Page 105 of Unveiled

"I'm fine." I shake my head, forcing a smile that doesn't reach my eyes. "I need some air."

“Of course.” She opens a window. Yeah, I need more than that.

"Let me know if you need anything else," she says brightly. "Stefan's done his homework, and he's gone to bed for the night."

"Thank you."

I wait until she’s gone, stand, and begin pacing. My mind feels like a tangle of memories, promises, and betrayal. My instincts tell me to follow Semyon, to ask for answers, but I stay rooted to the spot. And if I go to him, what will I find? Do I really need to see him brutally beat someone so he can interrogate them and get answers? Do I really need to see another bloody scene?

I can't just leave. Stefan is here. But I have to find a way out.

My phone buzzes with a text.Ophelia.

Ophelia

We need to talk, Anya. It’s urgent.

I respond to her, my heart racing.

What’s the matter?

Ophelia

It's about Eli. I have information I have to tell you, but it has to be secret. Can you come outside? I'll meet you outside.

I look out the window to where armed guards stand at every exit.

Yes, of course.

Chapter 26

SEMYON

The basement iscold and damp, lit only by a single flickering bulb. It's our form of a dungeon, but Rafail is too proper to change it. Our prisoner, bloodied and bruised, sits slumped in the chair, his wrists bound behind him. I hope he's close to breaking. I’ve had a long fucking day.

Sweat coats his forehead, but his half-lidded eyes stay open. Matvei has warmed him up for me.

My voice is low and lethal. I’m out of patience. "Talk."

The man coughs, spitting blood onto the floor. "You think you know everything, don't you?" His twisted grin forms despite the pain. "You're fucked too, Kopolov.”

Yeah, that’s not up for debate. Appealing to my human side is a waste of time.

I take a slow step forward, my hands clenching into fists. Ihardly expected him to just open his mouth and tell me everything.

"You may want to rethink your approach to survival," I warn him.

He doubles over, coughing, the sound wet and ragged. He has broken limbs and broken ribs. Blood dribbles from the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, I'm already dead. You know that. Don't fuck with me."

"But you have family," I say casually, pushing my hands into my pockets and walking closer. I’m not bluffing, and he fucking knows it.

His eyes harden. I glance at the notes Matvei gave me. A wife. Kids. I lean in closer. I didn’t become who I am by being merciful.

“A wife. Kids. Who are all defenseless right now, left all alone with no one to protect them.” I shake my head. “Isn’t that a shame?”

I punch him across the jaw. The crack of bone echoes in the silence. He smiles at me, his teeth smeared in blood.

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