“You forced me to snort coke. Made me watch you screw Masha,” Claire whispered, voice breaking as she raised a scalpel, hand shaking.

“You raped me.” The raw sound that tore from her throat broke my heart.

I felt anger crawling up my back like a tarantula.

She lunged, slicing Ivan’s arm repeatedly.

“I loved you. And you betrayed me. All you had to do was let me go so I could live my life.”

Her gaze flickered to Polina as she straightened her spine. “You came to see me recently. Said we had a deal that I’d stay away. I told your dumb ass I didn’t want him. I’d moved on with my life. I have my own business that not you or anyone can take away from me.” She pointed at me.

“That man taught me what love truly is, when I’d given up on it, thanks to two psychopaths who wanted to dim my light. And steal my joy,” her voice broke.

“Vino will burn this world down for me. That’s what real love is.”

Claire grabbed the hammer and struck Polina’s foot. “You beat me until my eye was swollen shut, and my body ached for weeks.” Claire stood tall. “I’m a strong black woman. Next month, I’ll become Claire Romano, the Donna of the Romano Crime Family. People will fear me.”

She repeatedly brought the hammer down on Polina’s knees, filling the air with her screams.

“That’s right, scream. This is for me and Masha—she didn’t deserve to die like that. This is also for Darya’s friend, who you shot in the head.”

Claire’s gaze shifted to Ivan. “While she was fucking you.” She swung the hammer across his jaw. Blood splattered all over the plastic sheet.

“Ah,” he howled.

Dropping the weapon, she pummeled Polina’s face with her fists.

“How does it feel to be powerless? I was never a powerless woman. You didn’t play fair.”

Claire staggered back and looked at Ivan. “When my fiancé is done with you, we’ll dissolve your bodies in acid. The world needs to be rid of scum like you.”

I pulled Claire against my chest. “It’s time to rest.”

“Vino, I don’t want to leave.”

“Vix and Marlow, bring the recliner and a blanket,” I instructed.

They rushed to comply. I removed the bloody gloves, apron, and boots from her body before settling Claire gently into the chair.

“You are extraordinary,” I whispered. “And you’ll be an incredible mother.”

A smile lit up her mocha cheeks. “Thank you, Vino.”

I faced the Sokolovs.

“Your wife will die soon,” I said to Ivan. “But you—I’ll have some fun before I kill you.”

I raised my hand. “Xavier, the electric saw, please.”

He laughed. “With pleasure.”

We stood by the bed in our bedroom, fresh from a long, hot shower. Claire’s hair sat in a messy puff on top of her head.

In the shower, Claire tenderly kissed the bruises on my chest left by the bulletproof vest.

I ran my hands slowly up her back, locking eyes with her. “How do you feel?”

“Tired. Relieved. Happy,” she whispered with a soft smile.