Page 13 of Cruel Promise

Colin’s eyes are wide as he walks over to me and hands me the cash. I take it and step out behind the bar.

“Thanks for the money,” I say. “But here’s the thing, Lev. You’ve just proven to me you can’t keep your men under control. If I’m going to continue to work with The Knights, then I need to know this MC has a president who’ll keep his men in line. So, you need to die.”

Lev’s eyes widen as I shoot him. With a grunt, he falls onto his back. Dead.

Maxim’s face contorts into anger. “You fucking bastard.”

“You. Why don’t you be president next? And if you don’t want to die, I suggest you fall in line.” I turn my back onto Maxim because I know he won’t shoot. He saw what I can do. He knows I’ll win.

And he doesn’t shoot me in the back as I walk away, the money in my pocket and bloodstains on my nice, crisp white shirt.

When I return home, everything is quiet like I’m used to.

But there’s one difference now: the girl upstairs.

The woman I bought from her father. I have my code: never kill women. But that doesn’t make me a good man.

Her father had the audacity to offer his daughter to pay off the debts he owed me. So, I took the offer since that’s what I do. I do what’s best for me.

Mrs. Brown hesitantly approaches me as I take my jacket off. She doesn’t comment on the bloodstains on my shirt. “Mr. Petrov, I wanted to talk to you about Ava.”

Ava.

I haven’t allowed myself to say her name yet.

“What about her?” I growl.

“She hasn’t eaten yet, and it’s been almost an entire day. I’m worried.”

“She needs to eat. I don’t want her fucking starving to death.”

She blanches. “I know. But I can’t exactly force her.”

Mrs. Brown can’t.

But I can.

I storm past her and up the stairs to Ava’s room and barge inside.

She’s lying on the bed, looking innocent in her white dress, but when she sits up and sees me, the shock and fear on her face remind me she’s just a human. Not an ethereal virginal goddess. She fears me like everyone else.

“Why haven’t you eaten?” I bark at her, making her flinch.

Her eyes flick to the plate of food on the table and back to me. “I’m sorry.”

“Eat.”

She quickly gets out of the bed and rushes to the table, but then her hand hovers over the fork.

I grab the fork for her and put it in her hand. “Eat.”

Slowly, she scoops up some of the potatoes and takes a small bite.

“Good. Now, eat the rest. I didn’t buy you so you could starve.”

She flinches again, keeping her eyes downcast. She’s so fucking beautiful. It’s what drew me to accept her father’s offer in the first place.

But she looks so sad. For just a moment, I feel a flash of guilt, and then I push it down. I did what I did, and there’s no changing it. Ava is mine now.

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