Page 116 of Disgraced (Russian Sinners 3)

Epilogue

Sergei

Two weeks later

Igrabbed the leg of a stool with my foot and dragged it over the concrete floor. It was ironic that we have made a full circle. Vlad, Irina, and Bartek hung off the ceiling in the concrete basement of Dimitry’s warehouse. It was his special torture chamber. At least we were nicer and didn’t hang them upside down.

All three of them flinched at the noise of the stool dragging across the concrete floor, their heads whipping side to side. Their arms were cuffed, dangling on a meat hook. Vlad and Bartek were beaten… only a time or two. The fuckers deserved it for all the pain they caused the many women and children over the years. Torturing a woman didn’t sit well with either one of my brothers or me, but letting her go was out of the question. She was even more dangerous than her husband and her father.

The revenge was sweet, although not as sweet as what was happening later today.

I sat on the stool, watching all three of them. They didn’t look good; they wouldn’t last much longer. We were able to obtain information on every single one of the shipments over the past fifteen years but one. We just needed that last piece of information and then we could end their suffering.

Since we rescued Scarlett, my whole world and mind shifted. Things were good. Life was good. It was never in my cards to be happy but fuck, I was happy. And seeing my brothers happy was icing on the cake. Some might say we didn’t deserve to be happy but I thanked God on my knees every single day for giving me my woman, my brothers, and sisters.

I watched Michail pace back and forth. He was too wound up to sit. I couldn’t blame him. That last piece of information was a key he has been looking for.

Dimitry and Nikolai were due to arrive any moment too. I worried whether we were doing right by Michail. I hoped we were. I liked him and wanted for him all that my brothers and I have gotten. But he was hungry for his revenge. Until he got it or found someone to stir him away from that path of vengeance, he wouldn’t listen to reasoning to pull out of this life.

So yes, I agreed with Dimitry and Nikolai. Michail was the best to carry it on; for the good of the innocent. Otherwise, another Vlad or Irina would seize power and run people into the ground. Just like Boris had.

The sound of metal doors opened and I heard the echo of my brothers’ footsteps down the concrete stairs.

“About fucking time,” I muttered the moment they were in front of us.

“Don’t blame us,” Dimitry cackled. “Your woman made us repeat all the steps we had to do today. And insisted we go over the schedule.” I was happy to see my brothers get along with Scarlett. Anja and I had grown closer too and Olivia had become another sister.

Yeah, life was awesome and I had the best family a guy could wish for.

“And then she insisted I help her with flower arrangements,” Nikolai chimed in with amusement on his face. “Before we could clear out, she decided she needed ice cream. Not any kind of ice cream. It had to be mint ice cream. In the middle of a goddamn winter storm.”

Scarlett’s food cravings have become the focus of our lives.

“Yeah, about that,” Dimitry started, glancing at Michail, Nikolai, and me. “Anja is pregnant. So we might have to buy lots of ice cream.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Nikolai retorted. He picked up that phrase from Scarlett. Michail promptly followed up with a roll of his eyes. Yep, another Scarlett trait. “Olivia is pregnant too,” Nikolai added.

“You three are turning into homebody schmucks,” Michail stated the obvious with a big smile on his face.

He was right, of course but we loved it. It was what we always wanted, families of our own.

“Which brings us to the next point, Michail,” Dimitry commenced. I watched Michail, trying to get a sense of his thoughts. Unfortunately, he was good at hiding his feelings too. Probably what made him a good choice for the next statement. “My brothers and I think you should step in as the Bratva leader. You are honorable and people respect you. Most importantly, you will protect the innocent and won’t take advantage or be led by greed.”

This was not what Michail expected. He kept watching us, the only betrayal was his tightly pressed lips.

“You want out but want me to stay in?” he retorted dryly. “In fact, even worse… you want me to lead it?”

“Michail, if you don’t want it,” I reasoned with him, “we’ll support you. But if you want answers and to find those bastards, it might be your best chance. As the Bratva leader, you’ll have vast resources at your disposal.” I could see he considered my words. “At least think about it.”

“You can always call us for help,” Nikolai offered. “You were the first choice. You're an honorable and good man. You have a just cause and aren’t doing this to be in the crime world. That’s what makes you the perfect choice. Some of my men who want to stay behind would follow you.”

“And mine too,” Dimitry said.

Nikolai’s words lingered in the air. He was right, of course. Michail was an honorable man. The circumstances forced his life into this world, just as they did my brothers and me.

“Let’s see if we can make these assholes talk,” Michail ended up saying. “I have a wedding to attend.”

I grinned. “And I’m the groom.”

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