Page 115 of Savage Reign

I shift in the chair, flinching as the ropes dig into my wrists. “Emil,” I croak, my voice barely above a whisper. His gaze flicks toward me but remains guarded.

“Igor’s plan is insane. It’ll never work. He’s setting them up, and you know he won’t let me go. You’ve seen what happens when people cross him. He’s a monster. Whatever Niko did to you, it’s not worth this betrayal.”

Emil’s lips curl in disdain. “You think he’s so great? He never gave me the chance I deserved. I worked my ass off for him, proved myself over and over, and all I ever got were scraps. He underestimated me, Sofiya. Always has, even when we were kids. But Igor? He sees what I’m capable of. He’s promised me second-in-command—something Nikolai would never give me.”

“Igor’s a liar, and he’s aligning with a Chinese Triad that wants to take over Russian organized crime. Is that what you want? To help them destroy the Zhukov Bratva?”

His gaze shifts to the floor, and for the first time, he looks unsure. It’s only a flicker, but it’s enough to make me believe there’s still a chance.

“You can fix this,” I plead, leaning forward as much as the ropes allow. “Help me, Emil. We can leave this place together. Nikolai will forgive you, I promise. Make the right choice.”

He looks away, his shoulders sagging. “It’s too late. I’ve made my choice, and I’m sticking to it.”

“You heard what he plans to do to me,” I plead, my voice trembling. “Do you want that on your conscience? You could stop this.”

Emil turns his back to me, running a hand over his face. His fingers press against his temples, massaging as if trying to erase the thoughts I’ve just planted in his head. I know I’ve struck a nerve.

“Look at me. Please, look at me. If there’s a shred of humanity left in you, don’t let him hurt m?—”

Approaching footsteps cut me off. Igor enters the room, his stern expression shifting into something darker, more predatory, as his eyes land on me. A chill races down my spine. He glances between us.

“Do we have a problem here?”

Emil shrugs. “No problem. Sofiya was running her mouth, and I was ignoring her.”

Igor’s gaze narrows on me. “Sounds like I should put that pretty mouth of hers to better use.” My shoulders curl inward as if I can shield myself from him. He steps closer, hooking his thumb into my mouth and pulling my bottom lip down.

Every part of me recoils as Igor’s thumb presses against my lip, his nail scraping the tender skin inside my mouth. His bitter taste makes my stomach churn, and I bite down hard. His skin splits beneath my teeth, the sharp tang of blood flooding my tongue.

“Fucking bitch!” Igor yells, jerking his hand back. His eyes blaze as he rears back and slaps me across the face. The force of the blow sends my head snapping to the side, the chair tilting dangerously before settling back. Tears spring to my eyes as my cheek burns with pain.

He shakes his hand and glares at the blood dripping from his thumb. Grabbing my jaw with bruising force, he lowers his face until it’s inches from mine. “If you like playing rough, then let’s play rough. You get to run, little dancer. Run and hide. But when I catch you—and I will—that’s when the real fun starts.”

The sadistic glee in his expression is terrifying. My stomach heaves, and my mind screams at me to think of something, anything, but I’m frozen in terror as his words sink in. I look past Igor to Emil, but his eyes stay glued to the floor.

Fuck. I was so close to getting through to him.

Igor’s hands are rough and impatient as he unties my legs. My arms remain bound behind me, looped around the back of the chair, but now I can stand. The cold floor feels rough under my bare feet as I rise, my legs trembling from fear and hours of sitting in the same position.

“Let’s go,” he snaps, yanking my arm hard enough to make me yelp as he drags me toward the back entrance.

We pass Emil sitting near the threshold, his posture rigid. “Black Company soldiers will be here soon. Keep watch until then,” Igor instructs him.

I throw Emil a desperate look, silently begging him to meet my eyes, but he stares straight ahead, shutting me out. My body goes cold, hope slipping further from my grasp. I can’t fathom what Niko ever saw in him; he has no soul.

Nikolai. The thought of him sends a wave of anguish through me. I know he’s suffering right now. But I also know he’ll do whatever it takes to bring me back. I just pray it doesn’t cost him his life; whatever Igor has in store, it’s far bigger than any of us could have imagined.

Igor forces me outside, the night chill slapping me like a physical blow. This area is littered with old shipping containers, rusted cranes, and the skeletons of derelict warehouses. It’s a ghost town, abandoned and forgotten, the perfect hunting ground for someone like Igor.

Igor’s breath is hot and rancid against my ear as he pulls my hair tighter. “Do your best to run and hide, little dancer. I am the hunter, and you are my prey.” Nausea turns my stomach as his words sink in. “You can fight me, hide from me, resist me,” he continues, his voice almost sing-song. “But tonight will end with my dick in all of your holes.”

Before I can process the horror of his words, he shoves me forward. I stumble, barely catching myself on my unsteady legs.

“Run,” he calls after me, his tone mocking. “I’ll give you a one-minute head start.”

My heart hammers as I take off, my bare feet slapping against the cold ground.

CHAPTER

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