Page 128 of Savage Little Queen

“What’s happening?” Drake asked, getting to his feet.

“Pain,” Matteo said softly. “Pay attention, young Petrov. Your fate could be the same if you fuck up.”

My legs were kicked out from beneath me before blinding pain met my skull. I was caught before my face hit the ground and pulled back up on my knees, the trickle of blood running down the back of my head.

Matteo bent so he was at eye level with me.

“I’m not even mad, Levin. I knew you’d break. I knew you’d reach out at just the right time. Your father knew it too. It was his idea.” Matteo struck me so hard across the face that my ears rang, and my lip split.

I glared back at him and spit the blood onto the floor.

“Then fucking kill me,” I said softly. “Fucking do it.”

Matteo smirked at me. “Why would I kill my bait?” He raised his eyebrows. “It is because of your love for your whore that I will win.”

“You’re going to kill Dom?” I demanded, desperate to get the fuck out of there. I needed Drake to act quickly, but that plan was turned to dust when four more men entered the room and slammed him to the ground when he went to reach into his jacket.

Fuck.

“Kill Dominic? Oh, I’m hoping he just kills himself. We all know he has a history of trying. No, I won’t kill him. Instead, I’ll take what he loves from him so he can live as I did. So he can feel that heartbreak every fucking day, knowing he no longer has his family. That I took it like he took mine with his fucking existence.”

“Bianca,” I whispered, fear icy over my insides.

“Mm, such a pretty little thing,” Matteo murmured.

“Don’t. Don’t fucking hurt her,” I begged, sagging forward. “Please. Her babies. . .”

“Well, a mild inconvenience, but not one we can’t remedy.” Matteo stood.

I fought against Klaus and Alessio, managing to break free for a moment before my father’s fist met my face with a sickening crack. Then, his boot. Once in the face. One in the ribs, sending me sprawling to the floor, and knowing damn well he’d busted a rib.

“Petrov. Death or violence. Choose wisely. You’re on my side, or you’re dead.” Matteo looked to Drake on the floor, pinned down.

Drake held my eye for all of a moment before he gave his answer.

“Violence.”

“Pledge yourself to me,” Matteo commanded. “And only me.”

The men brought him to his knees, and he stared up at Matteo.

“I am yours to command,” Drake hissed out as one of the guys gripped his hair and tugged his head back. “I’ve always been yours. You know that. I’ve been yours since the beginning and will be yours at the end.”

What the fuck. . .?

So many things flashed through my mind before I landed on one thing.

Be careful who you trust.

Words Matteo had spoken only a couple of months ago in Dom’s hospital room.

It was a setup. Fucking Petrov set us up.

I’d kill him. He was a fucking dead man. Everything had been a lie.

“Prove it. Show Levin what happens to those who break the rules.” Matteo stepped back, and Drake was released.

I watched from my hands and knees as Drake approached me.

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