Page 74 of Crown of Hate

I rub my jaw, piecing the puzzle together. Akim managed to get rid of Ivan. Tried to do the same to Ilya, and now he has turned his sights on me. If I fall, Boris is next. Then Akim takes the throne.

“Does Boris know this?” I ask.

He snarls. “I tried to warn that dumb fool. He trusts Akim so much, that bastard could stab him in the front and he’d just laugh it off.”

Typical Boris. That lad isn’t the brightest person in Russia. Too bad his stupidity might cost him his life. “How does Akim plan to take me down?”

“I already told you.”

I swipe a hand through my hair and heave out an exasperated sigh. “Do you really think I’m stupid enough to believe that’s all there is?”

I know Akim. He’ll try to use Alya to get to me. But he won’t just sit on his ass waiting for the opportunity to pop up. What bothers me is that he doesn’t seem to know she’s his daughter.

If he knew, he would have tried to get her back, or eliminate her as evidence of his betrayal. Akim is ruthlessly ambitious, he wouldn’t hesitate to dispose of a loose end like that. Which means he’s likely unaware of her true identity.

The door to the basement creaks open, and my heart leaps into my throat. I whip around, praying it’s not Alya. After yesterday, the last thing I want is for her to see me like this, to think of me as even more of a monster.

Thankfully, it’s Alexei who enters, shutting the door behind him. He pauses, his gaze bouncing between me and Arsen before a slow smile takes up his face. “No one told me there would be a party this early. Did I arrive late?”

Arsen glares at him. “You fucking traitor.”

“Traitor?” Alexei’s smile turns razor-sharp. “I’m a lot of things, dog, but a traitor isn’t one of them. I only serve Mikhail.”

“And you will die with him,” Arsen spits.

Alexei shrugs. “Gladly. But you’ll die here all alone. I think that is a lot worse, don’t you?” He doesn’t try to hide his amusement at Arsen’s rage. “Easy with all that snarling, dog. You’re not making it out alive, but I can make your death very painful if you disgust me enough.”

Arsen darts his attention back to me, eyes pleading. “You said you’d let me go.”

“I said jack shit. You want mercy? Earn it.” He should know by now—no one leaves this basement alive. I’m not known for my mercy. But I’m not about to remind him of that just yet.

“Fuck.” He rakes his teeth through his chapped lower lips. “Fine, I’ll tell you what you need to know, but you have to promise you won’t kill me after.”

I snort with derision. His desperation is pathetic. Too bad that will all be for nothing. “I don’t make promises. Give me a lead worth your miserable life, and I’ll consider giving you something in return.”

He shakes his head, defeated. “I’m not sure when, but Akim plans to cut off all your allies and business partners. His plan is to isolate you, steal from you, and then he’ll kill you.”

Alexei walks to my side and leans against the wall beside me. “Is this one of your tricks? Akim wouldn’t let you in on his plan.”

“He didn’t need to, asshole.” Asren winces, whimpering. “I have ears everywhere.”

“Did your ears tell you today would be your last?”

Arsen’s eyes fill with tears of fear. “You promised.”

“I promised nothing.” I hold out the scalpel to Alexei. “Finish him and take care of the body when you’re done.”

Arsen loses it, screaming and thrashing violently against his restraints. “You fucking monster! I hope Akim kills you!”

A cold smile plays on my lips. It’s both a warning and a threat. “One of us will die when I face Akim, and it won’t be me.”

As Alexei advances on Arsen with the knife, the bastard’s screams follow me all the way out of the basement.

My phone rings just as I close the door behind me, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face when I see who’s calling.

23

ALYA

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