Page 123 of Emperor of Havoc

“Thatpersonyou had to pretend was your husband.”

I just stare at him.

“Here,” he continues, reaching into his pocket. He pulls out a phone and walks toward me, holding it out like a peace offering. I shy away and he slows his movements, putting the phone on a side table before retreating back across the room. “Just look, my love. Even Kolya knows he’s no good.”

I hesitate before walking over and picking up the phone with trembling fingers. I tap the play button on the still image on the screen, and a grainy video begins to run.

My chest tightens.

The video shows Papa standing in front of Takeshi, who’s shirtless, chained to a chair, and writhing in agony. The red-hot iron in my father’s hand glows menacingly as he presses it to Takeshi’s side. The roar of pain that tears from Takeshi's throat rips at me like a knife to the chest, making me physically recoil.

The video starts to play again on a loop, but I lower the phone from my gaze, nausea writhing inside me.

I might hate him right now for using and betraying me. But that still doesn’t mean I can watch him in pain like this, helpless to stop it.

“You see, my love?” the masked man growls. “He is a bad man. And Kolya will deal with him.”

I say nothing. But when I glance back at the phone, my thumb accidentally swipes the screen. It flicks to another video, this one with the thumbnail image suggesting it was shot right after the one I just watched.

“WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?” Papa roars loudly on-screen.

“I love her,” Takeshi hurls back, the words so pure and true that it breaks my heart.

Papa jabs the iron to his side again, making me flinch, my hand flying to my mouth.

“What are you watching?” the masked man across the room suddenly growls, realizing that the video has switched. “Stop that!” he blurts roughly. “Not that one!”

I can’t look away. Takeshi writhes in pain on the screen as my father tortures him. But through it all, his voice rings out loud and clear.

“I’m in love with her!” Takeshi roars, his voice raw. “I’m fucking in love with her, you motherfucker!”

“Put that down, Marianna!” the masked man bellows.

I keep watching.

“Why did you worm your way into my home?” Papa hisses. “And do not lie to me!”

“Answers,” Takeshi spits out. “I wanted answers. And vengeance. Not against Katarina. Againstyou.”

“Why would you seek vengeance against me?” Papa hurls back.

“Because you killed Akira Ohno.”

I jolt abruptly as the masked man violently rips the phone from my hands. It clatters to the ground and I stagger back, my wide, terrified gaze wrenching to his.

He takes a menacing step toward me, chest heaving, making me back away until I hit the bookshelves behind me. For a moment, I think he might lash out. But then suddenly he stops, his hand trembling slightly.

“No.No,” he chokes. “Marianna, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

My throat works, fear coursing through my veins as he tips his head to the side.

“It’s just… You shouldn’t listen to his lies anymore. We have each other now. You’re free.”

He lifts his hands to the mask.

“See?”

The mask pulls away, and my blood turns to ice.

---