Page 68 of Immaculate Corruption (Romanoff Bratva)

“What do you mean? Where is Lukas?” Arya is at my side in a second, clutching her arm with her other hand. I can see blood oozing between his fingers. “Who has him?”

“Ilyasov wanted him captured,” Zotov blurts. “He knew it was the best way to be able to control Dima. That’s the only reason I used him as blackmail. To save myself.”

“That didn’t work out very well, did it?” I wave my gun in front of him. “I guess Ilyasov didn’t consider the fact that there’s nothing for me to gain by following your orders.”

“We’d gain ourson,” Arya cries. “You can’t kill him.”

I shake my head, but Gennady answers before I can. “No. No matter what, they aren’t going to hand Lukas over. Whether Dima kills Zotov or not, they’re going to keep him.”

A sob breaks through Arya’s lips. I want to reach out and pull her close to me. I want to tell I’m sorry for being so blinded. For not seeing what had been right in front of my face the entire time.

But I don’t. Now is not the time.

Then a thought occurs to me.

“Are you alone here?” I ask.

Gennady answers before Zotov can. “Arya and I walked all through the hallways and we didn’t see anyone. I didn’t see any signs of patrols outside, either. I think they’re alone.”

I tilt my head to the side, a slight smirk pulling up the corner of my mouth. “Huh. That’s interesting.”

Zotov swallows. “Ilyasov thought Lukas would be enough to keep you in line. He told me it would work. He said—”

“Ilyasov says lots of things. Most of them are lies. I learned that the hard way.” I point my gun at his forehead. “Unfortunately, I think you will, too.”

“What do you mean?” Zotov’s pupils are fully dilated, and I can see the thump of his pulse in his throat. “I told you I can help you overthrow him. I’m willing to help.”

“I know you are. Because you’re a fucking spineless coward.”

He nods. “I understand why you’re angry. But I swear, I’ll be loyal to you now, Dima. I can help.”

I run my tongue over my teeth. “Then tell me where my son is, Zotov.”

Zotov hesitates. His eyes dart over to Arya and then towards a door on the far side of the room.

“Come on,” I say, curling the fingers of my other hand. “Tell me where my son is. Then you can take me there and we’ll get him together. That’s how you can help.”

He swallows. I can feel the trigger just a hair’s breadth away from the pad of my finger.

“Where is he?!” Arya screams.

Zotov flinches. “I don’t know,” he admits, his shoulders slouching forward. “Ilyasov didn’t tell me much. He is the one who arranged the pickup from the motel and he is the one who arranged where to keep them. I don’t know anything.”

“And do you know why?” I ask.

Zotov stares up at me, blinking. He looks so much younger now. So much weaker. I almost feel bad for him.

Almost.

“Because you are expendable.” I enunciate each word. “Ilyasov sent me here because, either way, he would win.”

It’s clear Zotov doesn’t understand what I’m saying, so I spell it out for him.

“Ilyasov wanted us to kill each other. He wanted every single person in this room to die and he set it up so he wouldn’t have to pull a single trigger. The son of a bitch is smart. It runs in the family. I admit, I’ve been a bit slow on the uptake, but I’m getting it now. Either way, someone would get taken out. Ilyasov would clean up whoever was left. It’s a smart plan, really.”

Reality washes over the poor kid. He backs away from me only to bump into Gennady, who also has him on the business end of his gun.

“Then let’s not give him what he wants,” Zotov begs. “Let’s team up and fight back. Let’s take him out instead. That’s real revenge. Right? Right?”

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