vision starts to go red, my body vibrating with rage as the monster within me rears its ugly head. I force it down, biting the inside of my cheek so hard I taste blood pooling in my mouth. I cannot lose it over her in front of him. He can’t know how important she is.

“So, play your sister-fucking games with one another. But just know if I suspect any funny business, all three of your girls will be getting a personal visit from me.” He pulls away, withdrawing the knives in his retreat, sending a sharp sting of pain exploding up my thigh.

My hand grips the wound, applying pressure as blood spills out between my fingers.

“Let’s go,” Yuri commands his men. “Oh, and Maverick?”

I look up at him, attempting to steady my shaking hands in his presence, though the tremors are starting to spread.

“Should you feel the need to go running to Enzo about this, just know I am more than willing to catch him up on our business dealings.” Lifting his jacket from the back of his chair, he offers up a smug smile before heading toward the back. “Goodbye, gentlemen.” He disappears through the curtain, ogres in tow.

Nicky pulls out his cell, swiping the screen up and putting it to his ear.

“What are you doing?” I snap at him, undoing my belt to use as a tourniquet.

“I’m fucking calling Rico. I assume you’d like to be stitched up tonight?!” He rolls his eyes at me in annoyance.

Nicky barks some orders at Rico, demanding he bring their doctor and supplying him with our location before tossing the cell on the floor beside his chair. “They’ll be here in twenty.” He pulls his undone tie from his collar, following my lead to prevent unnecessary blood loss.

Removing the cigarette pack from my pocket, I bypass the tobacco and zero in on the rolled blunt I have stashed in there. Pulling it out with my teeth, I’m quick to light it and take a long deep pull. After few more puffs, a feeling of warmth begins to creep in, a welcomed comfort as it attempts to distract me from the throbbing pain. I hold it out, gesturing to Nicky. He obliges. Guess he really doesn’t give a fuck anymore.

“So…” He inhales, pulling the smoke deep into his lungs. “Still think I was overreacting about you and Jones?”

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