Page 108 of Ruthless Reign

His face lights up with malicious pleasure. It’s clear he's enjoying himself. “I’m going to marry Sofiya Ivanova. I even have a contract signed by her father. Once Anatoly and Liza are married, the sisters will link our families.”

My stomach drops. What kind of sick game is this? Boris Ivanov's depravity runs deeper than I ever imagined.

Sergey’s eyes shift to his brother. “This will extend our influence and grow profits tenfold. You can’t argue with that.”

Nikolai goes stock-still, the energy around him swirling with intensity. “I can argue with whatever the fuck I want. You’ve overstepped, brother, and I don’t appreciate it.”

I look Sergey dead in the eye, so he doesn't miss a word. “What if I were to tell you that Anatoly isn't marrying Liza.”

“I’d say…” A devious smile grows on his lips. “You're too late to stop him.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

Every muscle in my body coils and tenses as Nikolai stalks toward his brother, his face twisted in a murderous scowl. The guards exchange looks, unsure of their allegiance.

Nikolai’s voice is soft, with a dangerous edge, when he speaks. “None of this was up to you. Not the alliance, not the trafficking, and certainly not your marriage. Don't you fucking claim you're doing this for the brotherhood—we both know that’s a lie. The only person you've ever cared about is yourself.”

Sergey’s expression sours. “I guess we'll see if that’s true, won’t we?”

“As much as I’m enjoying this conversation,” I interrupt, stepping forward, “Your marriage isn’t happening. Liza and Sofiya are in hiding, and Anatoly is as good as dead.”

Sergey scoffs. “I think you’ll find that's not the case at all. Have you spoken to your beloved Liza recently?”

My head snaps back. Fear trickles through my veins like icy water.

He smirks. “That’s right, you haven’t, and you won’t be speaking with her ever again because you’re not walking out of here alive.”

That motherfucker!

I charge towards Sergey, my pulse thundering in my ears. As I close the gap, Sergey raises his arm. The dark barrel of his gun is aimed straight at my chest.

I dive, the world tilting as the ground rushes up to meet me and the sharp crack of gunshots shatters the air. Time freezes as I wait for the pain and the darkness to follow.

My final thought is about Liza. That I'll never know what it’s like to wake up beside her every day and go to sleep beside her every night. To do normal things, like fight over the remote control, to lie in bed at night and talk about nothing, and to tell her I love her.

What a cruel fucking world that this is how our story ends. Before it even began.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

LIZA

Anatoly must have drugged me for the car ride because when I come to, the sky has lightened and we're pulling up to a huge warehouse-looking space. As we approach, the doors open to reveal a private jet inside.

“What are we doing here?” I ask, although my mouth feels stuffed with cotton.

“What do you think?”

I'm not sure if it's a trick question, but I don’t answer him. I’ll find out soon enough.

With a rough hand on my arm, he drags me out of the car and forces me towards the small private jet. Even though I promised I wouldn’t fight him, my natural instinct to survive kicks in.

“Get your hands off of me. I don't want to go anywhere with you.” I struggle against him with all the strength I can muster, trying to escape his iron grip, but I’m still groggy and he just tightens his hold.

I open my mouth to scream, only to have his hot, sweaty hand clamp tightly over my jaw.

“I suggest you shut the fuck up and get on the plane. You wouldn't want to leave your sister alone, would you?”

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