Page 76 of Kings of Cruelty

But my baby could’ve died. The doctor had been surprised it hadn’t, for all that she’d tried to hide it.

I didn’t even tell Konstantin and Yuri that part.

Nikolai knows, though, and his arms tighten around me.

The buzz of the table saw stops.

“He didn’t make it through all four limbs,” Konstantin complains.

Yuri laughs. “Maybe the saw blade can still be salvaged, at least?”

The idea of Konstantin using that saw blade to cut wood… What the fuck is wrong with me, to where I’m notactuallythrowing up? My stomach isn’t that strong.

But here we are.

“Sorry for maybe ruining a saw blade,” I manage to say, though I sway on my feet. I’m no hardened mafia man—woman, I guess—to handle this with grace, though I sure as hell have no plans on staggering out of here before I regain control of myself.

I can’t let Konstantin’s men think I’m weak.

Konstantin’s men.

Reality snaps into place around the haze I’ve been in, and I remember that I have more reasons to worry than this.

“It was not you who ruined it,” Konstantin says. He walks over to the sink in the corner and washes his hands, as if it’s sawdust and not rivers of blood that stain him. Yuri joins him, leaning against the cabinet and waiting his turn.

I glance at James. His body is missing both arms and one leg. His eyes are open wide, like he’s still attempting to scream. His blood is pooling on the tarp on the floor, where his severed limbs lie.

I swallow down vomit again, but I force myself to look. This is because of me.

No.

This is because ofhim, because he’d chosen to hurt me when I’d begged him for help.

But is what Konstantin is doing to other people any better?

I want to say something about it, something clever and sharp, but I can’t make any sounds.

“Do you need to go inside?” Nikolai asks me, his voice gentle but cautious.

“No!” I snap at him. “We…” I swallow hard against the nausea. “No. We have to… to talk before the three of you decide to lock me away.”

Again.

The three of them look between each other. I brace myself for arguments, but Yuri nods.

“Yes. Talk to us,” Yuri says.

“I shouldn’t have come back,” I say with a self-deprecating laugh. “Don’t make me regret it,Konstantin.” I stare at him, daring him to come back at me with something that will make me wish I’d told Kyran the truth instead of assuring him I was fine.

“You should have,” Konstantin argues back. “You were safer at our side.” He glances pointedly at James.

“But am I safe from you?” I ask as steadily as I can manage. “Because I swear to fucking god I will not stay if you decide to continue doing what you are.”

How I’ll get out of this, I have no idea, but Irefuseto stick around while he traffics innocent women.

“I am doing nothing!” Konstantin says. “I don’t know what you think is going on?—”

I glare at him. “You introduced Giulio Pavone as a business partner. The three of you have been acting guilty as hell. You freaked out when I challenged you. You must think I’m really stupid if you thought I wasn’t going to catch on.”

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