Page 14 of Inevitable Endings
I stand there for a long moment, the weight of the chains around my wrists grounding me to the cold floor. The guard beside me jostles me, snapping me out of my thoughts.
They lead me down the hallway toward the dimly lit corridor where Nick waits. I’m barely aware of the movement, too focused on the red haze of rage that’s begun to cloud my vision. Each step feels heavier, the chains biting into my skin with every movement. My body feels broken, but my mind is sharp. They think I’ve forgotten what it’s like to fight. They think I’ve lost the will to survive.
Nick is standing at the far end of the corridor, his expression unreadable. His sharp, calculating eyes meet mine as I’m dragged forward. His lips twitch in a semblance of a smile, but there’s nothing friendly about it.
“Aslanov,” Nick greets me, his voice smooth, almost mocking.
“A shame about your friend back there. He wasn’t very cooperative.” His head tilts slightly backward, mentioning towards the cellblock where they keep Petrov imprisoned.
I don’t respond. There’s nothing to say. He doesn’t deserve an answer.
“You’ve been in here a long time,” Nick continues, his eyes scanning me like I’m a broken machine, something to be studied. “I would have thought you’d be grateful for the peace, but I can see it’s not enough for you.” He steps forward, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. “You’re still a fighter. I can see that in you.”
I keep my eyes on him, the anger simmering beneath the surface. “You’ve underestimated me,” I say quietly. “I don’t break.”
Nick’s lips curl into a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Everyone has a breaking point, Aslanov. Even you.”
He steps back, allowing the guards to move me further into the room. There’s a chair bolted to the floor, and they shove me toward it, forcing me down. The chains rattle against the cold metal.
Nick watches me, his gaze intense. “I’m offering you a chance, Aslanov. You can help me. Help me take everything you’ve built, and I’ll let everything you care about live. Or shall I sayeveryone.”
I laugh. The sound is low, dark. I am going to fucking veil his skin once I get the smallest chance.
Nick’s smile falters. “I think you’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
He stands still for a long moment, his eyes never leaving mine as I stay silent. But then, he simply nods, as if deciding something in his mind. “We’ll see how long this defiance lasts.”
His lips curl into a thin smile, a smile that’s more of a warning than anything else. He knows I’m not broken yet. He knows that whatever he does, whatever he puts me through, I won’t give him what he wants unless I’m forced to.
But Isabella… Isabella is a different story.
Nick leans in, his breath cold on my face. “Aslanov,” he says softly, the weight of my name heavy on his tongue. “You’re a dead man walking. You know that, don’t you? You’re already a ghost. You have no empire left. No army. Just a broken body, chained to a chair, useless.”
I remain silent. I let his words hang in the air, a venomous mix of truth and lies. But I won’t give him the satisfaction of answering.
He steps back, pacing in front of me, eyes scanning my battered form. “But you’re useful, aren’t you?” he continues, his voice laced with mock sympathy. “You’re a piece of the puzzle I need to complete my empire. So here’s the deal. You give me the information I need, intel on your organization, the Bratva’s operations, your men, and I’ll let you stay alive. I’ll let her stay safe. You won’t have to worry about her. She’ll be untouched. All you have to do is talk.”
He pauses, as if letting the weight of his words sink in. His eyes flicker, dark and calculating, watching me closely. “Tell me where your men are hiding. Tell me about your network. How do your operations run? Where are the shipments? The safe houses? Who’s loyal to you? You think I don’t know your empire? You think I can’t take it from you?”
I refuse to look away from him. I know exactly what he wants from me. I know what’s at stake, and I won’t make it easy for him. I won’t give him everything, not without a fight.
Nick steps forward again, the edge of his boots scraping against the concrete floor. “Don’t be stupid, Aslanov. You think I’ll just let you die? I need you alive. But Isabella?” He smirks, and the smile is razor-sharp. “I’ll find her. I’ll make sure she feels every bit of the pain you should have taken for yourself.”
His words strike a chord, the threat ringing in my chest like a bullet lodged deep inside. But I know he’s bluffing. Nick won’t kill her. Not yet. She’s his bargaining chip. His leverage. She’s the only thing I’ve got left to protect.
I grit my teeth, pushing back the wave of panic that threatens to rise. My voice comes out low, controlled. “You want names? Locations? I can give you some. But I won’t give you everything. You’ll never control the Bratva fully. There’s too much. Too many people.”
Nick’s eyes darken, his lips curling into a sneer. “I wasn’t asking for ‘everything,’ Aslanov. I was asking for what matters.The people closest to you. Your right hand. Your inner circle. The ones who know everything. Where are your shipments coming from? Your operations. Who’s running them? You think I’m going to wait around for you to break, or do you want to make this easier for both of us?”
I swallow hard, my pulse pounding in my ears. I know I can’t give him everything, but I also know I can’t afford to play his game forever. Isabella’s life hangs in the balance. And every minute I delay gives him more room to destroy her.
“Some of them are already gone,” I mutter, my words clipped, as vague as possible. “Some of them are out. Others... still loyal. But it doesn’t matter. You can’t take it all. The Bratva is more than just men. It’s more than what you can reach.”
Nick’s smile falters, frustration creeping into his expression. He leans in close, his voice a soft, menacing whisper. “I can reach anything, Aslanov. Don’t mistake me for a fool.”
I look at him, my gaze unwavering, calculating. “If you kill me, Nick, you lose everything. You know that. I’m your last thread of connection to the Bratva’s full strength. Without me, it all crumbles.”
Nick’s hand curls into a fist, his patience wearing thin. “You think I care about your empire?” he sneers. “I’ve got plans of my own. But first, I need your loyalty. Your obedience. And that means you’re going to help me. You’re going to tell me where to strike. You’re going to tell me where it hurts.”
