Page 210 of Bona Fide

“So this is...payback?” I stutter.

“Torture.” A violent chill runs down my arms and legs.

It looks like it.

“Francis was a good man,” my brother continues. “He had a wife and two daughters. He did his duty and got killed for it by a bitch who should’ve gotten out when we told her to.”

“We?”

“She’s been warned, Tsarina, many times to leave Lockwood alone. My commander wouldn’t sign off on taking her out then. She was just a heartless bitch who wanted and took. I can’t say I blame the fucker for not considering her his wife.”

“And you—” I look over my shoulder to see him studying me intently. To find any disgust in my eyes.

There is, just not for him. As fucked up as that sounds, it’d never be because of Marty.

“I’m part of a secret government organization called B723. So secret, Tsarina, that only five people in the White House know about us. We kill the bad guys, keep the country safe—I maim people to make sure I get the truth.”

“You’re not a Marine.”

“I was, then they recruited me. I was...fucked up, and it took a little while before they would let me out into the field and—”

“Let me go, you traitorous son of a bitch,” Demi snarls. “You’re just like him.” She nods over to the man slumped next to her. “A Russian.”

My eyes narrow but on Marty. He can’t be anything but my brother. He’s American, born and bred, been around my whole life.

“Shut the fuck up,” Marty fumes. “Or I’ll make our next round more fun.”

I don’t know what Demi is doing, I don’t care. All I’m concerned about is my brother, what has happened to him and how he turned into someone who could chop a limb off and not be affected by it.

“Can we please go into the other room?” Marty pleads, gripping my hand tighter on his end now. “I don’t have a lot of time left, Tsarina.”

Demi scoffs then spits a mouthful of blood onto her lap and floor. “You stupid assholes always protecting this dumbass cunt.” Her blazing blues bore into me. “I almost got him, sweetheart. Inches away from his fucking head. He wouldn’t let you go, you must have a magical pussy or give good head because—” Marty tears himself out of my grasp and strides in her direction.

“Didn’t I tell you to shut the fuck up?”

“Fuck you, cyka.” Hulk shows up behind her and places his hands on the backing of her chair. Blood covering his shirt too.

“Well, pizda,” he mutters, lowering to speak into her ear. “Just because you learned how to say bitch in Russian doesn’t make you one of them. I know cunt, and that doesn’t make me any more accepted than you currently are. You wanted to be some czar princess or some shit when you’re just another slut looking for the next best thing. Should’ve listened in the beginning to stay the fuck away. But you wanted to move from being a gold-digging bitch to stealing government information. That’s a big no-no.”

Demi pulls at her restraints. “I didn’t steal anything.”

“Didn’t you?” Marty retorts. “Sending the president’s personal schedule and places that he’s going to be sounds like information to me.”

“You wanted to try and give it another go?” Hulk taunts then jerks his head to the man next to her. “Try and win this Russian fuck’s love and have him take you home with him.” Marty and him chuckle, but I receive the blunt of her fury through narrowed eyes.

“She’s no better than me,” Demi retorts through a clenched jaw before jerking her head to me. “Did she organize this whole thing?”

Marty leans down, aligning his face with her. “Nah, cyka, she’s my fucking sister. And you picked the wrong one. That was my mother’s house you tried to burn down.”

A silver Zippo lighter shows up in front of Demi’s face, and Hulk clicks the top off then flicks it. A tall flame shoots from the wick, and he pulls it closer to her face.

I step forward on instinct, but Marty’s arm shoots out.

“You want to burn someone alive,” Hulk provokes, waving the flame in her face. “Let’s see how it feels.”

“Marty,” I warn. He grips my hand while Hulk’s hazel eyes flick to mine. He winks at me but makes no move to pull the torch closer to her face.

“Good thing I don’t want little sister to smell your flesh.” Hulk flips the cover, extinguishing the fire. “Later then. But why don’t you tell her about what you were going to do on Saturday night?”

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