Page 131 of Unhinged

Matvei’s face is pale, his shoulders slumped. Rafail falls to his knees beside him, and I force myself to understand. To trulyknowwhat he has lived through, what he has done. The weight of it settles over me like chains.

The video fades, but then I hear Rafail’s voice, steady.

"You know the law," he says like it’s gospel. "You took the life of a brother out of duty. A family member. The blood debt must be balanced.”

The blood debt.

Matvei doesn’t flinch or look away but lifts his head, his voice quiet but firm. Reciting the words like a vow.

“A life taken, a life given. I took blood from the family. Now I give it back.”

A pause. A breath.

“It is my duty to bring new life into this world.”

Rafail nods once. Solemn. And just like that, the sentence is passed.

A shiver of cold fear traces down my spine.

No.

No.

I stare at the screen, the words echoing in my skull.

The blood debt must be balanced.

This isn’t about revenge.

This isn’t just about ownership.

This is about legacy.

This is about continuation.

I am his future.

And I can’t bear children.

* * *

Chapter26

MATVEI

We walk into the smoky,dimly lit pool hall like we own the place.

Because we fucking do.

The moment I step inside, a ripple of awareness spreads through the room. Men like me don’t walk into places like this. I don’t belong here. At least, that’s what they think.

Conversations die. Cues hesitate mid-shot. The air is thick with the stench of stale beer and cigarette smoke, but beneath it is something far sweeter.

Fear.

Rodion winks at me, and I nod.

For once, he doesn’t bother with theatrics. Good. I want to get this over with. He steps up to the bartender, leans in, and wordlessly rips up his short sleeve, exposing the unmistakable mark of the Kopolov Bratva.

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