Page 95 of Ruthless Daddies

“She didn’t give me a choice,” Alexei replies, his expression calm, as if he’s talking about a business decision instead of murder. “She had to die. It was the only way to protect what I’d built.”

My blood boils, fury drowning out the pain in my head. “You’re a monster.”

Alexei shrugs, rising to his feet. “I did what had to be done. And now, you and your brothers are going to suffer for it. One by one.”

Alexei straightens, satisfied that he has managed to subdue me.

He thinks he’s won, standing there with that smug look on his face. But he’s underestimated me. Underestimated all of us.

I launch myself forward, the world tilting slightly as I drive into him with every ounce of strength I have. My shoulder slams into his chest, and we go crashing to the floor in a tangle of limbs. The impact jars my ribs, but I don’t care. My fists are already flying, landing solid blows to his face and torso.

Alexei grunts, his smirk wiped clean as he scrambles to push me off. He’s strong—stronger than I expect—but I’m faster, fueled by rage and adrenaline. His elbow catches me in the side, sending a sharp pain through my ribs, but I grab his arm and twist, earning a satisfying crack as he cries out in pain.

“You think you can destroy us?” I growl, my voice low and venomous. “You think you can take Alice?”

Alexei manages to free one hand, swinging a knife he’s drawn from his jacket. The blade grazes my shoulder, sharp enough to tear through the fabric of my shirt and draw blood. I hiss in pain but grab his wrist, slamming it against the floor until the knife clatters out of his grasp.

“You’re pathetic,” he spits, his voice a mix of pain and venom. “You and your brothers. You’re nothing without me.”

He veers his knife at me again, slicing my arm, then uses my momentary distraction to knee me in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me. I stumble back, gasping for air as he scrambles to his feet. Alexei grabs a metal pipe from the corner, swinging it in a wide arc.

I duck, the pipe whistling past my head, and grab a wooden plank from the debris around us.

Sparks fly as the pipe scrapes against the metal support beams. My back hits the wall, and for a moment, I think he has me cornered. But I sidestep his next swing, grabbing the pipe mid-swing and yanking it from his hands.

“Enough!” I shout, slamming the pipe against the ground.

“You’ve always been so predictable, Nikolai,” Alexei sneers, his voice dripping with disdain. “Charging in, acting like a hero. But heroes don’t survive in this world.”

“I’m not trying to be a hero,” I snap, shifting slightly as I prepare for his next move. “I’m just trying to stop you.”

Before Alexei can retort, the door bursts open, and Ivan and Dmitri storm into the room. Ivan takes one look at the scene—Alice tied to the chair, me barely standing, and Alexei looming with the knife—and his face darkens with fury.

“What the hell is going on here?” Ivan growls, his voice low and dangerous.

“You,” Dmitri says. “You brought her here? Why?”

Alexei’s laugh is sharp and humorless. “You finally figured it out. Took you long enough, detective.”

“You betrayed us. You betrayed Elena,” I say.

Ivan stops walking. “You did it? You killed her? You risked everything—for what?”

“For revenge,” Alexei says, his voice cold. “For what was taken from me. And now, you’re all going to pay for it.”

He lunges suddenly, aiming for Ivan, but Dmitri fires. The shot grazes Alexei’s shoulder, forcing him to stumble back, but he doesn’t drop the knife. I seize the opportunity, throwing myself at him with all the strength I can muster. The impact sends us both crashing to the ground.

The fight is brutal, raw. Alexei’s punches are wild but powerful, and I can feel my ribs bruising with each hit. Ivan grabs himfrom behind, yanking him off me, and Dmitri moves in with a swift kick that sends the knife clattering across the floor.

“You’re outnumbered,” Dmitri growls, circling Alexei like a predator. “Give it up.”

Alexei’s laughter is deranged as he sways slightly on his feet. “You think this ends with me? Vadim’s already in motion. You’re too late.”

“Vadim?”

“It was easy to make him believe you were responsible for his sister’s death. And the emotional fool bought it.”

Ivan doesn’t wait for another word. He swings, his fist connecting with Alexei’s jaw in a sickening crack. Alexei stumbles, blood dripping from his mouth, but he doesn’t fall. Instead, he goes for Ivan, grappling with him in a desperate attempt to gain the upper hand.

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