Page 41 of Between Power and Passion

"Tell me where she is," I demand again, my voice trembling with suppressed fury.

Sergei smiles that infuriating smile of his and leans back further in his chair as if settling in for a leisurely chat. "You’re really quite predictable, Dmitri. You always let your emotions get the better of you."

I press the gun harder against his skin, feeling the pulse of rage in every fiber of my being. "Answer me!"

He chuckles softly, completely unfazed by the threat of imminent death. "Now why would I do that? Where’s the fun if I just give everything away?"

I glare at him, my mind racing for any hint or clue hidden within his words or demeanor.

"You want her back?" Sergei continues as if discussing the weather. "You’ll have to play by my rules."

"What rules?" I demand.

Sergei smirks. "Simple, Dmitri. You become my captive now. If you kill me, you'll never get Valentina back."

My stomach churns at his words. I want to end him right here and now, but the thought of Valentina being out of reach, possibly hurt or worse, holds me back.

"I'll take you to her," Sergei continues, his tone infuriatingly calm. "You can keep your knife on you, but I’m in charge."

"Like hell you are," I spit out, stepping back slightly but keeping the gun trained on him.

Sergei shrugs, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "You should know better that I do not care for Valentina. I killed her mother just because I thought she liked her bodyguard." He laughs, a cruel sound that echoes in the room. "Found out later it wasn't true, but there was nothing I could do. Women make men weak, just like how you're weak now."

His words slice through me like a knife. The casual way he admits to such brutal acts makes my blood boil. "If I accept your terms," I say through gritted teeth, "it will be on my conditions. You will be my hostage."

Sergei’s eyes flash with amusement and challenge. "Better kill me now because that won't happen."

I glare at Sergei, my finger still twitching on the trigger. The urge to end him right here is almost overwhelming, but the thought of Valentina stops me. I can't risk losing her.

"Fine," I growl, pulling the gun away from his head. I lower it but keep it ready, my eyes never leaving his face. "I'll play your game."

Just as the words leave my mouth, Sergei is moving too fast for me to react. Something hard slams into the side of my head. Pain explodes through my skull, and I stagger, trying to keep my balance. The room spins around me, and colors blur together. My vision starts to fade as I fall to my knees.

Sergei stands over me, a twisted smile on his lips. He's holding a heavy, ornate paperweight in his hand—the object he used to strike me. "You should remember this moment, Dmitri," he says, his voice distant and echoing in my ears. "If you come back to this side of life, remember not to have any weaknesses. Only then can you survive."

I try to focus on his face, but darkness creeps in at the edges of my vision. My strength is draining fast; I can barely keep my eyes open.

Sergei’s voice cuts through the haze one last time. "Check my drawer for the address of where Valentina is," he says with a cruel laugh. "That is, if you wake up before Mikhail’s men show up.” He turns and walks out of the study, his footsteps echoing in the empty room.

My head throbs with unbearable pain, and I collapse onto the cold marble floor. The world goes black around me as Sergei's laughter fades into nothingness. “Damn… I love a good show.”

The last thing I hear is the door closing behind him.

And then there's only darkness.

Chapter 19 – Valentina

My eyes flutter open, and I find myself staring at the familiar figure of my father. Sergei Makarov stands by the window, his back to me. My throat is dry, but I manage to croak out, "Papa?"

He turns, and his eyes are filled with a fury that chills me to the bone. "You," he spits, "you are no child of mine."

I try to move, but my body feels like lead. "What... what do you mean?"

He strides over, towering above me. "How can you be pregnant?" His voice booms, echoing off the walls. I flinch as he grabs a vase from a nearby table and hurls it across the room. It shatters against the wall, pieces flying everywhere. "You have ruined everything! You have ruined all my fucking plans!" he roars.

My heart pounds in my chest. "You don't have the right to have plans for me," I say, my voice shaking but defiant.

His hand lashes out, striking the side of my face with a force that leaves me reeling.

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