Page 116 of Vendetta Crown

Distant sirens grow louder outside. Artyom checks the window, keeping low.

We move silently back toward the elevator, stepping over bodies. The weight of Tamara's phone burns in my pocket like a live grenade.

Those five words echo in my mind, each syllable a promise of fresh violence and twisted games yet to come.

It doesn't take long before we've left from Semyon's penthouse, driving past screaming police sirens as we take separate directions to different chop shops.

My hand remains tight around Tamara's phone, staring at the device like it might explode at any moment.

What the fuck are you playing at?

Then, the screen lights up with a new message from an unknown number.

"UNLOCK ME: 123456"

Artyom glances over from the driver's seat, his eyes darting between the road and the glowing phone in my hand.

"We might as well see what's on it," he says quietly. "Could be important. Sure as hell not doing it once we get back home."

My stomach knots with dread as I punch in the simple code. The phone unlocks instantly, opening to a video message.

I press play.

The screen fills with Tamara's face. Her eyes wide with terror, mouth gagged with a dirty cloth. Blood trickles from a cut on her temple. She's bound to a chair with duct tape, struggling against her restraints.

Behind her stands Kristofer, his fat disgusting face is twisted in a grotesque smile. The blade of his knife glints under harsh fluorescent lights as he presses it against Tamara's throat.

"Hello dear," he says, voice dripping with mock insincerity. "I just want you to know that what happens next isn't personal. Your mother made a choice. She chose to betray her own family. And as your grand-uncle so often likes to tell me: betrayal in this world must bepunished."

That’s when I realizewhohe's speaking to.

"So the only thing I have to say to you, dear girl, is just this."

His wormy lips part to reveal his yellow teeth.

"Look what your uncle made me do."

Tamara's eyes plead silently, tears streaming down her face as Kristofer saws the knife across her throat.

And that's when the notification banner slides down from the top of the screen:

Message sent successfully.

30

AURORA

The rich,earthy aroma of Daria's cream of mushroom soup warms me from the inside out. Comfort food is exactly what I need while Ruslan is out there risking everything.

Vera sits next to me, one hand absently stroking her swollen belly as she sips from her spoon.

"This is delicious," I say, grateful for the distraction. "Daria really outdid herself."

Vera nods, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "That woman is incredible. I don't think there's a recipe that she hasn't been able to replic?—"

Before Vera can finish, a blood-curdling scream suddenly rips through the house, slicing through our peaceful moment like a knife.

High, desperate, and unmistakably Mikayla's.

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