Page 1 of Forced Bratva Hostage

Chapter 1 – Afanasy

“Please, show mercy,” Kolya begged, his voice cracking as he knelt before me, locking his eyes—wide with desperation—with mine.

His hands were zip-tied behind his back, his skin covered in bruises, swellings, and lacerations. With a heaving chest, he struggled for breath, knees trembling, barely supporting his weight.

He stared at me with his left eye, as his right was puffed shut. His nose was crooked, most likely broken. Above his eyebrow, a gnash expelled blood and trickled down his cheek.

I stooped to his level, the gentle night breeze rustling my dirty blond hair as my green eyes held his gaze.

“I'm begging you, Afanasy….” His words tumbled out a frantic rush, his tone dripping with desperation. “Please, show me mercy, and I swear to God, you'll never see me again—I'll disappear from the face of the Earth,” he vowed, a fevered plea bursting forth like a dam breaking.

I watched him quiver in fear as I reached out to raise his head by the chin, my tongue clicking in disappointment. “Make me understand, Kolya, because I don't seem to get it,” I began, my gaze unwavering, my voice steady and calm.

His bleeding brows narrowed, accentuating the puzzled expression etched on his swollen face.

I continued, “How do you do it? How do you switch from bold to pathetic the moment you get caught trying to steal from the Bratva, hmm?” My eyes roamed his body, taking in his torn clothes and battered form.

His slit lips twitched at the corners, shoulders shrugging slightly as he groped for a response but found none.

“You know the consequences of stealing from the Bratva, yet you go ahead and do it,” I said, never losing my calm.

He blinked rapidly, his battered face contorting in agony.

I continued, my tone tinged with curiosity, “But as soon as you get busted, you lose that confidence, that bravery that pushed you to steal in the first place. Why is that?” My eyes squinted, studying his crumpled form.

Beads of cold sweat trickled down his cheek, mixing with dried blood as his eyes dropped to the floor, shoulders slumped.

Kolya's lips parted as if to reply, but instead, he stumbled on his words, producing no sound.

“Did I stutter?” My head tilted to the side, eyes narrowing below knitted brows.

“Please….” He managed to find his voice, a low whisper that infuriated me.

My jaw clenched, and I grabbed him by the collar with a swift move, slamming his back against a wall. A pained growl escaped his lips as he fidgeted in my firm hold, his legs too weak to carry his weight.

I grasped his neck with one hand, choking him as I stretched out the other.

Yakov stepped forward and placed a dagger in my hand, my fingers wrapping around the hilt.

“No, no, please….” Kolya squirmed against the wall, his left eye widening in fear.

I raised the glinting dagger, its shiny blade inches from Kolya's face as he winced at the pain of the razor-sharp edge kissing his skin. His body continued to tremble, the dagger traveling down to his chest, directly over his heart.

With an unwavering gaze, I said, my tone a deadly whisper, “One push and you're gone.”

His pleas were silent but relentless.

Killing him now would be merciful, and I had something better in mind.

My expression softened for a minute yet my gaze lingered. “Do you know the story of Cain and Abel, Kolya?” My tone lost its seriousness for a moment.

He swallowed hard, shaking his head.

“No?” My brows furrowed. “I’ll tell you,” I began, my voice calm and casual, leaving him confused about my mood or what I'd do to him. “You see, after Cain killed his brother, Abel, God didn't kill Cain. No.” I tapped the blade against his skin. “He gave him a mark and sent him off wandering the Earth. I personally find that interesting.” My expression turned stern, solemn in a jiffy. “Don't you?”

His thick groans filled the air as I sank the blade into his skin, dragging diagonally across his face. Blood welled up in the wake of the wound as the blade's passage left a glistening scarlet like a painter's stroke.

His groans turned to shrieks as he unleashed a crimson tide, shuddering at the anguish jolting through his body.

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